Yes, there was an alcohol related death at Denison a few years ago. I wasn’t on campus at the time, but from what I’ve heard, it was devastating and brought the entire community together. I think that has also forced the students reevaluate their attitude towards alcohol. When I was a prospie, drinking and drug use actually seemed more prevalent to me at Kenyon, though I’d guess it’s about the same at both schools
Also I choose Denison over both Kenyon and Oberlin with no regrets. If Weinberg (the new president) gets his way, Denison will be commonly thought of as on par with both of those schools within the following years. Denison’s quality is superior to its reputation, but hopefully the reputation will catch up soon.