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Alcohol in Academia
By Laura Knoy on Tuesday, February 23, 2010.
Underage drinking on campus has long been a fact of college life, and universities have struggled to control it. The latest example: the debate in Hanover over the use of undercover sting operations to infiltrate Dartmouth student parties. We’ll look at how New Hampshire’s colleges approach this problem, what seems to work and what doesn’t.
Guests
- Anne Lawing, Senior Assistant Vice President For Student Affairs at the University of New Hampshire
- Sheila Lambert, Coordinator of Wellness at Southern New Hampshire University
- TBA
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I am all for lowering the drinking age to 18. I attended UNH when the age was 18, just before it went to 21. We didn't have to have secret parties and quickly get drunk before getting caught. AND people didn't drink as much as a result. For those who think it will cause more drinking in under 18 at the high school level, I have news for you. High schoolers can get anything they want, in any amount at any time. They are well connected and this would not affect them at all. We have created massive binge drinking and disrespect for alcohol by having the age at 21.
Well, drunks used to drive motorcycles up and down the halls of Stoke when it was new... does that equal safe appropriate behavior after drinking? There were lots of car crashes and general mayhem back in the late '60's and '70's in the Durham area, too. Yes, HS kids can get alcohol. I know a Durham mom who gave my little brother beer when he was in middle school. I think she was pathetic and just contributed to the problem. It didn't help him any to be drunk at age 12!
SNHU supports the The Amethyst Initiative- a movement started by college university chancellors and presidents in 2008 to get lawmakers to lower the drinking age from 21 to 18 in hope of stopping abusive behavior by underage drinkers. Why doesn't UNH?
I realize that colleges and universities don't want to send away tuition paying customers but why do higher ed leaders continue to allow students to take up valuable academic resources if their top priority is drinking on weekly three or four night weekends? I suggest they're not college and university material and shouldn't be there. And yes, there has always been drinking on campuses but - I suggest - not to the extent of the last several decades.
We have a daughter who is a college sophomore. We felt that part of our job as a parent was to prepare our daughter for college life including drinking. We set high expectations (no drinking during the week – no drinking and driving or getting into a car with someone who has been drinking). Before she left for college, we allowed her to have a beer at home to experience what alcohol feels like and does to the body and the brain. We helped her understand what binge drinking is – and how to avoid it (one drink in one hour followed by water for the next hour etc). We encouraged her to have an adult on campus she could call if she felt she was in an unsafe situation. We keep the conversation open and talk freely about her partying activities at school – i.e. did she think she handled the party well or did she think she drank too much – what might she do the next time… And we encourage alternative activities that support who she is at her core. Parents have to be a part of this equation.
Given the climate, this approach sounds very sensible. How is it working out?
When you live in a city/town with a college you see first hand the effect that it has on it.I feel they need to live with respect and grace with in that place.Stepping over vomit, picking up beer cans and repairing the damage done to public and private places,is not something people should not have to live with.Having their peace taken from them, their homes violated.
It is not a right of passage. We never have the right to act in such away.We are all accountable.ALWAYS (well maybe when your 2)
Another vote for the liberal attitude. My daughter grew up with wine at dinner unless she planned to go out. Family dinner has always been a big thing. She was accepted at Dartmouth but chose to go elsewhere because of the drinking climate. She was still appalled by the drinking she saw freshman year and stuck to her "diet doctor pepper" because, in her words, if I'm going to drink, it'll be the good stuff with people I know well.
If we are talking about it it is a problem
Great show-- guests-- callers today. Huge American societal problem. I've seen it from many angles -- police officer, teacher, child of alcoholic father. Enforcement is a major, appriopriate piece. Drunks kill people. The statistics show that. Education is important, too. Giving children drinks is not education. I doesn't matter what Europeans do, they have a different culture than us. What works for them won't necessarily be successful here. Don't give kids booze! Impairment equals brain development issues long term and deystroys judgement short term. I could go on...
I would just like to point out one thing that I think is flawed about your argument. You say " Drunks kill people." I would like to contend that sober people kill people too. Of course drunk drivers kill people and driving is an unacceptable undertaking while under the influence of alcohol. But merely presenting facts to kids about bad things that happen when people drink alcohol will have little to no impact on their decision to drink because they won't believe you- kids are stubborn and lean best from experience. Until people are responsibly introduced to the substance which CAN be responsibly consumed, and is safe at an appropriate age the problem will persist.
On a side note the overly strict enforcement of drinking age on a college campus is an unnecessary waste of resources and places an unnecessary burden on the innocent college students who are victims of this ludicrous law. A friend of mine enjoying a few cold beers on a friday night was arrested and charged with underage drinking, he was troubled with having to go to court and pay thousands of dollars for a lawyer, and he was kicked out of campus housing, all the while maintaining a 3.94 gpa in Microbiology. Making examples out of every college student who gets drunk is not a way to solve the problem. My friend wasted no time inviting us to his apartment the week after being kicked out of housing to enjoy some beers in a safer location. Introducing teens to alcohol at a younger age in a more controlled location than a sweaty, strobe/black lit frat house basement is the only way any responsibility will work its way into the college drinking culture. Its going to be around no matter what, and like with sex abstinence is not the best policy.
Your producer should not had participants that are employed by institutions that have not successfully addressed the the drunkenness problem. Drunks are not students just customers that must be retained. This American Life showed the dimension of the problem last month. Recent police reports from so called college towns would have been educational.