University changes alcohol policy, adds amnesty clause

I'm glad they implemented the amnesty clause - the school at which I spent my first semester of college (the only semester I spent there) had a similar clause, and it seemed to work quite well. Granted, it was a much smaller school, but the principle is the same: underage students will be much more likely to get their friends help if there is assurance that they won't get in trouble for doing so.

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• Posted by G_E on May 5, 2009 at 12:38 p.m.
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University changes alcohol policy, adds amnesty clause

The amnesty clause is an excellent idea.

However the "tattle to mommy and daddy" notification is a violation of student rights. I hope that student leaders will fight this for the sake of student privacy and defend the choices of young adults.

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• Posted by OldGoldLegs on May 5, 2009 at 2:11 p.m.
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University changes alcohol policy, adds amnesty clause

Wise move on the medical amnesty policy. However, the notifying the parents thing? That will now work against the amnesty clause... You come home from the bar, you're 18, you find your roommate/friend so drunk you need to call 911, but you know that their parents will find out if you do? You just granted amnesty to the person calling for help, but not the person needing it? What if these people are friends?

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• Posted by 01KUgrad on May 5, 2009 at 3:55 p.m.
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University changes alcohol policy, adds amnesty clause

Well that's a blatant invasion of an adult's privacy.

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• Posted by fletch on May 5, 2009 at 4 p.m.
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University changes alcohol policy, adds amnesty clause

It's a tough call. Although I understand the need to alert family about possible medical reasons (such as possible substance abuse) fletch brings up a good point that these students (legally) are adults. I highly doubt a notified parent would go so far as to treat their child like a little kid but I imagine an earful of lectures/reprimands would be enough to get a student to be more aware of their actions.

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• Posted by ShortyAsian24 on May 5, 2009 at 4:34 p.m.
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University changes alcohol policy, adds amnesty clause

What about being charged by the city?

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• Posted by 5ive on May 5, 2009 at 5:05 p.m.
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University changes alcohol policy, adds amnesty clause

The new amnesty policy is definitely moving forward in a proactive direction and I applaud the University for making this positive change. Ultimately everyone is responsible for their own actions and personal choices, and how fortunate when sometimes in life when there are no "DO OVERS" there might be an opportunity afforded for an intervention for more positive, responsible changes to be made, there is no negative. If a "friend" gets into a condition where 911 is needed for a medical intervention to potentially save a person's life then I would think that parental notification is the least of the anyone's problems. The consequence and finality of death is more punitive than any parent's "disapproval"...parental disapproval does not necessarily create change in their "kids", there is still free will and choice on the part of the individual....

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• Posted by diamondgirl on May 5, 2009 at 4:55 p.m.
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University changes alcohol policy, adds amnesty clause

ShortyAsian, You don't know people who treat their kids like kids? I know people who got MIPs and their parents stopping paying their tuition. This is a big university in a conservative state, I'm pretty sure there are a lot of parents who frown on underage drinking enough to pull their kid from KU. Don't assume because your parents "lectured" you, that other people will have the same consequences.

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• Posted by 01KUgrad on May 5, 2009 at 5:01 p.m.
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University changes alcohol policy, adds amnesty clause

What if an underaged person is caught but doesn't go to KU? Does KU notify those parents? This article, and others, LJWorld, CJonline, etc., raise more questions than they answer.

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• Posted by topcity24 on May 5, 2009 at 5:43 p.m.
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University changes alcohol policy, adds amnesty clause

KU is going to tell parents because of what happened in Jason Wren's case. He had to leave university housing, but his parents couldn't figure out WHY. They had no idea.

I think instead of notifying parents, they should just allow parents to call up and get answers. That way, if a parent isn't worried about their child, it won't invade the privacy of that child/adult.

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• Posted by Katie4708 on May 5, 2009 at 5:57 p.m.
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University changes alcohol policy, adds amnesty clause

I feel sorry for you college kids today. When I went to KU from 80-85 we could drink 3.2 beer at 18, even on campus. If we could die at 18 in the military why could we not drink at 18? I had Keg parties in my room at Oliver Hall and Matt our RA would join us. (He even chipped in) You could have beer in your dorm fridge and grab a brew at the Union or walk down to the Hawk, The Wheel, The Crossing, or Johnny's and have a 3.2 brew too.

At the start of the school year KU (yes the University) would throw "Megga-Keggers" in front of Allen Field House and supply 200 kegs of free beer, hire bands and give a big fat welcome to all the students. Can you imagine that happening in todays nanny state with the radical anti-drinking campaigns dominating policy?

