Tell Us What You Think: Lower Drinking Age?
Ohio State University President Gorden Gee is part of the group. However, a spokesperson for Gee said he just wants to spur discussion on the issue.
Members of Mother's Against Drunk Driving said they are opposed to the idea. They said lowering the age limit would lead to more deadly drunk driving accidents.
Reaction from local university officials: The University of Dayton's Assistant Dean of Students, Scott Markland, said they are not going along with the Amethyst Initiative. Markland said the university wants to discuss the topic further and will organize a forum to include students.
A spokeswoman for Wright State University said the school was not approached about the Amethyst Initiative. Wright State University President David Hopkins stated, "Wright State University thinks there should be continued discussions among institutions around the state on preventing high-risk drinking and what to do about it, but we have not discussed the possibility of lowering the drinking age."
Hopkins continued, "Wright State focuses on prevention programs, such as our Alcohol Task Force and participating in National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, to educate students on the misuse of alcohol. We're also working to engage students in positive, healthy ways outside of the classroom."
Miami University President David Hodge agreed that issues of underage drinking, including binge drinking, need to be addressed at universities, but he has not signed the Amethyst Initiative, as he feels this is not the means by which to do it.
Dr. Susan Mosley Howard, Miami University's Dean of Students and Associate Vice President of Student Affairs stated Miami University works within a wellness framework with a focus on student success, both academically and in life, and works to help students avoid anything that detracts from that success.
Dr. Howard continued, "We support learning objectives by creating a healthy living environment that supports students thinking about making choices that will help them, not harm them. Among the programs that help them do that is a mandatory interactive program called alcoholedu that incoming students must take before coming to campus. We also help them recognize and finds ways to manage stress, the number one issue with college students."
"There is research that shows the young adults’ brains are still developing during their early 20s, which is another reason to steer them away from alcohol and substance use," Dr. Howard said.
To learn more about the Amethyst Initiative, go to www.amethystinitiative.org.