Editorial: Why can’t of-age adults drink at KU?

By Sam Lamb

Monday, October 20, 2008

The University is, officially, a dry campus. Alcohol is not allowed anywhere.

But students drink anyway. Considering that banning alcohol has been ineffective, the University should consider changing its policy to allow alcohol on campus for students who are 21 or older.

For students who are already 21, banning alcohol makes no sense. These students are considered responsible adults everywhere else but on this campus. This is tantamount to saying that students’ ability to responsibly consume alcohol is dependent on where they are geographically.

In addition, students who are forced to break rules to consume alcohol they can obtain legally may not see the harm in buying alcohol for students who are minors. They are already breaking rules and smuggling booze like a criminal, so there is little incentive to follow the rest of the rules about alcohol.

Drinking in bars is seen as an alternative to the ban, but there are problems with that.

The ban encourages students to spend money away from campus, depriving on-campus facilities of potential revenue.

The Athletics Department would also benefit from a wet campus. One of the reasons NASCAR is popular is because drinking is allowed in the infield. The Athletics Department is missing out by keeping beer out of Allen Fieldhouse. It might even pay for some of those practice field trees.

Other colleges have policies that allow alcohol. For example, the official policy at Yale is that unless somebody calls in with a complaint, campus officials will take no action concerning alcohol use on campus. Princeton has no policy restricting alcohol use on campus by anyone over the age of 21. Neither does Cornell.

Obviously, alcohol does not stop a college from reaching for excellence.

The University should change its policy concerning alcohol. It is sending money away from the college and the Athletics Department, encouraging students to handle their booze irresponsibly and increasing the risk of drunken driving.

The policy is not working. Other colleges have realized that regulation and control of alcohol on campus is more effective than a dry campus policy, and it’s time our University did, too.

— — Sam Lamb, special to the editorial board

Comments

leehuaitu (anonymous) says...

Banning alcohol has been ineffective by whose standard? Let's see a study here, pal.

I'm not significantly opinionated either way, but I don't understand how NOT having alcohol on a few square miles encourages students to handle their liquor irresponsibly or increases the risk of drunken driving.

October 21, 2008 at 1:11 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Brandon_Minster (anonymous) says...

Why can't "of-age" adults refrain from an obscene kickoff chant? This isn't a campus of adults, it's a campus of overgrown children.

October 21, 2008 at 9:27 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ralphralph (anonymous) says...

How did 21 become "of age"?
The last time I glanced at the Constitution, which is supposed to be the supreme law of the land, it looked like a citizen becomes "of age" at 18, inasmuch as the rights and responsibilities of adulthood vest at that time. Reimposing prohibition on an arbitrarily selected segment of the adult popluation makes no sense and is contrary to our guiding principles. It also doesn't work any better than the original prohibition. People are going to make the decision themselves. Government may wish to encourage one decision over another, but should not - actually, cannot - make that decision for a part of the adult population.

October 22, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

cdneal08 (anonymous) says...

First of all, I'm fairly skeptical of the notion that 21 year-olds are responsible drinkers.

Studies indicate that drinkers below the age of 25 are far more likely to participate in binge drinking - a common occurrence among KU students. Those who participate in binge drinking are more likely to suffer from reduced academic performance, more likely to commit crimes, and are more likely to die in alcohol related accidents, among many other things.

If it is the case, then, that those who are under the age of 25 are significantly more likely to be binge drinkers, and binge drinking involves many negative consequences, then would the University be doing its job if it allowed alcohol use on campus?

As an academic institution, KU's responsibility is to make policies that promote the academic and emotional progression of its students. If it's well known that alcohol use by college-aged folks, in general, does not lead to positive results, then it is KU's duty to maintain an alcohol-free campus.

October 26, 2008 at 1:49 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

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