JMU is trying to solve part of the problem or do "its" part on the underage drinking trend going on in colleges. JMU has the "Three Strikes" policy. It specifically states that if a student is found responsible of 3 alcohol and/or drug violations during the individual's college career. The student may be suspended for a minimum of one semester. Students with major alcohol/ drug violations may be suspended prior to receiving three strikes. Is this effective? Is it solving the big problem of underage drinking on campuses and even the United States? I am in the middle on this particular subject; i feel like consequences like JMU's strike system would help and benefit the school a little, but it will not solve the problem or even severely fix it. Part of the thrill of underage drinking is teens and college students are restricted and hindered from drinking which causes them to want to partake in it even more. Did you ever hear of the saying, if you tell someone to stop what they are doing, its going to initiate them to do what they are doing even more. I know a few people who have received strikes and citations and although it serves as a warning, I see those same people out doing the very same thing that got them into trouble in the first place. The strike system causes the underage drinking to go even more underground where it can become uncontrollable. So is this really making a difference? If it is working and benefiting the school, why haven't other universities and colleges followed in JMU's footsteps. I know JMU has the reputation of a huge party school, but there are even larger colleges with the same dilemna maybe even worse. Would lowering the drinking age help this controversial issue on college campuses and across the US or is this an effective way of hindering drinking on college campuses?
http://www.jmu.edu/healthctr/swo/wm_library/Article5-2b.pdf
Monday, February 21, 2011
Hazed and Confused
Underage drinking and the extremely high drinking age have led to an even bigger problem: hazing. I’m sure you all have heard that word and the first thing you think about is college and Greek Life. Dictionary.com defines hazing as the subjection to harassment or ridicule. What does hazing have to do with underage drinking??
College is probably the number one place where hazing occurs in the United States. In the past, frats and sororities have been one of the main sources of hazing rituals throughout college campuses. Although many universities' fraternities and sororities have signed legal documents and Non-hazing campaigns, hazing still occurs frequently.
I remember my senior year of high school, we were required to watch a video about underage drinking and hazing on college campuses. The video was based on Gordie Bailey and his story of hazing and underage drinking at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Bailey was pledging for a fraternity and on bid night he and other pledges were forced to drink 10 gallons of whiskey and wine. Later that night Baily died of alcohol poisoning due to excessive drinking. Bailey's mother told interviewers that underage drinking needs to be regulated and she believes if the drinking age was 18 that her son could quite possibly be alive today.
Mark Beckner, police chief of Boulder, Co., believes that the drinking age should be lowered because he has seen way too many cases like Bailey's. He states that specific areas need to be focused on much more than "chasing kids around and trying to give 'em a ticket for having a cup of beer in their hand."
On the other hand, Chuck Hurley, director of MADD, states that the drinking age of 18 would cause more deaths and more funerals. The rate of fatalities decreased from 40 percent to 10 percent when the drinking age was raised.
America has a contradiction, a law that reduces highway deaths but it increases off-highway deaths like Gordie Bailey and contributes to many other hazing, underage drinking tragedies.
For more information about the video Haze and Gordie Bailey's story go to: http://www.gordie.org/Gordies-Story.aspx
Additional information on the CBS interview:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/19/60minutes/main4813571.shtml
I remember my senior year of high school, we were required to watch a video about underage drinking and hazing on college campuses. The video was based on Gordie Bailey and his story of hazing and underage drinking at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Bailey was pledging for a fraternity and on bid night he and other pledges were forced to drink 10 gallons of whiskey and wine. Later that night Baily died of alcohol poisoning due to excessive drinking. Bailey's mother told interviewers that underage drinking needs to be regulated and she believes if the drinking age was 18 that her son could quite possibly be alive today.
Mark Beckner, police chief of Boulder, Co., believes that the drinking age should be lowered because he has seen way too many cases like Bailey's. He states that specific areas need to be focused on much more than "chasing kids around and trying to give 'em a ticket for having a cup of beer in their hand."
On the other hand, Chuck Hurley, director of MADD, states that the drinking age of 18 would cause more deaths and more funerals. The rate of fatalities decreased from 40 percent to 10 percent when the drinking age was raised.
America has a contradiction, a law that reduces highway deaths but it increases off-highway deaths like Gordie Bailey and contributes to many other hazing, underage drinking tragedies.
For more information about the video Haze and Gordie Bailey's story go to: http://www.gordie.org/Gordies-Story.aspx
Additional information on the CBS interview:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/19/60minutes/main4813571.shtml
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