Thirsting for Education

As students recover from the inevitable Harvard-Yale post-haze, the numbers are also about to roll in—that is, the number of alcohol-related admits to University Health Services (UHS). Though this year’s tally will not likely rival the near-death of one student in 2002, the problems that existed then are still left to be dealt with—as many of the alcohol-related problems come from being ill-informed.

Neither I nor my fellow freshmen have received any substantial alcohol education from the College. We watched a video entitled “Empowering You,” had a brief talk with our proctors and got a ten-minute lecture from the Assistant Deans of Freshmen. But all we learned was the letter of Massachussetts law.

We got into Harvard. We know that you have to be 21 to drink.

In contrast, each member of the Class of 2008 was required to attend eight hours of “Sex Signals” workshops, over the course of two months, to combat rape and date rape on campus. This effort informed us of the law, but also explained, in several different formats—group discussion, video, a tragicomic performance—how to prevent rape, how to recognize rape and the campus resources available to rape victims.

While this program is laudable in scope and effort, alcohol abuse is a much more prevalent and potentially dangerous problem on campus, which is why we must increase student knowledge with a similarly styled program on alcohol.

Before I came to Harvard, I was told that it was not a school for passive students. If I needed help or advice, I would have to ask for it. While there is nothing wrong with requiring students to be assertive, the College cannot realistically expect students to browse the UHS website to learn the signs of alcohol poisoning, or where to take a friend who needs alcohol counseling.

According to Dr. Paul Barreira, most activities related to freshmen alcohol use are “focused on how to help students who may have drunk too much and should have medical attention.” The College currently relies on reactive measures—like distributing alcohol brochures to students who have already been admitted to UHS for alcohol poisoning. In order to be effective, it must educate students sooner by beginning an interactive outreach program to educate students about the danger of alcohol, such as it did in “Sex Signals” for rape.

This is not a new idea. In fact, it was specifically proposed in the Committee on Alcohol and Health’s Final Report, which was released this past September. But, with typical sluggishness, the College has done little with these findings to help current freshmen. Said Dean of the College Benedict H. Gross ’71 in an email, “I hope, with the appointment of a alcohol coordinator, to develop more extensive educational programs for freshmen next year.”

I sincerely hope that an alcohol education program will be in place next year. But alcohol abuse is a life and death issue. Lives are potentially at stake; a resolution to this situation cannot wait for the next academic cycle. As Harvard-Yale weekend’s abysmal track record shows, something must be done now, something beyond an e-mail from Dean Gross on the dangers of alcohol.

Though this problem has already taken a hold of the Class of 2008, alcohol-related incidents can still be prevented. According to UHS statistics, alcohol admits are particularly acute in September, but there are a significant number of freshmen admitted to Stillman Infirmary for alcohol poisoning throughout the year.

One relatively easy and cost-effective way to reduce dangerous drinking habits among freshmen would be to give them older role models. Currently, prefects are not allowed to be with their freshmen at a party at which alcohol is present. This is a misguided and ultimately harmful policy. W1ithout this policy, first-years who would drink anyway, and possibly engage in dangerous drinking, could have an older, responsible student to teach them safe party habits.

Almost every weekend in September and early October—and frequently since then—ambulances have shattered the early morning quiet with sirens blaring, rushing to take another drunken freshman to UHS. For many inexperienced first-years, these weekends are their first with ready access to alcohol. Thankfully no freshman has suffered permanent injury from alcohol this year, but the danger still looms, especially in the face of high-risk events such as Harvard-Yale. The College needs to make significant changes to encourage alcohol education and the Class of 2008 needs to see these changes now.

Brian J. Rosenberg ’08, a Crimson editorial comper, lives in Stoughton Hall.