August, 2002

Dear Students, Parents, Guardians,

Each year at this time I write to the family of WPI students about the number one health and safety issue on college campuses today, alcohol and other drug use. One need only to pick up a magazine or newspaper to hear about the national tragedy of students losing their education, or worse, their lives, because of dangerous or binge drinking.

WPI, like most colleges in the country, has a policy which sets out the colleges’ expectations regarding responsible use of alcohol by those students who are of legal age as well as the penalties for those who choose to violate the policy. The City of Worcester has increased their enforcement efforts related to underage drinking, open container laws, and drinking and driving as they attempt to work with the local colleges and universities on this important issue.

At WPI we believe that education and environmental change are key to changing students’ choices about the use of alcohol. To that end, WPI has committed staff and financial resources to increasing alternative social, cultural and athletic programming. With the opening of the Campus Center and the renovation of WPI’s bowling alley, WPI has committed over $17M to support alternative programming and programming venues.

Peer pressure and students’ exaggerated belief that almost all students use alcohol in college (actually 65%) are just some of the reasons students begin or continue to use alcohol. I have enclosed what I feel is an excellent publication from the Century Council which encourages dialog between parents and students about alcohol. We hope that you will have such a dialog about expectations, rights and responsibility with your student before he or she comes to campus.

WPI’s expectations can be found on the Student Life web page for those who have Internet access. All students are given a print copy of these policies at the beginning of each academic year.

Your participation in our prevention efforts is crucial. Please let us know how the university can assist you in continuing what needs to be an ongoing conversation about the effects of binge drinking and alcohol abuse. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Janet Begin Richardson
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs
and Dean of Student Life

CAMPUS RESOURCE LIST:

Bernard H. Brown
Vice President for Student Affairs
508-831-5060

Janet Begin Richardson
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs
and Dean of Student Life
508-831-5201

WPI Campus Police
John J. Hanlon, Chief
Director, Public Safety
508-831-5433

WPI Health Center
Regina Roberto, Director
508-831-5520

Student Development & Counseling Center
Thomas J. Balistrieri, Ed.D., Director
508-831-5540