4
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2009
POLICY
University's alcohol initiatives critiqued
BY DYLAN SANDS
dsands@kansan.com
Researchers familiar with reducing alcohol use on campuses nationwide have said the University's new proposals regarding alcohol might be effective in curbing problems associated with drinking on campus.
The new University Alcohol Task Force, comprised of University administrators, professors and students, has proposed several new policy changes in an effort to avoid alcohol-related problems. The task force was formed because of the deaths of two University students earlier this year.
The task force's proposals include limiting alcohol advertising on campus, requiring incoming students to take alcohol education courses and deciding whether alcohol should be allowed during tailgating events.
must be considered as well.
Traci Toomey, associate professor at the University of Minnesota, has researched attempts to decrease alcohol abuse among college students. She said that enacting policies on campus was a good start, but that the areas surrounding the campus
"What we're finding in the research literature is that with greater control of alcohol that is in place in campuses and surrounding communities and states, we're more likely to see reduction in alcohol abuse and related problems," Toomey said.
Toomey said enforcement of state laws and the regulation of community bars and the ways in which they advertise drink specials are some aspects essential to addressing alcohol use among students.
"One of the reasons this is so hard is there is not one simple answer," Toomey said. "There are multiple things at multiple levels."
Ralph Hingson, director of Epidemiology and Prevention Research at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, said he agreed that the community climate must be addressed when preventing alcohol abuse at the college level.
"It's not just the campus, there is a whole culture of the age group," Hingson said. "A lot of the problems bubble up into the college
SEE PRIVACY ON PAGE 5
Photo Illustration by Jon Goering
Researchers say the University Alcohol Task Force's proposals on how to reduce alcohol use on campus are a good start, but the areas surrounding the campus must be considered as well. The proposals include working with local bar owners to limit alcohol advertising and requiring incoming students to take alcohol education courses.
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