The Amethyst Initiative; An Australian Perspective on an American Problem October 14, 2008
Posted by Aaron Hobbs in : Uncategorized , add a comment“Yo, don’t call it ‘beer pong’ around here, dude. Not unless you want to get your ass kicked. It’s ‘Beirut.’”
Such was the advice given to an Australian exchange student by an anonymous UMass student. It’s one of those cultural nuances a person needs to know about when adapting to life in a new country. But to a young Australian, something like that is much less important than the legal drinking age in America being 21 instead of 18. But that might soon change. (more…)
Standing by the Drinking Laws; Critics of the Amethyst Initiative October 14, 2008
Posted by Aaron Hobbs in : Uncategorized , add a commentAlcohol is the number one youth drug problem in America. More young people die from alcohol-related causes than from all other illicit drugs combined. Just two of the arguments put forward on the official website of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, one of the most widely recognized non-profit organizations in America. (more…)
Reconsidering America’s Drinking Laws; Supporters of the Amethyst Initiative October 14, 2008
Posted by Aaron Hobbs in : Uncategorized , add a commentSitting by a coffee table in his office, University of Massachusetts Amherst Chancellor Robert Holub speaks in a very matter of fact way about his involvement in a controversial new proposal.
“The reason I signed it, the reason I think a lot of leaders of higher education campuses have signed it is because there are problems with underage drinking on campus,” he said. “There are problems with destruction of property, with loss of life in some of the more drastic cases and we’re looking to review all policies and procedures that might eliminate potential dangers to students.”
With an outlook on student alcohol consumption as grim as that, one could be forgiven if they were confused about why Holub signed a proposal that could make it easier for students under the age of 21 to obtain alcohol. (more…)