Administration Angry About Spring Weekend Drinking, Litter

In reaction to Spring Weekend festivities, Dean of Students Frederick Alford sent a campus-wide e-mail scolding students for drinking openly and littering on the main quad.

"I write to remind you that College policy, as well as local law, does not permit the open consumption of alcohol in public areas," said Alford. "Beyond the drinking, there was a distressing problem with trash [.] However, it is unconscionable to ask hard working men and women to have to come in on their days off to clean up after others."

Furthermore, Alford warned that the school would be cracking down on violations of those rules. "The activities on the Quadrangle this past weekend leave us with no choice but to ask Campus Safety and College officials to enforce this rule more vigorously," he said. "You don't have to be reminded that exams and final papers are upon us. I know that each and every one of you is capable of better than the littering and drinking rituals of the past weekend."

The quad remained full last weekend from Thursday afternoon to Sunday afternoon, as per tradition students spread out blankets with friends, played games and listened to music. Students who participated in Spring Weekend events had mixed feelings about Alford's message.

"It should be common sense that we pick up after ourselves and don't leave trash on the quad," said Kai Paine '11. "I think it's kind of embarrassing that he had to send out an e-mail in the first place."

On the other hand, other students found Alford's message to be unnecessary. "I think it's silly and I saw a bunch of drunk people cleaning up a ton of stuff that wasn't even their trash on Sunday evening," said Meg McEvoy '11. "I think they made too big a deal over nothing and made it seem we were all slobs, even though a ton of people went out of their way to help."

"I guess what bothers me is that the issue is about trash," said Holly Yarmosh '11. "We all drank on the quad, but it won't be out of control again because it was Spring Weekend. Also, wouldn't it make more sense to have trash cans not just on the perimeter of the quad?" Yarmosh also reported seeing some members of the administration also taking part in public drinking.

A few students even reported seeing a Dean funneling a beer with students on the quad. Alford said he had not heard about such an incident and would be surprised if it was true.

"I just think it's a bit ridiculous," said Molly Shaw '11. "Spring Weekend is an annual tradition and activities such as drinking during the day on the quad really don't happen in the same way at any other time during the year. Considering that everyone was well aware of what was going on, sending out an e-mail after the fact just seems hypocritical."