Codey Requests Stevens Drinking Policy

The Stevens alcohol policy clearly states, "In compliance with current New Jersey laws, the Institute prohibits the consumption of alcohol by students or their guests who are under the age of 21, on or off campus." The state is looking at this policy after taking notice of Stevens' joining of the "Amethyst Initiative," a national initiative to debate whether the drinking age should remain at 21 or be lowered to 18.
State Senate President Richard Codey has requested the alcohol policies of all colleges, both private and public, in New Jersey as well as announcing there may be legislative hearings investigating underage drinking on the campuses of these schools.
Stevens' President Harold Raveché signed this initiative with the presidents of Drew University and Montclair State University, as well as those of nearly 140 other colleges throughout the country. Codey feels the fact some schools have even signed onto the initiative is sending a "bad signal."
"Even to raise the specter that we should lower the drinking age to 18 is wrong," Codey told the Star Ledger.
University Vice President Maureen Weatherall confirmed that Stevens gladly complied with Senator Codey's request, and with no hesitation sent copies of the school alcohol policy as well as other materials for review. Weatherall stressed that Stevens was not signing a petition to lower the drinking age but rather discuss the issue.
"There needs to be a discussion, as Dr. Raveche said, on campus," she said.
There has been criticism in response to the Amethyst Initiative from organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Many of the college presidents who signed the initiative were "deluged," as Weatherall said, with e-mails because of their involvement with the initiative. However, Stevens stands firm in the decision to sign on.
"I think it was the right decision," Weatherall said.
The Stevens alcohol policies also state that "all residents must comply with all Federal, State, and local laws and ordinances," and that students are held to a code of conduct concerning drinking. Policy also states that a student under 21 found violating these laws will have parents involved and judiciary action taken such as a fine or possible suspension. Weatherall explained that her role at Stevens is to enforce these policies and laws however, everything is not perfect.
"As much as we enforce [alcohol policies], there is the sense we are always swimming upstream," she said.
The Amethyst Initiative itself was spearheaded by formed Middlebury College president John McCardell. He was seeking to change the 1984 federal law that penalizes states financially if they set the drinking age lower than 21. Much of the support of this initiative comes from opinion the drinking age should not necessarily be lowered, but this law has cultivated college campus societies full of binge drinking.
This culture of drinking turned fatal recently at Wabash College, in a situation Vice President Weatherall commented as her "worst nightmare" as a parent. A freshman at the school was found dead in a fraternity house after choking on his own vomit. In an upcoming parent's newsletter, Weatherall plans on writing a column explaining Stevens involvement with the Amethyst Initiative. At this time not many parents of students have no responded to Stevens signing the initiative.
Weatherall commented on how signing this initiative helped open lines of communication on campus about student drinking.
"We have been able to talk about strategies and ideas about dealing with underage drinking," she said.
Codey, who has two sons in college, has identified himself as a non-drinker and called on New Jersey Congress to block efforts of nationally lowering the drinking age and in New Jersey - something he vows will never happen.
The letter which Codey sent to the college presidents was co-signed by State Senator Shirley Turner, who is also an associate director at Rider University. Rider last year banned alcohol entirely in all dorms and Greek houses after student deaths because of drinking. Turner feels law enforcement is needed to look into the drinking problems on college campuses, part of the reason she signed the letter.
Stevens is now aligned with universities around the country open to the idea of talking about the drinking age. Weatherall explained how this is an important topic for the campus.
"I believe that the discussion is a very important discussion to have," she said. "Discussion is an important part of education.