Is drinking just part of the college experience, or is it a scourge to be banned from campus? We asked 50 alums for their opinion on the issue after campus police sparked controversy last fall by cracking down on a few undergrad beer bashes.
A sizable majority--62 percent--advocated moderation. "If it gets out of hand, then clean it up," said a travel executive, '59. "Otherwise, look the other way." Many wished for a stricter policy but gave it up as impractical. "It's a nice idea to try and enforce a ban on drinking, but it doesn't work," said a homemaker, '54, who argued that strict enforcement would require a police state. "We drank with our resident assistant."
More than one-quarter of our sample spoke up for a get-tough approach. "The University policy has to follow the law," said a retired conference manager, '49. A few said strict enforcement seems the most fair. "I don't think you can crack down on some parties and not on others," said a radio producer, '76. And several people admitted to a change of heart since their undergraduate days. "I might not have said this when I was a student," said a sheepish consumer affairs consultant, '36, "but as I look back, I think strict enforcement might be better."
A mere 10 percent defended a student's right to unfettered drinking. "We're dealing with adults," said a lawyer, '92. "The University has bigger and better things to worry about." A technical publications manager, '61, said it's safer to let students drink on campus than to encourage them to seek refreshment beyond it--as she did. "I had my own fake ID," she admitted. "It was really cool."
