News

NESCAC News

By Kirsty Warren ’18

Amherst implements new party policy

This semester, Amherst College piloted a new party policy in an effort to make campus social events safer. According to an article in The Amherst Student, student hosts of parties, called “party sponsors,” must reserve public spaces in advance to prevent overcrowding. Party sponsors must remain sober and make an effort to manage parties. The article said that students must register a party “if an event is being sponsored by college collected funds, uses a public space for dancing with loud music, or if it has attendees who are consuming alcoholic beverages.”

“What’s hard about private parties is that they promote and encourage an environment that has really proven dangerous for our students,” said Dean of Students Alex Vasquez. “What we hope we can do with the party policy is encourage better behavior with students, encourage the right opportunities for students to drink responsibly, to not engage in the kind of behavior that doesn’t keep students safe.”

The Office of Student Affairs collaborated with the college’s police department to promote safety and to address the problems of overcrowding and substance use.

“The primary goal of the police department remains the same, and that is to ensure that our residents and guests are in a reasonably safe environment,” said Police Chief John Carter.

Colby campus security allowed to roam dorms

Colby College students are responding to a policy change that allows campus security guards to patrol residence halls. Security is not allowed to enter personal rooms without cause or permission, but an article in The Colby Echo explained that they may “walk through bathrooms, common rooms and hallways unannounced.” The college hopes students will view the change positively, as a step towards working together to keep the campus safe. According to the article, students worry about privacy invasions and that increased security presence will come with an increase in disciplinary action. The Department of Security tried to refute these fears, and some students are pleased about campus security’s new role.

“I think that this new policy is a great way to get to know the people who work in security as people, and not just as people who are ‘trying to get us into trouble.’ It will be nice to be able to put names to the faces of the [guards] who we see around all the time,” Colby student Lucy Bainbridge ’17 said.

Wesleyan first-years prohibited from pledging Greek organizations

After last week’s order that Wesleyan fraternities must be co-ed, the university continued its efforts to make Greek life safer by prohibiting first year students from pledging fraternities and sororities. According to an article in The Wesleyan Argus, Vice President for Student Affairs Michael Whaley explained that the decision came from the Board of Trustees.

“The rationale, in part, is to allow frosh to get established with their academics and the campus prior to rush/pledge activities,” Whaley wrote in an e-mail to the Argus. “Frosh can also be quite susceptible to peer pressure so we hope to reduce the possibility of hazing activities by implementing this restriction. The impact of this change may well be that more juniors live in the residential Greek houses, which we think would be a good thing.”

No comments yet.

All News