RALEIGH, North Carolina - College presidents from about 100 of the best-known U.S. universities, including Duke, Dartmouth and Ohio State, are calling on lawmakers to consider lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18, saying current laws actually encourage dangerous binge drinking on campus.

The movement called the Amethyst Initiative began quietly recruiting presidents more than a year ago to provoke national debate about the U.S. drinking age, which is among the highest in the world.

“This is a law that is routinely evaded,” said John McCardell, former president of Middlebury College in Vermont who started the organization. “It is a law that the people at whom it is directed believe is unjust and unfair and discriminatory.”

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This blogger (HolyCoast.com)adds some humor to his insight:

This is the same kind of misguided liberal logic that tells us that we have to give high school kids condoms because they’re going to have sex anyway.

Alcohol on college campuses is a huge problem already as we witnessed firsthand last year when my daughter’s roommate was kicked out of the dorm for multiple alcohol and drug violations. She was 18 and apparently these wise college presidents would rather her alcohol abuse was legal. Instead of having to sneak around, she could have just walked in with her bottles of booze and drank herself to insensibility.

In California the drinking age is 21, so it doesn’t really matter what the college president thinks since he’ll be bound by that law either way. Of course, he could just choose to have his police department ignore violations.

You know, some kids are going to cheat, too. Why shouldn’t we give them all A’s?

ATLANTA — Hispanic high school students use drugs and attempt suicide at higher rates than their black and white classmates, according to a new federal survey that shows a continuation of a disturbing trend.

The study is the latest in a series of surveys of U.S. high school students every two years. The new report noted that black and white students are reporting less sexual activity than in years past, but there was no decline among Hispanics.

In addition, Hispanic students were more likely than either blacks or whites to attempt suicide, ride with a driver who had been drinking alcohol, or use cocaine, heroin or ecstasy.

View the article here in the Santa Fe New Mexican

Isaiah 5:11,22 11 Woe to those who rise early in the morningto run after their drinks, who stay up late at night till they are inflamed with wine. 22Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks,.

Proverbs 23: 35

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has strife? Who has complaints?
Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?30 Those who linger over wine
who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.31 Do not gaze at wine when it is red,
when it sparkles in the cup,
when it goes down smoothly!32 In the end it bites like a snake
and poisons like a viper.33 Your eyes will see strange sights
and your mind imagine confusing things.

34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas,
lying on top of the rigging.

35 “They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt!
They beat me, but I don’t feel it!
When will I wake up
so I can find another drink?”

Should they really be discussing “University matters” under the influence of refreshments?

“…it is within my scope of duties to meet with university Government Relations constituents to discuss matters that impact the university, and a small part of these year-round activities and communications includes the purchase of refreshments…” Marc Saavedra

Saavedras has worked as an advocate for DWI… But he is No Stranger to the other side view more here.“Saavedra said the DWI occurred six years ago when he was young and that it helped him understand the importance of DWI programs that he has since lobbied for….
“I believe I’ve been able to lobby for close to $1 million in DWI money for programs both for Metro Court and statewide,” Saavedra said. “I’ve worked side by side with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and I’d have no problem calling Nadine (Milford) right now and telling her about my arrest.” .”

Proverbs 31: 4-5 “It is not for kings, O Lemuel—
not for kings to drink wine,
not for rulers to crave beer,5 lest they drink and forget what the law decrees,
and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.

After the University of New Mexico’s government affairs director was arrested for drunken driving in 2006, he signed a “Last Chance Agreement” in which he pledged not to consume alcohol as long as he was employed by the university.
Marc Saavedra, the school’s top lobbyist, also agreed in the document to undergo treatment and submit to drug and alcohol testing.
In addition, he pleaded guilty to first-offense DWI and was given a deferred sentence and placed on one year’s probation by a Metro Court judge. See Arrest Here

UNM says it has no qualms about Saavedra buying lawmakers and other officials at least $1,500 in alcoholic beverages since his arrest in his mission to create goodwill and build relationships on behalf of the university. He rang up bar tabs both while on probation and afterward, and while prohibited from drinking.
Lots of liquor
The university allows reimbursements for alcohol expenses when incurred at hospitality events for guests of the university.
McKinsey said no taxpayer money is used.
Some alcohol purchases for which Saavedra was reimbursed included drinks served with meals.
Others took place during meetings that lasted late into the night. Several receipts paint a picture of free-flowing beer, vodka and assorted other liquor, courtesy of Saavedra’s credit card and, ultimately, the state’s flagship university.
Take Saavedra’s $233.31 tab at the Q Bar on Nov. 23, 2007— at which point he would have completed his one-year probation.
Receipts show the evening began at 8:25p.m. and the tab was paid at 12:20 a.m. Saavedra stated that his guests were Beverlee McClure, director of the Association of Commerce & Industry (ACI) and former higher education secretary; Paul Gutierrez, executive director of the Association of Counties; Morris “Mo” Chavez, the state insurance superintendent; and a state personnel office employee.
Saavedra reported that they discussed ACI’s agenda, uncompensated health care and government relations compensation.
Refreshments at the Q Bar included 12 Grey Goose vodkas, two Ketel Citron vodkas, four Patron Silver tequilas, three Corona beers and five Stella Artois beers.

Read the Article here