It was recently announced that Gustavus Adolphus College President Jack R. Ohle is one of the college presidents and chancellors to sign the Amethyst Initiative. The initiative calls on lawmakers to discuss current alcohol policies and develop new ideas on how best to prepare young adults to make responsible decisions about alcohol use.
Ohle issued this statement explaining why he signed the initiative:
“The Amethyst Initiative is not about lowering the drinking age,” Ohle said. “We need serious, sustained, unfettered debate about the drinking age and the reality of life on a college campus and how these two things are aligned. I signed the statement in hopes that it would encourage debate on our campus about the seriousness of drinking in general but more importantly the high-risk drinking that has become so common on college campuses today. As an educator, I feel a responsibility to encourage a discussion about responsibility. That responsibility rests with not only the students but with those of us who work to provide for their education, safety, and well being. We must engage in civil, informed, and dispassionate debate and consider all policy alternatives no matter how controversial,” Ohle continued.
Leave a Reply