Searching for Solutions

As Dartmouth was making national headlines for alleged pledge activities at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, the faculty sent a feisty letter to President Jim Kim. “Act now!” implored the 105 signees. (Although 27 SAE brothers reportedly were charged with hazing-related violations, the charges were quickly withdrawn.) Now comes the Committee On Student Safety and Accountability, a 12-member task force that will look into student drinking, sexual assault and hazing. Its mission: To “allow students, faculty and staff to partner on both creating a more open dialogue regarding high-risk behaviors and reducing those behaviors,” says Dean of the College Charlotte Johnson, chair of the task force. Hank Nuwer, a hazing expert and author who teaches at Franklin College, says lumping three topics into one task force may not capture the nuance of each. “For example, alcohol abuse is a disease, while sexual assault is criminal,” he notes. Based on his research, a culture of hazing improves only with a bulldog approach. It requires a “vocal, reformminded nded president or top dean who speaks up unequivocally about change, even if it makes him unpopular,” says Nuwer, who adds that student organizations need to hear an anti-hazing message “every term,” not just once a year. Johnson says she hopes to have “a report and recommendations” in 12 to 14 months.

The SAE house

DID YOU KNOW?

4.9 Percentage increase in undergrad tuition for the 2012-13 academic year recently announced by the trustees

540 Number of students who took the plunge in the annual polar bear swim at Occom Pond during the 2012 Winter Carnival, a new record