Alcohol

Heavy consumption of alcohol by students poses risks to their ability to function effectively in a demanding educational setting and can interfere with the health and safety of all members of the Lafayette community and its neighbors in Easton, Pennsylvania.

Alcohol Oversight Committee
The College's Alcohol Oversight Committee (AOC), established in 2003 to enhance and oversee the effectiveness of existing programs and recommend new approaches, uses the National Institute of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse (NIAAA) list of best practices as the basis for its recommendations regarding policies and educational interventions. The AOC meets regularly throughout the year and is comprised of representatives from Athletics, Counseling Services, Dean of Students, the Faculty, Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, Health Services, Public Safety, Residence Life, the Student Body, and Student Life Programs. The AOC has adopted the following position statement: Lafayette's position on the use of alcohol is not one of prohibition, but one of education and accountability. We uphold Pennsylvania state laws. Our primary appeal to students who choose to drink is that they will make legal and low-risk choices that do not diminish the success or well being of themselves or others.

The National Institute of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse released its landmark task force report - A Call to Action: Changing the Culture of Drinking at U.S. Colleges - in 2002. This document encouraged institutions of higher education to implement evidence-based strategies to combat high risk drinking and proposed a "3-in-1" framework for interventions that target: (1) individuals, including at-risk or alcohol-dependent drinkers, (2) the student population as a whole, and (3) the college and the surrounding community. The full text of the report can be found here http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/NIAAACollegeMaterials/TaskForce/TaskForce_TOC.aspx

Good Samaritan Policy
In the event that a student or student organization assists an intoxicated Lafayette College student in procuring Public Safety and/or professional medical assistance, neither the intoxicated student nor the individual or group who provides assistance for that individual will be subject to formal College disciplinary action for (1) being intoxicated, or (2) having provided that person with alcohol. This refers to isolated incidents only and does not excuse or protect those who flagrantly and/or repeatedly violate the College's alcohol policy. It applies only to cases of suspected extreme intoxication or other life-threatening circumstances due to alcohol and does not extend to related infractions such as assault or property damage. Although formal disciplinary action will not be invoked, mandatory referrals for educational sessions and/or assessment may be made.