Student Lapse

While student riots were getting other institutions into the news, Dartmouth late in April had its own unwanted publicity when two freshmen amused themselves, and a small dormitory audience, by giving liquor to an 8-year-old Hanover boy. Fortunately, this immature and irresponsible act had no serious outcome for the boy; but the angry reaction of the student body and official College when the incident became known was swift and pronounced. The two freshmen were separated, and six other students drew penalties of varying severity.

Under date of April 28, the Faculty Committee on Administration made the following statement:

On Tuesday afternoon, April 21, an eightyear-old Hanover boy who had been playing with two other boys around one of the college dormitories, was given liquor by Dartmouth students. Three of them apologized shortly afterwards to the parents of the boy. When the affair was reported to the administration, two of the students, whose identity was known, were suspended and a thorough investigation was instituted. The students involved were referred to the Judiciary Committee of the Undergraduate Council, which discovered that there were various degrees of implication in the episode and recommended disciplinary action for several students to the Committee on Administration. At its meeting this afternoon the Committee on Administration separated two students, suspended one until September 1954, placed three on probation until February 1954, and issued two official warnings.

The Valley News, as a spokesman for the community, made the point that the episode was decidedly an exception to the kind and friendly treatment of Hanover children by the Dartmouth students. "These men as a rule need no reminder of their responsibilities to this community," said the daily, "and we of the Upper Valley are most appreciative of this fact and of all the benefits which accrue to us because of their presence in Hanover."