Williams College addresses binge drinking problems on campus

12:00AM / Wednesday, April 26, 2000Print Story | Email Story

Â Â Â Â The hospitalization of a prospective Williams College student for alcohol poisoning earlier this month has both resulted in the disciplining of five first-year students and the focusing of attention on the nationally-compelling issue of college students' binge drinking. Â Â Â Â The prospective student was found unconscious in his own vomit Monday, April 10 by three Williams College security officers. According to a story in last week's The Williams Record, when the officers arrived they found several students trying unsuccessfully to wake the prospective student, who remained unresponsive. Â Â Â Â Paramedics were summoned, and the prospective student was rushed by ambulance to North Adams Regional Hospital. Â Â Â Â After treatment, the prospective student fully recovered, according to the Record story. Â Â Â Â Neither Security Director Jean Thorndike, who was quoted in the Record story, nor Health Services Director Ruth Harrison, would speak about the incident, referring questions to college Director of Public Affairs James G. Kolesar. Â Â Â Â Speaking yesterday, Kolesar said that "five first-year students have had disciplinary action taken against them," although he declined to characterize the form that action took. Â Â Â Â "Care for the student is the first consideration," Kolesar stressed, adding in acknowledgement that colleges also must confront the issue of liability if a student or prospective student is harmed as a result of alcohol abuse. Â Â Â Â Binge drinking among college students is widespread and, according to a release last month from the Harvard School of Public Health, the percentage of frequent binge drinkers among college students has gone up. Â Â Â Â This is one of the findings of the College Alcohol Survey's 1999 survey, whose results are published in the March issue of the Journal of American College Health. Â Â Â Â The Harvard School of Public Health's College Alcohol Survey (CAS) is the foremost survey and analysis of college students' drinking behavior. The CAS defines binge drinkers as men who have had five or more drinks in a row at least once in the two-week period prior to being surveyed. For women, binge drinking entails four or more drinks. The initial CAS took place in 1993, followed by repeated surveys in 1997 and 1999. Â Â Â Â Binge drinking, in 1999 as in the previous surveys, is engaged in by four out of 10 students. Â Â Â Â But in the release, Henry Wechsler, director of college alcohol studies at Harvard School of Public Health, "What is particularly disturbing is that we have seen an increase in the percentage of frequent binge drinkers to 23 percent." Â Â Â Â Frequent binge drinkers are those who binge at least once per week. Frequent binge drinkers are nine times more likely to miss a class than are non-binge drinkers, and five times more likely to have unplanned sex or fail to use contraception. Â Â Â Â Secondhand effects of binge drinking - effects on the entire college community - include a higher likelihood of arguments or physical fights, experiencing unwanted sexual advances, and having study or sleep interrupted. Â Â Â Â And binge drinking has been associated with student deaths at, among other colleges, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, law enforcement officials recalled. Â Â Â Â Yesterday, Kolesar said drinking to excess has been "a college phenomenon as long as anyone can remember, but more attention is being paid to it." Â Â Â Â At Williams, "In the past couple of years we have instituted a more explicit range of sanctions," he said. Â Â Â Â If a student is found breaking college policy or state laws, these results can include being brought in to talk to security, and meeting with deans. Â Â Â Â And education about alcohol includes increasing student awareness about the ways students are responsible for each other's behavior, he said. Â Â Â Â An editorial in the April 18 Record argued for lowering the drinking age as a means to increase education of students about alcohol. Â Â Â Â And yesterday Kolesar said "we'd probably do a better job of educating students if the drinking age were lowered." Â Â Â Â That is because legally, no one under age 21 is supposed to be coming in contact with alcohol. Â Â Â Â The 21-year-old drinking age, said Kolesar, "complicates the educational component." Â Â Â Â And, he added, "some colleges have found that pushing drinking off campus is not the answer, because that brings driving into the picture." Â Â Â Â "I feel we are making progress [regarding student education about alcohol]," said Kolesar. Â Â Â Â Asked if students were informed that getting prospective students drunk, or allowing them to get drunk while under the students' umbrella of hospitality was not the done thing, Kolesar replied, "they certainly get told explicitly now." Â Â Â Â At the college's second overnight for prospective students, April 16-17, students and prospective students were told that they would be held to the code of the college, and that failure to do so could lead to the rescinding of their admission. Â Â Â Â Chief of Police Arthur A. Parker Jr. said alcohol abuse "clearly is an area of concern that both the college administration, its security department, and our department clearly share." Â Â Â Â "Clearly Cops in Shops [at liquor stores] is one method we're going to employ to try to educate and enforce the law, not just for students at Williams but anybody underage. Â Â Â Â Parker said when he addressed the house presidents at Williams on Monday "the question came up about lowering the drinking age." Â Â Â Â Recalling that the drinking age was lowered from 21 to 18 in 1973, [when he himself turned 18] Parker said it was raised again some six years later and that "part of the reason was because people my age had buried too many friends, and that's an education that I wouldn't want anybody else to have to learn."

