Colleges want a temperate, sober discussion

Two colleges, two college presidents, two welcoming speeches for new students (two of whom were my kids).

But there was one common message: that alcohol abuse and other behavioral problems are the No. 1 hurdle to succeeding in college.

It stood out because it was so jarring, slammed as it was amid the encouraging words about new beginnings and challenges at this life-altering time of life.

However, it was not unexpected. Drinking and college are often in the news. And as this academic year began, it became even more of a story because of the Amethyst Initiative, which seeks to reopen the national discussion over adulthood, at least where alcohol is concerned.

So far about 130 college presidents have signed the measure, taking plenty of heat as a result. Led by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, critics claim the presidents want to abdicate their responsibility to enforce drinking laws and ride herd over their students.

MADD and others claim that the 1984 congressional decision to use federal highway funds as a club to force the states to return to a 21-year-old drinking age is primarily responsible for the decline in alcohol-related driving deaths.

In truth, there were so many changes made to laws, culture, auto safety and trauma care since the early 1980s that it is difficult to point to one cause of the decline. Nor is it certain that deaths will return to previous levels if the drinking age is lowered but the other changes remain.

What is clear is that predicting blood in the streets is an effective way to silence the discussion. Still, the university presidents persist, citing their own statistics revealing an epidemic of binge drinking among 18- to 21-year-olds, and not just among those enrolled in college.

The underground nature of young-adult drinking contributes to the bingeing, and most of the behavior problems at colleges – from assault to sexual abuse to academic struggles – can be linked to drinking.

But colleges are left to preach abstinence only, knowing that the message is lost on many students. Wouldn’t it be better, the presidents argue, to talk about moderation and responsibility, to bring it out into the open where older adults can keep an eye on it, where responsible drinking can be modeled?

I’d prefer that my kids abstain. But since the temptations are so strong, because the desire to break free and try adult things is so powerful, I’m not sure that is likely. So I’d rather they walk across the street to a college pub than hitch a ride to some animal house off campus.

The initiative suggests state-by-state approaches that might include lowering the age to 19 or creating permits that require people to be out of high school and to complete a course on alcohol dangers and responsibility.

Only part of the debate is statistical. The rest is political and social. At what age are we considered adults? While 18 is not old enough to drink legally (in America but not most other nations) it is old enough to sign a contract, to vote, to serve in adult prison, to enlist and fight for the nation.

One of the signers of the initiative was Pacific Lutheran University President Loren Anderson. He said he isn’t sure what the proper age is but he thinks having the discussion is important because the laws and limits in place now aren’t working.

“I’m not walking around with a sign that says ‘18 or Bust,’” Anderson said. He has faced some criticism, but Anderson said that when he has a chance to explain the issue, people are willing to join the discussion.

What has disappointed him most is how it triggered the American urge to argue.

“Within days people were saying, ‘This is what I believe,’ and the immediate tendency is to attack the motives of the other side,” Anderson said. “Our willingness to suspend judgment and think about an issue? That’s hard for our society to do.”

Peter Callaghan: 253-597-8657

peter.callaghan@thenewstribune.com

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