Hanszen Freshman Hospitalized in Alcohol Incident Freshman Reported Hazy Memory

VOLUME 79, NO. 7 ERIK LEIDAL IN A BOX OCTOBER 4,1991 Events set Hanszen freshman hospitalized in alcohol incident freshman reported hazy memory. guardian's consent to treat the mi- Rice. for music by Rodney Gibbs According to roommates, the fresh- nor. The father was eventually In the past, the University has man returned to the party and con- reached and arrived at the hospital at not intervened in parties held be- A Hanszen College freshman sumed ten additional shots. the same time as Waldman. hind close doors to enforce alcohol school's was taken to Park Plaza hospital As the freshman's condition After approximately two hours in policy regulations. Whether clas- Tuesday, September 24, after worsened, the roommates unsuc- thehospital,thefreshmanwenthome sified as a public or private party, drinking sixteen shots of straight cessfully attempted to induce vomit- with the father. alcohol policy violations are evi- big debut tequila at Hanszen's traditional Te- ing. A party co-host, a trained drunk- dent quila Night' room party. The sitter, and friends subsequently came Reactions to the Party "There's little doubt this is a by Michelle Price freshman, released to family later to the freshman's room after hearing violation in [the alcohol policy]," that night, registered a blood alco- about the intoxication level After de- Waldman and the father both ex- said Stebbings. hol level of 0.25 and a blood-oxygen liberation and at the advice of the pressed disbelief at the occurrence Waldman said that Tequila Rice University President George percentage of 82% Legal intoxica- drunk sitter, the friends and room- of such an event Night' crossed the line from a pri- Rupp, Shepherd School Dean tion is 0.1 blood alcohol level and mates notified the campus police and Waldman stated, "It's pathetic that vate to apublic party at the moment Michael Hammond, and a represen- brain damage may begin at a blood- left for the emergency room. [Hanszen has] so few traditions, yet the campus police were notified, tative for architect Ricardo Bofill an- oxygen ratio below 80%. The party, En route to a car in the Hanszen they call [Tequila Night'] a tradi- and when college leaders willingly nounced a schedule of dedication a Hanszen tradition, is held annu- hosted it and kept watch over it ceremonies for Alice Pratt Brown ally by upperclassmen immediately 'One serious misconception is that the alcohol Burnett added, "If a party is an- Hall beginning today. An opening following the third of the 'Big Three' nounced publicly, it becomes a week celebration is planned from round of exams for freshmen. policy stops at the door to the student's room. public party-* All freshmen were October 4 to October 10, culminat- The father said the freshman invited to Tequila Night' during ing in a program of works performed could have slipped into a coma dinner announcements that by Da Camera. without treatment. "I told [the We don't say what goes on in your own room isevening . The dedication ceremony is freshman] to be careful with tequila scheduled for 3:00 p.m., October 4 because ifll slip up on you." The your own business. We do say we will not enterOther implications followed by a reception and tours of father also reported prior knowl- the building. The Rice Chorale and edge of the freshman's intention to your room.' The direct involvement of col- the Shepherd School Symphony Or- attend the party. lege leaders at the eventrepresents chestra conducted by Larry Rachleff The incident once again calls —Ronald Stebbings the most severe blow against the will preform for the general public on attention to the campus alcohol existing alcohol policy, several Monday, October 7. On Tuesday the policy. parking lot the group asked a patrol- tion." university officials said. Rice Chorale and the Shepherd Sing- "There is, I regret to say, a large ling campus police officer to drive The legitimacy of this event as a "I'm very concerned that it ers will present a program featuring level of ignorance in regard to the the intoxicated freshman to the hos- firm tradition is emphasized by its wasnt arandomgroup [who hosted alcohol policy," said Vice President pital. According to the Mends, the inclusion in the 1991 Hanszen Ori- the party]," said Waldman. "But it 'The first rehearsal with of Student Affairs Ronald Stebbings. officer instructed them to lay the entation Handbook which states, "life <was the very core of the group [of "One serious misconception is that freshman in the wet grass while the at Hanszen isn't simply a string of Hanszenites] that was respected the alcohol policy stops at the door officer returned to his car. Shortly semi-formal dinners, thank God. the most" the symphony and the to the student's room. Wedont say afterward, the officer attempted to There are some decidedly UNformal The Hanszen member who an- what goes on in your own room is question the incapacitated freshman. events. Freshman Tequila Night? nounced the party and hosted the chorale in the new your own business. We do say we Two friends said the officer You'll see. Better