The Observer, March 9, 2007
Volume XXXIX, Issue 20
Outside the circle
Retired college president takes stand against drinking age
The United States' drinking age of 21 is "bad social policy and terrible law," according to retired Middlebury College president John McCardell, Jr. He has created a group called Choose Responsibility, a non-profit which seeks to create a national discussion of alternatives to the current drinking age.
McCardell has since received the support of many higher education leaders who say that the drinking age is simply driving the drinking of college students underground. This trend has led to more binge drinking and more danger, because students only feel safe drinking where there are no authority figures or possible sources of help present.
Choose Responsibility is also planning to promote an idea for people between the ages of 18 and 20 to be able to obtain a "drinking license." To get the license, people would need to complete an alcohol education program.
McCardell is also contesting the validity of the data that groups like MADD present in support of the 21 drinking age. One commonly cited fact is the decrease in deaths related to drunk driving accidents among teenagers. McCardell argues that this could also be due to changing attitudes about seat belts, more prevalent air bags, and other improved vehicle safety features.
McCardell has high hopes for the program and is excited about the conversation it will generate. "This is not about giving more beer to young people," McCardell said. "This is about opening our eyes to the social reality around us."
Facebook posts lead to firing for Penn State columnist
Zachary Good, a junior columnist for Penn State's paper, the Daily Collegian, was fired for remarks he made in a group against the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon. The dance marathon, known as Thon, works to raise money for cancer research.
On the group page, Good wrote, "Hey everybody! I'm making t-shirts for AIDS Walk 2007 – you want in?? We'll all wear them one day to show everyone we care about people with AIDS! I'll make a line dance."
The group said that participants in Thon felt inclined to do it because of social pressure, especially those in fraternities or sororities and not out of passion for the cause. The site accused the participants as being shallow and self-centered.
Students complained to the paper's editor in chief, Erin James, about the columnist. They even created a Facebook group against him, called Fire Zach Good from the Daily Collegian. On the site, students wrote that "when we pick up a copy of the Collegian, we deserve writers and opinion writers with some class and dignity."
James fired Good, citing the newspaper's code of ethics, which states that "students must remember they represent the Collegian on and off the job and try to act accordingly."
Standardized tests optional at Whitworth
The admission office at Whitworth College recently joined the trend being set by elite liberal arts schools and made standardized tests an optional part of the application process.
"Students who feel their test scores accurately reflect their academic abilities are encouraged to submit the scores, and we'll consider them along with other criteria," said Dean of Enrollment Services Fred Pfursich. "Students who choose not to submit test scores will be evaluated, without prejudice, based on the other components of their application file."
It is estimated that 15-20 percent of applicants will choose not to submit test scores. These applicants will have to take either the SAT or ACT for placement purposes, registration, and many academic scholarships, but the scores need not be presented to the admission committee.
The admissions committee at Whitworth was worried that the rising average test scores of the incoming class, which is above 1200 with math and reading, would discourage solid students who had trouble with test taking from applying.
There are more than 700 colleges nationwide who no longer require the standardized test scores for admission, including 28 of the 100 best liberal arts colleges. "We believe a student's record of accomplishment and involvement over four years in high school is a better indicator of academic achievement and a more reliable predictor of his or her ability to be successful in college than a single standardized test score," said Pfursich.
Students can request gun-free dorm rooms
Students at the University of Utah are now permitted to request a roommate who does not carry a concealed weapon. It is a compromise that is celebrated by the university and gun-rights advocates alike.
It follows an attempt to allow faculty to ban guns in their offices, but it was highly protested by gun-rights advocates. "If this bill had allowed faculty to ban guns, it would have been the only state entity that could ban guns by rule without assurances of compliance, such as metal detectors," said Clark Aposhian, chairman of Utah's Department of Public Safety Concealed Carry Review Board.
"We'd like more, but the political realities weren't going to allow that to happen," said Kim Wirthlin, University of Utah lobbyist. "Our primary concern is the safety of students, and this bill addresses that."
