Sponsors Must Set Tone for Alcohol Policy

Over the last week there has been a lot of discussion of the alcohol policy that has been proposed by the SAC. I wholeheartedly agree with this discussion, because I think that the policy deserves as much student input as possible. But the fact is that the policy does not govern behavior at Pomona College. It has always been against college policy for minors to drink alcohol, but show me a dorm where this policy is followed. Policies are of no use if the belief structure behind them is not adhered to; so debate away on this new version, but if you want to prevent alcohol poisonings you have to change the way that students interact with alcohol from the word go.

How are most new freshmen introduced to the drinking culture at Pomona? By their sponsors. And how do sponsors introduce their freshmen to this culture? I will give two examples from this year, which aren't meant to represent all of this year's sponsors, but to show the damage that can be done. In one dorm, a sponsor was heard to say that she felt obliged to drink every night after the end of dry week to "set an example" for her sponcees. In another, the sponsors woke their sponcees at 8 a.m. the day that dry week ended and made them take shots of hard alcohol. And we wonder why freshmen have dangerous interactions with shots?

So my challenge to next year's sponsors is: make the change yourself. If you truly care about your sponcees, introduce them to Pomona in a reasonable manner. Have a beer, watch a movie, go to a party together, but be aware that your example will be followed. We all talk a good game about being deeply concerned about the close calls with alcohol poisoning. But have we really learned anything? My class almost lost one of its own to alcohol my freshman year, and much blame was placed on her sponsors. Yet here I am able to think of two easy instances this year in which sponsors have promoted alcohol abuse. Revise the policy all you want, but if you truly want to save lives, set an example.

Sincerely,
Dave Musgraves '03