not to describe it event is a member of the Hanszen will not enter your room." warned the freshman to return to the here—besides which, it more or less college cabinet and an orientation concert hall was the Dean of Students Sarah Burnett college or the officer would issue a evades definition." week adviser. The host's suitemate, referred the case to the University Public Intoxication (PI) violation. The "Rice seems not only to sanction and a party co-host was also an first time we felt like a Court for further investigation freshman was not able to respond to [Tequila Night']," said the father, integral member of Hanszen's O- based on information gathered the officer nor to return to the room. "but to say 'no problem' when it week. cohesive music school, from the campus police and various After more discussion and the arrival happens. In fact it's a tradition. I According to Director of Stu- reports of the incident The Court of a second patrol car, the original wonder why [Rice] continues to dent Activities Sarah Nelson will determine the actual violations officer drove the student to the sanction it" Crawford, the co-host is also a It was just really of the alcohol policy, decide who emergency room. Witnesses stated Stebbings called the father the trained university bartender. will be held responsible, if anyone, that the parking lot event took ap- following morning to offer an apology The host admitted that the "bar exciting.' and will set any penalties. The in- proximately half an hour. for the incident. According to was run extremely badly. When we vestigation is currently underway. According to Police Chief Mary Stebbings, the university is currently [the party hosts] were there, it was —Erik Leidal Voswinkel, "From our standpoint it under increased pressure from the run all right But what it basically What actually happened was a public intoxication." Howev^, federal government to monitor, and needed was one bartender to watch contemporary American song-wril Burnett said the University does not perhaps to intervene in, the activities the whole time." ers. The freshman, who had never prosecute PI charges when the indi- in students'private rooms. This added The host left in the middle of the Rehersals for the opening cer- consumed alcohol before, planned vidual is hospitalized because the pressure is outlined in the Schools and party to console another upset emonies have provided the first to attend Teqtiila Night' following University does not want inebriated Community section of the Drug Free freshmen. The other host was in glimpse to the many benefits of the theTuesday night physics tot The students in need of medical attention Work Place Act. and out of the room for the dura- new building for Shepherd school freshman consumed six tequila to fear hospital admittance. The university is currently re- tion of the party. students. shots and left the room party be- Following a failed initial attempt wording its policy to more closely The incident occurred eight "The first rehearsal with the sym- fore feeling the effects of the alco- to reach the student's father from the reflect the federal government's in days after a meeting asking stu- phony and the chorale in the new hol Within half an hour, the alco- hospital, friends contacted Hanszen order to avoid ambiguity, according dent leaders to work to ensure that concert hall was the first time w felt hol began to take effect and the Master Peter Waldman to provide to Shirley Redwine, legal council for SEE HANSZEN, PAGE 8 like a cohesive music school. It was just really exciting," said music ma- jor Erik Leidal. "We believe the new home ofThe Chance denied request for second trial in suit Shepherd School of Music will meet the need of our students and faculty, complaints by Rice faculty, accord- trial had been difficult on him and should be excluded from the ruling as well as provide our aud iences with by Kraettli Epperson ing to Chance's motion. characterized it as an "outrage." included the statement that Chance's a superb concert hall for all types of The case began in April 1988when Shirley Redwine, Rice general writings were, in comparison to her music," said Hammond. Federal District Judge Melinda professor Chance filed suit against counsel, stated after the denial of the colleagues, "inferior," her teaching According to Rupp, the building Harmon issued an order September Rice University for sex discrimina- latest motion, "As far as I'm con- "in the mean," and her, work on com- "anchors what will soon be the sec- 24 denying English professor Jane tion in pay, terms and conditions of cerned, the matter is closed." mittees "marked by untimely resig- ond great quadrangle of Rice." Chance a new triaL The order read, employment She also charged Alan Redwine said that any appeal that nationsand unprofessional conflicts." Award-winning Spanish architect "Having duly considered plaintiff Grob, then-chair of the English de- Chance might now make would be to Chance also asked that the state- Ricardo Bofill used the description of Chance's Motion for New Trial Or,.

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