Community Responsibility

Campus Community
We have come to understand that the issue of alcohol use, both on and off the campus, is a community one. We are seeking to educate the community to encourage everyone to share in the goal of supporting a campus culture where abuse is challenged and not tolerated, where alcohol will not be central to campus life, where all persons will be honored, and where civility and respect for the educational process, both inside and outside the classroom, are paramount. The Commission wishes to promote a "culture of responsibility" where students are treated as responsible adults and are held accountable for their actions, and where all members of the community play a role in facing alcohol use and abuse. As Coughlin states in her report, Successful Drug and Alcohol Prevention Programs (1994, p. 4), "The focus of attention on alcohol and other substance abuse problems on college campuses has been on the individual abuser, with a hope that by some miracle, the rest of us might elude responsibility." The goal of establishing this community culture of responsibility requires the active participation of all campus groups in this effort. Specifically, these groups are: students, faculty, administrative and support staff (including admissions), trustees, and overseers, alumni, and parents. The Commission reviewed the list of responsibilities for students currently set forth in the Student Handbook and has reinforced them and placed them in the Community Responsibility section of Appendix A. Also, student responsibilities are discussed in the subsequent section of this report.

Recommendation #1:
The Commission has developed lists of goals and standards for other groups that comprise the campus community -- faculty, administrative and support staff, trustees and overseers, alumni and parents -- and asks that these constituencies should review listings of goals and standards (Appendix A) and make suggestions for changes to the Student Affairs Committee of the Board by January, 1997. [follow-up: chair, Student Affairs Committee of the Board]

Local Community
The full community, of course, also includes the residential areas near the College where some students live, principally in Waterville and nearby Oakland.

Recommendation #2:
We believe it is useful to have ongoing discussions with local authorities, hospital personnel, and alcohol outlet merchants, so that these people will understand the College's continuing concerns about alcohol abuse and to invite their assistance in efforts to curb alcohol abuse. [follow-up: Dean of the College]

Off Campus Students
Each year the Dean of Students Office writes to students living off-campus, informing them of their responsibilities as community citizens and neighbors and apprising them of their liability as hosts of events where alcohol is available. We commend this policy.

Recommendation #3:
We recommend that this same information be made part of the off campus permission form, which students sign in the spring before receiving approval to live off campus. [follow-up: Dean of Students]