Promising Practices: Articles

Intolerant Boards Can Save Lives
Governing boards must help change the prevailing attitude that alcohol consumption leading to abusive or antisocial behavior is an acceptable "rite of passage" of college life.
By John C. Lawn

Too many students are dying for a drink - literally. Recent high-profile alcohol-related deaths on college campuses only underscore what we already know: College alcohol abuse policies must be reviewed, updated, and enforced more stringently than they are presently. Lines of responsibility and accountability must be drawn more clearly. The stakes are exceedingly high.

With more than 25 years of law-enforcement experience, I have seen the results of poor administration and enforcement of campus alcohol policies. These factors are responsible not only for loss of life but also for loss of academic eligibility, loss of self-esteem, and criminal and antisocial patterns of behavior. Alcohol abuse is a serious problem that enrolls every fall and does not graduate. It affects the quality of campus life and the reputation of the academic institution itself.

Sadly, many trustees - and parents like me - have not addressed the abusive and problematic use of alcohol. We have not exercised proper leadership in guiding our institutions and in preparing our children for college.

Trustees have an important role to play. You are a voice that guides academic direction, financial accountability, and quality-of-life issues on campus. Because alcohol abuse accounts for a high proportion of campus problems, including crimes against persons, property damage, academic failure, and student attrition, it should be a high-priority issue.

Trustees also hold substantial responsibility from a risk-management perspective. Heightened public awareness of problems associated with irresponsible alcohol use and unenforced or unenforceable alcohol policy widens the window of civil exposure. How much is a life or lost academic opportunity worth? As trustees, you must voice your concerns and see that they are addressed. You can make a difference.

Just as our national intolerance for drunk and impaired driving has changed attitudes and saved lives, we must change the prevailing attitude that abusive or antisocial behavior is an acceptable norm or "rite of passage" of college life.

Several useful resources that focus on campus alcohol-education efforts are available to trustees. Two years ago, The Century Council commissioned Gail Milgram of Rutgers University and David Anderson of George Mason University to conduct a national survey of promising campus alcohol strategies. An independent panel of experts reviewed and evaluated more than 1,200 program descriptions. The findings appear in a sourcebook, Promising Practices: Campus Alcohol Strategies, which the Century Council distributed free to all colleges and universities. (An update will be published in December 1997.)

In addition, a new interactive CD-ROM program, "Alcohol 101," has been developed by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in partnership with the Century Council. This program aims to reduce the harm associated with excessive drinking on campus by promoting responsible decision making about alcohol use.

Trustees can consider several questions to help develop a comprehensive campus alcohol policy. The following are from a November/December 1996 Trusteeship article, "Sobering Efforts," by Anderson and Milgram:

When was the last honest review of campus efforts to prevent alcohol abuse?
Is a comprehensive alcohol policy in place for the campus community? If so, is it supported by staff, alumni, faculty, and students?
Is there a reasonable plan to address current and future needs?
Are current resources adequate, and are they being used well?

As a parent, I am responsible for ensuring that my twins, now college freshmen, develop the tools to make responsible decisions. In return, I expect their colleges to provide academic challenges in an environment that is safe, stable, and sensitive to individual needs. We entrust our young adults to the care of others to continue their education and maturation. As trustees, you play a critical role in that development and in the formulation of sound policy. We expect that of you, and I hope you demand that of yourselves.


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		Intolerant Boards Can Save Lives Governing boards must help change the prevailing attitude that alcohol consumption leading to abusive or antisocial behavior is an acceptable "rite of passage" of college life. By John C. Lawn Too many students are dying for a drink - literally. Recent high-profile alcohol-related deaths on college campuses only underscore what we already know: College alcohol abuse policies must be reviewed, updated, and enforced more stringently than they are presently. Lines of responsibility and accountability must be drawn more clearly. The stakes are exceedingly high. With more than 25 years of law-enforcement experience, I have seen the results of poor administration and enforcement of campus alcohol policies. These factors are responsible not only for loss of life but also for loss of academic eligibility, loss of self-esteem, and criminal and antisocial patterns of behavior. Alcohol abuse is a serious problem that enrolls every fall and does not graduate. It affects the quality of campus life and the reputation of the academic institution itself. Sadly, many trustees - and parents like me - have not addressed the abusive and problematic use of alcohol. We have not exercised proper leadership in guiding our institutions and in preparing our children for college. Trustees have an important role to play. You are a voice that guides academic direction, financial accountability, and quality-of-life issues on campus. Because alcohol abuse accounts for a high proportion of campus problems, including crimes against persons, property damage, academic failure, and student attrition, it should be a high-priority issue. Trustees also hold substantial responsibility from a risk-management perspective. Heightened public awareness of problems associated with irresponsible alcohol use and unenforced or unenforceable alcohol policy widens the window of civil exposure. How much is a life or lost academic opportunity worth? As trustees, you must voice your concerns and see that they are addressed. You can make a difference. Just as our national intolerance for drunk and impaired driving has changed attitudes and saved lives, we must change the prevailing attitude that abusive or antisocial behavior is an acceptable norm or "rite of passage" of college life. Several useful resources that focus on campus alcohol-education efforts are available to trustees. Two years ago, The Century Council commissioned Gail Milgram of Rutgers University and David Anderson of George Mason University to conduct a national survey of promising campus alcohol strategies. An independent panel of experts reviewed and evaluated more than 1,200 program descriptions. The findings appear in a sourcebook, Promising Practices: Campus Alcohol Strategies, which the Century Council distributed free to all colleges and universities. (An update will be published in December 1997.) In addition, a new interactive CD-ROM program, "Alcohol 101," has been developed by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in partnership with the Century Council. This program aims to reduce the harm associated with excessive drinking on campus by promoting responsible decision making about alcohol use. Trustees can consider several questions to help develop a comprehensive campus alcohol policy. The following are from a November/December 1996 Trusteeship article, "Sobering Efforts," by Anderson and Milgram: When was the last honest review of campus efforts to prevent alcohol abuse? Is a comprehensive alcohol policy in place for the campus community? If so, is it supported by staff, alumni, faculty, and students? Is there a reasonable plan to address current and future needs? Are current resources adequate, and are they being used well? As a parent, I am responsible for ensuring that my twins, now college freshmen, develop the tools to make responsible decisions. In return, I expect their colleges to provide academic challenges in an environment that is safe, stable, and sensitive to individual needs. We entrust our young adults to the care of others to continue their education and maturation. As trustees, you play a critical role in that development and in the formulation of sound policy. We expect that of you, and I hope you demand that of yourselves. John C. Lawn is chairman of The Century Council in Los Angeles and the former administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.


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