click logo for homepage
 
 

	Vol.7, No 8, September 13, 1999
	Binge drinking still on campus; won't change A study from Harvard University recently reported that more than 40 percent of college students are binge drinkers.  Ken Hanson Binge drinking is defined for men as downing five or more drinks in a row and women who down four or more drinks.    The study has prompted 113 state college and university presidents to launch a new advertising campaign this week to curb the abuse, the Los Angeles Times reported.    The Times quoted Cal State University Chancellor Charles B. Reed saying, "I admit we have a problem."    Well, no duh! Anyone who has lived in the dorms can tell the chancellor that binge drinking exists. Just last, night a former student told me that she missed "the free parties and free booze in the dorms." She lived in the residence halls for one year.    Many other people have recanted similar feelings and stories after moving out of the halls.    Just the fact that the presidents are finally addressing the issue is a signal that something can be done.    The plan is to target parents. The campaign is supposed to create dialogue between parents. But are the parents really going to be able to discourage indiscriminate drinking among the students? It is not likely to happen.   When people get into college, especially if they are not living with parents, they want to try new things. Binge drinking is one of them.    The University of California, Los Angeles has another tactic up its sleeve. UCLA administrators are also planning to run ads that target the student population at large in university publications. That seems like a more realistic approach. Not like the approach taken at Dartmouth College.   This institution plans to make all fraternities co-educational to cut down on the amount of binge drinking. What the heck are they thinking?   With men and women living together isn't drinking naturally in the mix? Either the differences in the sexes are going to create tension or the men are going to try to get the women drunk.    Here at Cal State Long Beach continuous binge drinking could lead to the administration calling your parents. It won't happen the first time, but if you are not 21 years old and are constantly in trouble for drinking or being drunk on campus, the administration could call your moms and dads. Be sure to thank your local congressman for that one.   Anyway you look at it the problem of binge drinking is not an easy one to solve. At least now university and college presidents have acknowledged the problem and are trying to do something to stop it.    Ken Hanson is the Opinion editor for the Daily Forty-Niner.		Arrest warrant out for professor Prominent teacher return Big concert, food chains proposed Race sparks policy System may track student success U.S. -World police Binge drinking still on campus; won't change A night in the life of a CSULB student bartenders Surprise band delights Movie does not have 'Best Laid Plans' OtherStarPeople put together solid first effort Soccer short again Water polo team almost pulls shocker against USC 49ers closer to win record Davis has come long way in NFL Fall 99 ISSUES DAILY 49ER HOMEPAGE
Forty-Niner Publications, Department of Journalism, California State University, Long Beach ©1999 All rights reserved.