Spotlight should shine ;br; earlier on binge drinking

Published 12:00 am Friday, September 17, 1999

Anyone who believes binge drinking is a new phenomenon on college campuses was not in school in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s.

Friday, September 17, 1999

Anyone who believes binge drinking is a new phenomenon on college campuses was not in school in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s. Some kids drank too much, got drunk, and sometimes died of alcohol poisoning.

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The difference in the 1990s, however, is that binge drinking has become the norm. Instead of the occasional party when a few students got stinking drunk, these days stinking drunk is routine every weekend with more and more young people. These days, binge drinking is epidemic.

While it’s taken too long for universities to concede the seriousness of the problem, it appears a significant change is under way. Last week more than 100 colleges and universities – including North Dakota State University, the University of North Dakota and the University of Minnesota – helped pay for full-page newspaper advertisements that put binge-drinking in the national spotlight.

The parody ads emphasized the danger to young people of binge drinking. The stated purpose of the ads was to stimulate a national debate on the subject.

The ads worked. Moreover, they signaled a new commitment by major universities to curb binge drinking.

North Dakota State is ahead of the national debate. Concern about alcohol abuse among students became a priority several years ago. An effort was begun by George Wallman, vice president for student affairs, at the direction of then-President Thomas Plough. Wallman began an assessment of the problem; he generated data proving the extent of binge drinking and the risks it poses to students.

North Dakota State President Joseph Chapman not only is fully in support of the anti-binge drinking program, but he and Wallman have put in place a weekend alternative to the bar scene. Chapman used $18,000 in discretionary funds for MU-Live, a series of 16 weekend events in the Memorial Union, featuring free entertainment, activities, food and nonalcoholic beverages. More than 200 students took part in the first event in late August.

A few on-campus attractions won’t be enough to stop binge drinking on and off campus. …

…Schools in the region … need the help and support of their communities. Campus officials know that college-age binge drinkers began abusing alcohol in high school or earlier. Education about the dangers of alcohol abuse must start long before students go off to college. …

– The Forum of Fargo, Wednesday