All in all 3.2 brew at 18 was a good policy. It gave those who wanted to drink and were going to drink anyway a gradual adjustment to the drug instead of swigging half a liter of vodka and acting like a fool at one's first big college party. It's almost impossible to get alcohol poisoning from 3.2 beer but a lot of kids die from it by drinking the hard stuff. And sure we wanted the hard stuff and sometimes got it but with the easy, legal option of buying weak beer, most times it wasn't worth the hassle getting the hard stuff. Yea those were the days lol, legal weak beer and $458 tuition.

Of course the Feds came along in the mid 80's and told Kansas and other states if they didn't change the drinking age to 21 they would withhold matching highway funds so the states caved in one by one. A pity.

Now you can't drink anything and they call your mommy if you get caught. What a joke. Right now I live in Rio de Janeiro Brazil where the legal drinking age is 18 but you can drink even younger but you know what? There are hardly any drunks here compared to the USA. College students here go out and have a few beers but rarely get very drunk. Maybe because drinking is not so taboo. Maybe because they've been allowed to drink an occasional beer or a little vino at 16 in front of their parents. Maybe because they've had access to it for so long it's not such a big deal. Maybe because people who are treated like adults learn to act like adults...

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• Posted by JayhawkInRio on May 5, 2009 at 6:13 p.m.
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University changes alcohol policy, adds amnesty clause

Amazingly well said JayhawkInRio. I agree completely that our culture pushes the issue of legal adults (18-21) drinking extremely underground. When I first came as a freshmen the only thing I drank was vodka, and so did everyone else. When the issue is closeted like it is, a total secret that no one is suppose to know about except your friends, there are some major dangers and repercussions that can come from it. If the drinking age doesn't change (which it most likely won't for a while) then I'm glad the University is looking to deal with it head on then just trying to enforce unenforceable rules. There should be a focus on prevention, responsibility, and safety. It's going to happen no matter what and wagging a finger at it obviously isn't working.

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• Posted by juniper08 on May 6, 2009 at 1:19 a.m.
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University changes alcohol policy, adds amnesty clause

No Rio de Janeiro has other problems... http://us.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/02/05/brazil.traffickers/index.html

However, I do agree about allowing 3.2 beer. It would decrease the students away from the hard liquor. 3.2 bars would be patronized rather than the hard alcohol bars.

But, stupid behavior, harming themselves or others, should be reported to parents. Parents are the ones who love and care about their kids the most and can provide direction and help. Parents are usually the ones who sent them, or helped to send them, there in the first place!

Congratulations KU for doing what is right. It my not be popular with everyone, but it will save lives.

Who can answer this one? Car rental companies will not rent you a car unless you are 25 or older. Can you tell us why? You might be able to enter into contracts, but you can't purchase alcohol for a reason and you can't rent a car under 25. BECAUSE YOUR BRAIN ISN'T FULLY DEVELOPED! No insult meant, but it's a medical fact.

OK, I said I wouldn't post. But I had to share 2 cents one last time....I hope.

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• Posted by DenverDad on May 6, 2009 at 8:55 a.m.
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University changes alcohol policy, adds amnesty clause

DenverDad, I actually heard the helicopters on one of those drug raids. Usually those helicopters have armed men hanging out the doors aiming M-16s. I know middle class people who go up to those drug selling points to buy whatever it is they buy (even though it's illegal, go figure) but having lived in LA and seen and heard similar stuff I was not too shook up. In some ways Rio is like the wild-west used to be... Believe me drugs are not the only concerns but I like the experience so far. It puts my USA in a context otherwise unknown.

I actually rented many a car when I was under the age of 25. It just cost a lot more because of the risk. If your right and it isn't allowed now is just one more sign of public and private encroachment on our freedoms. And yes I do consider the ability to rent a car at 24 years old a type of freedom just as I view (as i think you do) the right to drink 3.2 beer at 18 a deserved freedom.

As far as brains not being fully developed at 25 that might be true but I know a lot of people who in their 30's and 40's seem to suffer from the same condition. LOL

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• Posted by JayhawkInRio on May 6, 2009 at 9:42 a.m.
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University changes alcohol policy, adds amnesty clause

DenverDad, I heard Dartmouth has a keg for a mascot. You should totally go harangue them.

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• Posted by pantheon on May 6, 2009 at 9:45 a.m.
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University changes alcohol policy, adds amnesty clause

DenverDad,

The brain is supposed to be fully developed at 21 not 25. Get your facts straight.

Not to digress, but the reason why you can't rent a car until you're 25, w/o paying quite a bit more, is because statistically people are better drivers once they hit 25.

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• Posted by topcity24 on May 6, 2009 at 12:38 p.m.
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