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
As I read this I could not help but think of an article I once read about a group of colleges who were attempting to lower the drinking age specifically on college campuses to 18. Although this did not pass, this could solve the very problem you pose. Usually when college students who are not yet 21 are home they are more likely to drink and drive. But when at college many people can walk, and taxi and bus services are much more prominent. If upon entering college students were allowed to drink then incidents may not occur, because the excitement of drinking would be over.
ReplyDeleteThis article was very interesting. It made me think of how our parents were able to drink beer and wine when they were 18 but not hard alcohol like vodka. It was interesting how you mentioned that if the drinking age was 18, that boy would still be alive. I thought that was a point to ponder. Personally, I don't think it would make a difference whether or not the drinking age was 21 or 18. Regardless, people are going to drink underage. I can name so many people who are under 21 who have fake ids and visit bars regularly. Even my parents who were able to drink beer when they were 18, have told me stories about when they were younger and drank underage. It's our society and people don't want to be out of the norm or look like an outcast.
ReplyDeleteBeing a part of the greek community, I know that hazing is a big issue not only on our campus, but on any campus in general. I am not sure if lowering the drinking age would prevent hazing because many sororities and fraternities view it as a bond between sisters and brothers, but I think that kids would not drink nearly as much or even as heavily as they do in college. I know kids who never experienced drinking in high school and in college they drink almost every night. I think the drinking age could prevent some instances involving alcohol, but I do not believe hazing would not be as prevalent or exist if the drinking age was lowered.
ReplyDeleteI think by lowering the drinking age alcohol consumption may be reduced since it would be legal to drink at a younger age. I think that some of the reason kids drink is that it is an act of rebellion. Breaking the law is fun and exhilarating. That is part of the reason that alcohol is cool to underage drinkers. People love to do things there not supposed to. I knew people in high school that liked to illegally jump fences and skate places. They would from time to time get arrested, but they loved the thrill. If you make it less cool then people will be less interested in it. Hazing probably won’t be changed by the law because of tradition. They do this stuff to make bonds with people and as entertainment.
ReplyDeleteOne reason I believe that our drinking age is so high compared to other countries is because we have a low driving age. It makes sense because in countries like spain the drinking age is 16 while the driving age is 18. I guess there they decided experimenting with drinking first and then earning the privilege to drive is more important. One things for sure is that they drinking and driving age should not be the same year or too close. I think driving at 16 and drinking at 19 or even 20 would seem reasonable. 21 is very far from 16.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the drinking age should be 18. Many high school and college student drink because it’s a rebellious time in their lives. It’s human nature to want to do something simply because you aren't allowed. Now, there may have been a decrease in deaths that were related to rising the drinking age, however, there has been more regulations for drunk driving in recent years. I think with the law we have to protect people from drunk driving, we could lower the drinking age and nothing would change. If anything, I feel that the amount of partying done in high school and college would decrease over time.
ReplyDeleteAs I was reading this article, I was thinking the exact same things that were described and expressed, and the concerns for issues such as the young student at the University of Colorado had. Not only should the drinking age be lowered, in my opinion, because of issues such as these, but drinking and driving is especially an issue for younger college students as well. Many underage students feel the need to rebel or students that have been so sheltered all there life that lead to many instances and issues due to the excitement. Also, another issue at hand is the drinking age in other countries is so low to the age of sixteen, so how can they make that work and seem to have very few issues. And does it make sense that citizens in the US can drink at those ages in different areas?
ReplyDeleteWhile I was reading this article I could not help, but have concerns about lowering the drinking age. I feel that hazing might become more common, because it would make it easier to have access to excessive amounts of alcohol. There is a good point in this article that by lowering the drinking age police would have more time to investigate more serious offenses, such as hazing, rather than just trying to bust small parties.If the drinking age was lowered the first few years of the change would be rough. Teenagers who have this new priviledge might get out of hand, but after the initial craziness I feel like it would calm down once teenagers got used to the privledge.
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