HANOVER, N.H., Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Dartmouth College has cracked down on partying by banning hard liquor on campus and telling the fraternities to clean up their act or be disbanded.
The new rules are an effort to address the rampant party culture that has been closely associated with the problem of sexual assault on campus. Dartmouth told groups and fraternities they must reform or be kicked off campus if they fail "to elevate and not denigrate the Dartmouth experience."
"In the majority of alcohol-induced medical transports, it is hard alcohol -- rather than just beer or wine -- that lands students on a hospital gurney," Dartmouth president Philip J. Hanlon said in a speech, and so "hard alcohol will not be served at events open to the public, whether the event is sponsored by the college or by student organizations."
Hanlon said it is a response to a surge of complaints that have tarnished the Ivy League's reputation and affected applications.
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"There are high stakes for Dartmouth," Hanlon told the Wall Street Journal. "This is a small, intimate place -- so when a student harms another student or themselves, it really tears this place apart."
Dartmouth is not the only prominent university to take these measures against alcohol on campus.
Brown University has banned alcohol in fraternities and is planning a review of its policies regarding alcohol on campus in an effort to stop sexual assault.
The University of Virginia banned hard alcohol from fraternity parties after an article exposed an alleged gang rape on campus -- the article was later retracted due to inaccurate and unverified information.
College campuses across the country have come under intense scrutiny for their handling of sexual assault. The mishandling of the alleged rape of a Florida State University student by star quarterback Jameis Winston caused a national outcry.
The Justice Department now has nearly 100 schools under investigation for its response to sexual assaults on campus. Many attribute the high amount of sexual assaults to alcohol use and believe the fraternity system is one of the core problems.
"If in the next three to five years, the Greek system does not engage in meaningful, lasting reform and we are unsuccessful in sharply curbing harmful behaviors, we will need to revisit its continuation on our campus," said Hanlon.
