Dean of Student Affairs Tim Foster joined Bowdoin Student Government's (BSG) weekly meeting on Wednesday to field questions on a wide range of issues currently facing Bowdoin students.
The discussion included topics such as the effectiveness and evolution of the College House System, as well as the misuse of alcohol and the surge in alcohol-related transports. BSG representatives were concerned about whether the College House System was meeting expectations, citing the number of alcohol-related transports. Residential Life's College House System replaced fraternities at the College in 1997.
According to Foster, the fraternity system fueled a sense of exclusivity that did not align with the principles of the College. He explained that the College House System differs tremendously from the fraternities. According to Foster, the fraternity system created fractions within the Bowdoin community, and did little more than highlight differences, even in places of congregation such as the dining halls.
According to Foster, the strength of the College House System is its continual evolution, and student leaders have the ability to create traditions that set the culture for the College.
"The beautiful thing about the College House System is the opportunity for houses to reinvent themselves on an annual basis," he said. "I always thought that certain houses could affiliate with certain service agencies in the community, and as different generations of students come to live in that house, they arrive with an understanding that the house has an association with [a particular] agency."
With regard to alcohol on campus, Foster was adamant that change would not simply come from the administration, but rather a cultural shift within the student population.
So far this year, the College has had 21 transports—eight first years, eight sophomores, four juniors and one senior. Twelve of those transports were women and nine were men.
Foster also challenged another notion that transported students are always inexperienced drinkers. He noted that some students struggling with emotional health issues use alcohol as a form of self-medication.
It still remains to be seen whether the increased number of alcohol-related transports in the last two years—26 last year, 21 so far this year—is an anomaly or an emerging pattern. Foster pointed out that almost 1 percent of the student body has been transported to the hospital for acute alcohol poisoning.
Inter-House Council President Georgia Nowers '12 discussed the importance for sophomores, juniors and seniors to establish a healthy atmosphere for incoming first years, given how formative the first weeks are for the incoming first year class.
"The first week of school forms a lot of the ideas that first years have about campus, which puts a lot pressure on houses to set a good example," said Nowers.
Foster said he hopes to see a new group of student leaders establish a new precedent by challenging the dangers of heavy drinking that currently affect the College. Foster cited an example from Harvard, where students that "get mangled" are either ousted from parties or not welcomed back.
In a follow-up interview with the Orient, Foster stressed that students have a responsibility in sculpting the drinking culture at the College.
"I think it's important for us, Residential Life and Student Affairs, to support students, but I think it's really important for students to shape the community," said Foster. "I want to resist socially engineering [the community] or micromanaging."
"I think that is how people learn, by rolling up their sleeves and trying new things out," he added.