Behind the Curve?

Harvard may be the only area university to toughen its underage drinking policy in light of recent changes in state law--but that may be because many schools already have strict rules on alcohol.

The change in Chapter 138 of the Massachusetts State General Laws prohibits the possession of alcohol by those under the age of 21. Previously, the law only prohibited the purchase of alcohol by those underage.

In response, College officials drafted a new campus policy mandating a progressive series of punishments for students repeatedly caught in possession of alcohol.

And, while Harvard officials have publicly questioned the feasibility of administering such a policy--suggesting privately that they may not go to great lengths enforcing it--other schools do not appear to have given the situation much thought.

Indeed, at several local colleges, administrators were not even aware of the specific provisions of the original law, or of any changes.

"I didn't know of any changes," said Doug Whiting, spokesperson for Boston College. "I knew you couldn't buy it [if you were underage], but I wasn't aware the [old] law permitted possession."

Officials at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Wellesley College and Brandeis also said they did not know about any changes in the law.

Several administrators said their schools' alcohol policies already prohibit the possession of alcohol by those under the age of 21.

"We haven't allowed anyone underage to possess or consume alcohol since the state lowered its drinking age," said Rod Crafts, dean of student affairs at Brandeis College.

The colleges differ over penalties and enforcement procedures, but Harvard appears to have been almost unique in tailoring its policy to the law.

At Wellesley College, Assistant Vice President for Community Affairs Barry Monahan said the school takes no disciplinary action against students simply for alcohol possession.

"It is not a violation of our honor code," he said. "If campus police find underage students drinking, normally they will take the alcohol away and, if necessary, they might take the student to an appropriate health facility."

But Monahan said alcohol consumption is not a "significant issue" at the all-women's college.

Crafts said that at Brandeis, students found drinking are subject to disciplinary action, adding, however, that the college has no specific penalties for alcohol-related disciplinary cases.

"There are no specific guaranteed outcomes," he said. "We just don't believe in that. It usually doesn't work."

Crafts said that in many cases involving alcohol, treatment may be a better course of action than punishment.

Harvard officials have expressed similar sentiments. In drafting Harvard's new policy, Dean of the College L. Fred Jewett '57 said he was concerned that the threat of punishment by the College might discourage students from seeking help.

"We don't want to do anything that would prevent anyone from getting help," he said.

Jewett said intoxicated students in need of treatment at University Health Services will not face disciplinary action, even if brought in for treatment by police.

"We would try not to view that as a disciplinary case," he said. "For drinking, we tend to deal with it as a medical problem if it comes to us on a medical basis."

But the dean said intoxicated students may face disciplinary action for other acts they commit while intoxicated.