Alcohol mixed with Bicker Week at Princeton University.
By: David Weinstein
Alcohol mixed with Bicker Week at university eating clubs played a large role in 16 students or students’ friends being treated at Princeton University’s McCosh Health Center, The Medical Center at Princeton or Capital Health System Fuld Campus this past weekend, law enforcement and security officials said Monday.
Two fist fights, one trip-and-fall incident, eager Bicker Week pledges and alcohol made for what one campus security official called an overwhelming weekend.
"We were overwhelmed, and so was McCosh," said Barry Weiser, crime-prevention specialist at the university’s Office of Campus Security on Monday. Having this many alcohol-related transports in one weekend is rare, he said, calling it an isolated event.
Capt. Charles Davall of the Princeton Borough Police Department said the incidents are further impetus to work with the university on a plan to keep such weekends, and underage drinking in general, from recurring.
"We want to reach out to them this week to get things moving," Capt. Davall said.
The use of undercover police officers at eating clubs has been discussed recently, and Capt. Davall said it would be discussed again at the next meeting, which could happen next week.
Also, a proposed ordinance that would give police officers the right to enforce underage drinking laws on private property, such as eating clubs, could soon come before the Borough Council, with the recommendation of the Police Department. The proposed ordinance is being reviewed by the council’s Public Safety Committee.
Would-be members of the university’s eating clubs pledge, or sign-up, during Bicker Week in hopes of becoming full members. There are initiation rites, such as those at fraternities and sororities, which often involve drinking, Mr. Weiser said.
On Friday, seven students were transported to McCosh Health Center, while four were taken to The Medical Center at Princeton, Mr. Weiser said.
Another student, apparently intoxicated, was taken to Fuld, Capt. Davall said.
On Saturday, Mr. Weiser said, four students or students’ friends were taken to McCosh.
All 15 who were transported to either McCosh or the Medical Center, Mr. Weiser said, had been drinking alcohol. He estimated that four or five of the students or students’ friends were under the legal drinking age of 21.
Borough police said a 20-year-old female student from Ohio, who was transported to the Medical Center at 6:30 p.m. Friday, was found unconscious in her Foulke Hall dormitory room after apparently consuming alcoholic drinks at a university eating club.
Borough police also said they responded to a report of a 20-year-old male university student from Arizona, unconscious and apparently intoxicated, vomiting and bleeding from a gash in the back of his head at the Cottage Club on Prospect Avenue. The man was taken to Fuld, where he was treated, and then transported to McCosh, police said.
No charges were filed in either incident.
"This year is not any different than years past," added Capt. Davall.