Though Princeton Borough Police issued two summonses during the weekend for alcohol serving violations — the first such citations within three years — officials say that there has not been a change of policy toward underage drinking at the University.
The recent charges do not represent a police crackdown on underage drinking at the 'Street,' Borough Police Capt. Anthony Federico said, but they are more the result of Borough Police gathering conclusive evidence.
In the second citation issued for serving alcohol to an underage University student within a two day period, a 26-year-old man was charged Saturday after a 19-year-old student was transported to Princeton Medical Center for intoxication.
Borough Police has not charged individuals for serving alcohol to underage University students in several years.
In an example of a major incident that warranted such charges, five club officers from Charter Club and Cloister Inn were issued summons in 1988 after seven students were sent to PMC and 39 to McCosh Infirmary on sign-ins night.
Borough Police arrested David Goulet, 26, of Pasadena, Calif., for serving alcoholic beverages to a 19-year-old male who had become intoxicated and passed out, according to a Borough Police press release.
Goulet said he had purchased and provided the alcohol for a party in Forbes College and accepted responsibility for the incident, said Barry Weiser, Public Safety crime prevention specialist.
The crime was reported at 1:11 a.m. Saturday.
The first weekend incident was reported to Borough Police at 12:19 a.m. Friday. The police issued a summonses for serving alcohol to a minor to an officer of the Ivy Club for an incident involving a 20-year-old female member of the club.
New information from Public Safety yesterday filled in some details between diverging stories related by the Borough Police and the individuals charged.
Police charged another officer with obstructing the administration of the law because they believe he and other members brought her out of the club and onto the curb, Federico said.
"It was pretty clear from our investigation that the reason that was done was so the club would not get in trouble," he said.
However, the club officer has said he stayed with the woman on the sidewalk, and her friend accompanied her in the ambulance to PMC, where she was treated and released to McCosh.
Public Safety was already on the scene when the police, who have jurisdiction over Prospect Avenue, arrived.
Public Safety received a phone call from a student at 12:04 a.m. and dispatched two proctors and a sergeant to the Ivy Club, Weiser said. They found the woman with a few friends sitting on the curb. A club officer was also with her, he added.
"She was conscious but incoherent," Weiser said. "She was unable to stand or sit without assistance."
The police report said the woman was unconscious upon police arrival.
Two students who were on the scene — but not the student who identified himself as an officer — said it was first brought to their attention when another student came into the club and reported that there was an intoxicated woman outside and that she had fallen, Weiser said.
The woman later told police she had been drinking at Ivy.
"Remember," Weiser said, "the Borough is under all this pressure to reduce alcohol consumption," especially after Houseparties weekend.
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