This has been one of the worst academic years in decades for college student deaths - most of which have been alcohol related. Even in those that involved water intoxication and other mishaps of hazing, the best odds are that someone involved was using alcohol if it wasn't the victim.
A number of institutions have gone the prohibition route of creating an alcohol free environment, but it is obvious that if there is a will there is a way. The opinion is that these efforts are just knee-jerk reactions and efforts to reduce or eliminate any institutional liability without any long term plan for long term success. Finally, CSU Officials have realizeed that they cannot eliminate alcohol use by students and are really looking for ways to change destructive behavior.
Alcohol use by students goes all the way back to 1636 with the establishment of Harvard University. To change this long established and "traditional" culture will take more than a quick fix. It took over 30 years to get where we are with seatbelts now. If University officials think they can change this for no cost and overnight - well - they are thinking like typical bureaucrats.
Of course, we all know that in order to be a campus administrator, you must first be baptized in the River Stupid and divest yourself of any responsibility to the students. Fund Raising and cutting budgets seems to be their only focus.
CSU has recognized the problem and it looks like they may actually be working toward a reasonable solution.
DenverPost.com
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