Dartmouth Bans Hard Liquor

Dartmouth College's president is no fan of bad behavior, and hasn't minced words on the subject in the past: In an April speech, he cited "dangerous drinking" and a "general disregard for human dignity" at the school. Now, after months of what the Washington Post terms "soul-searching at the private Ivy League college," Philip J. Hanlon today announced that students, even those who are 21, are barred from possessing or consuming hard alcohol on campus. The crackdown affects beverages that are 30 proof or above (that's 15%, notes the New York Times, roughly the upper limit of most wine). As for alcohol-related health problems, "it is hard alcohol—rather than just beer or wine—that lands students on a hospital gurney," he said in a speech today.

The Post frames the new policy as tougher than the University of Virginia's, which bans mixed punches and kegs. The Wall Street Journal calls out two other universities to have made recent changes: Brown has banned alcohol at frat parties, and Swarthmore College's new policy includes a ban on both hard alcohol and drinking games. For now, Hanlon sees no need to do away with frats and sororities, though he warns he wants to see "meaningful, lasting reform" in the next three to five years or he'll reconsider that position. One such voluntary reform is apparently under way: Fraternities and sororities are doing away with the "pledge" period, per the Post. (More Dartmouth stories.)