Volume 142, Number 3

By Suzanne Arian
Contributing Writer

Susquehanna University President Jay Lemons signed the Amethyst Initiative this month, joining the dialogue on student drinking.

Lemons joined 130 university and college presidents and chancellors willing to engage in dialogue regarding the minimum drinking age and the irresponsible, alcohol-related behavior they believe it causes on campuses.

The goal of the initiative is not to incite change in current laws at this point, but to encourage the public, especially lawmakers, to talk about the law and its consequences, according to the Amethyst Initiative Web site.
University President Brian C. Mitchell has not signed the statement. 

“The University doesn’t have an official position on [the Amethyst Initiative],” Chief of Staff David Myers said.
Myers agrees an informed discussion by lawmakers on the legal drinking age is a good thing.

But signing the declaration would create too committed a position, something the president and University wish to avoid for the time being, Myers said.

The initiative began in July with John McCardell, president emeritus of Middlebury College, and a few other college presidents saying a drinking age of 21 is not working.

Technically, state governments set the drinking age.

But since Congress passed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act in 1984, states lose 10 percent of their annual federal highway apportionment under the Federal Aid Highway Act if they set the minimum age lower than 21.

The national response has been mixed.  (read full article)