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Friday Front Porch Feature: A Charming House Like New

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:57PM / Friday, December 19, 2025

The home prior to renovations.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Are you looking for a newly renovated home with great space? Then this might be the perfect fit for you!

Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are showcasing 100 Autumn Drive.

This three-bedroom, two-bathroom split level was built in 1965 and is 1,396 square feet on 0.32 acres.

The house was completely renovated recently. It includes a one-car garage, and comes with appliances including a dishwasher and stove/oven, and other major appliances.

The house is listed for $359,500.

We spoke with owners Michael Zeppieri and Chris Andrews, who did the renovations. Zeppieri is an agent with Alton and Westall Real Estate Agency.

What was your first impression when you walked into the home?

Zeppieri: I purchased this home to do a full renovation flip and saw tremendous potential in this mid-century split level home that had not been updated since it was built in the 1960s, in a great North Adams neighborhood.

Andrews: The house was a much different house when we first purchased it in 2022 (photo attached is from about 2010.) The interior was painted all in dark colors and we brightened it up with neutral colors. The transformation makes you feel like you are in a totally different house.

What were the recent renovations, any standout design features?

Zeppieri: The house has had a complete reconfiguration including new kitchen with high-end appliances, ceramic tiled baths, hardwood floors, new windows and roof ... just to name a few. All a buyer has to do is move in and enjoy.

Andrews: Yes, we renovated the entire house. New windows, new roof, all new custom black gutter system, new blacktop driveway, hardwood floors were installed through out the house. New kitchen and bathrooms as well as painting the exterior and interior of the house. New paver patio in the back yard.

What kind of buyer would this home be ideal for?

Zeppieri: The buyer for this home could be a first-time homebuyer or a retiree ... the location is close to attractions in North Adams ... and the property is located in Autumn Heights, which is a very small residential development with several long-term owners.

Andrews: This home is truly ideal for a variety of buyers. Whether a first-time homebuyer, a small family or even someone looking to downsize from a larger home.

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market?

Zeppieri: The location, price and move-in condition of this home make it a true market leader in the North Adams Market.

Andrews: This house is completely renovated and in a desirable location of North Adams. The natural light in the home really makes the interior pop. And with all the upgrades the home stays quite cool in the summer months.

Do you know any unique stories about the home or its history?

Zeppieri: This home was built for the Gould family in 1969 and they lived there till 2010. It was always a family home during that time in which the Goulds had two children ... and Virgina Gould managed Mohawk Forest Apartments and was a very active resident of North Adams.

Andrews: Built in about 1965.

What do the current owners love about this home?

Zeppieri: As the current owner it was a fun project to transform this home and get it ready for its next adventure with a new family to enjoy for many years.

Andrews: No one has lived in the house since we purchased the home. The new owners would be the first to live in the house since the renovations have been completed.

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?

Andrews: I would suggest seeing the house either on a sunny day or at twilight to really get a vision of how special the home feels.

You can find out more about this house on its listing here.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

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