State study recommends stronger stance on alcohol

A state study of underage and high-risk drinking made 12 specific recommendations to IU on how it can combat that problem here on campus. The report also criticized IU and other state university administrators for failing to take a harsh stance on alcohol.\nThe report tried to pinpoint the motivations and behaviors behind drinking. Acknowledging that the alcohol problem is not a new one, the report said alcohol use is both a deeply rooted college tradition and a coming of age ritual. \nOne of the theories advocated by the report is that administrators are to blame for the high levels of drinking because they refuse to take a harder stance against alcohol in order to keep up retention rates.\n"An even more dangerous view is when alumni, students and administrators feel that alcohol consumption helps admissions numbers, retention rates and school morale," the report read. "The main hurdle in facing high risk drinking is the idea that underage and over consumption are harmless, a rite of passage and acceptable despite their unlawfulness." \nDean of Students Richard McKaig said he disagrees with that portion of the committee's findings.\n"I can't think of anyone I know who would think that's an accurate perception," McKaig said. "There are some who would perceive the University as reluctant to act but the question about retention has never been a factor. The motivation is, would this be effective?"\nBut in order for attitudes toward underage and high-risk drinking to change, the report said, universities must start holding themselves more accountable.\nSome of the proposals emphasized in the report include stricter enforcement of current alcohol policies, providing alternatives to drinking and educating students about the health risks. \nThe study also identifies multiple factors that lead to alcohol abuse on college universities, blaming both the social mix of underage and over-21 students, with administrators' desire to boost enrollment and retention rates. \n"The mix of those students of legal age to drink alcohol and those that are underage creates a situation where access to alcohol is easier and consumption is unsupervised," the report said. \nIn a collaborative effort by the Indiana Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking and the Alcohol and Tobacco Commission, among other groups, the report is based on four forums held at IU, Purdue, Ball State and Notre Dame in August. An array of community members, students, parents, administrators and vendors were invited to the forums to discuss the behaviors that lead to drinking and possible measures to discourage it.\nMcKaig explained that while curtailing alcohol abuse has been an ongoing problem for years, the report did include a few helpful suggestions. \n"The University has many of these things in place," he said. "I feel like we're already doing quite a bit." \nOne area McKaig said the University needed to address was in IU's assessment program, which identifies potential incidents before they occur. Implementing a more proactive assessment, he said, could potentially curb alcohol behavior before it became out of control. \n"In assessment we begin to identify students who were making bad behavior choices and students who might have addictive tendencies," he said. "If we could sort out who really needs assistance, we could save them a lot of grief and the University a lot of grief." \nDirector of the IU Alcohol and Drug Information Center Dee Owens praised the report's emphasis on "social norming," a process that teaches students that not everyone drinks and even less drink in excess.\n"Some of the discussion on social norming is very appropriate because to talk about what is good is a new take and one that I like," she said. "However, I am also for consequences." \nMcKaig and Owens plan to discuss the report's recommendations at the Nov. 16 meeting of the IU Campus Community Commission on Alcohol. The committee will address which portions of the report to accept.\nOwens hopes that the commission will also be able to work hand-in-hand with the city and local bar owners when searching for solutions. \n"We are trying to get with some bar owners in town to talk about what it is that might make a difference," she said. "We have to have our own specific response to the report"