WHERE DOES DEPAUW’S TRASH GO? Turn to pages 6 & 7 to find out
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012
Indiana’s Oldest College Newspaper
University abandons hard-liquor ban; begins search for new alternatives By ABBY MARGULIS news@thedepauw.com
Last year, many students at DePauw lived up to the university’s “Top Party School Ranking.” The result was at least 21 students transported to Putnam County Hospital for high BACs and over 100 incidents of intoxicated students with Public Safety officers. DePauw’s social life has turned into a high-risk alcohol scene. Last spring, the university took action by creating a new alcohol policy banning hard liquor from registered fraternity events. But after much disapproval from students, the university lifted the ban and is now discussing new measures to slow down high-risk drinking at DePauw. The alcohol collaborative group, chaired by Vice-President of Student Life Cindy Babington, features students and faculty working to develop initiatives to address high-risk drinking. The group will introduce initiatives to combat high-level intoxication and study those issues through data feedback to critically evaluate whether they are making an impact. The policy stated that if hard alcohol was served at a registered event and policy violations came to the university’s attention then the sanction would be more stringent than if other types of violations occurred. Additionally, individuals would be sanctioned more harshly for using hard alcohol as opposed to beer or wine. After the alcohol collaborative
group received negative feedback from fraternity and sorority presidents and DePauw Student Government, the group reconvened. Students in these organizations felt like there could be a better way to create a safer alcohol scene on campus. In recent years, the university has continued to become more concerned with students drinking hard alcohol, leading to more black outs. More alcohol comsumption has put students into increasingly dangerous situations. BACk Down, a group of seven students, was formed over the summer to meet weekly to discuss creative solutions to DePauw’s high BAC levels. DSG President Sara Scully defined the group’s mission. “It’s us collaborating to form initiatives and create creative solutions to protect students’ safety while still continuing our engaging social atmosphere,” Scully said. The group was formed for many reasons, one of which being the high number of BAC levels being over .3 percent. Greek Life Coordinator P.J. Mitchell, who helped spearhead the group, sees BACk Down as a necessary group to have on campus. “Our campus was heading towards a ledge [with the high BAC levels and hospital runs], and we want to push back against it before it goes too far,” Mitchell said. The group protects student safety by keep students from crossing the dangerous line of alcohol comsumption at DePauw’s social scene.
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Some memNumber of hospital runs bers of the group during the 2011-2012 include seniors school year Sara Scully, Mark Fadel, Emily ViThe annual average number erk, Jonathan Rosario, Tyler of hospital runs for DePauw Witherspoon, is 24. junior Paul Mpistolarides and sophomore Eric DePauw wants to reduce binge St. Bernard. drinking by 25% In the past three meetings, two ideas have been discussed and plan to be im55% 40% plemented. The first is a Number of talk with freshmen that will happen next incidents where DePauw wants to reduce alcohol week. The group Public Safety consumed by student athletes discussed having updealt with by 25% perclassmen come talk intoxicated with freshman about students in the proper greek etiquette at fraternities when at2011-2012 school 5 drinks tending registered events. 6.5 drinks year It is planned to be a question and answer session for The highest number freshmen to gather more DePauw want to reduce of incidents understanding for what it pregaming by 20% occured in the means to go out onto greek 2007-2008 school property and what it means year with 410 to be safe. incidents. The second idea generated is to provide more food for students when they go out. 37% of 34.2% of Data collected by S.O.A.R. and The Hub closes at midnight, Dr. Propsom and taken from students students only leaving Marvin’s in direct DePauw University’s 2011according according walking distance for 2012 Alcohol and Other Drugs
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Alcohol | continued on page 3
to a 2011 survey
to a 2012 survey
Programs Annual Report
Graphic by Lizzie Hineamn
VOL. 161, ISSUE 8
Professors connecting on social media By NICOLE DeCRISCIO news@thedepauw.com
Facebook in recent years has been seen as a method of communication between friends and family. However, Facebook is taking on a new role as professors use it to take learning to a new level. “Facebook has developed into something far more than pictures, friends and a means to communicate,” said sophomore Kristen Dickman. “It’s starting to become a networking thing.” Professor Mark Tatge, Eugene S. Pulliam Distinguished Visiting Professor, is one of several professors using Facebook as an educational tool here at DePauw for his Multimedia Storytelling class. He created a closed group and added the students to the group, where they exchange tips, techniques and ideas. “I think that in today’s classroom, you need to engage students,” Tatge said. “You need to basically approach them on a lot of different levels. You have to communicate with them in more than one venue. I wanted to offer a venue where they would participate.”
Facebook | continued on page 4
Greencastle man stabbed blocks from campus page 3