President Raines against petition
College presidents sign Amethyst Initiative proposin lower drinking age
By: Sarah Bleau
Issue date: 8/28/08 Section: News
Concerned with binge drinking, college and university presidents from 129 schools signed a petition to lower the legal drinking age to 18, but The University of Memphis is saying no.
"I don't plan on signing," said Shirley Raines, University of Memphis president. "I am concerned with binge drinking, but I'm also very concerned about the number of deaths that have decreased because of the drinking age."
The petition, Amethyst Initiative, believes lowering the drinking age would prevent binge drinking and stop young people from making "ethical compromises that erode respect for the law" by making fake IDs.
Rhodes College President William Troutt agrees with Amethyst Initiative and recently signed the petition.
Troutt wants to encourage dialogue on "the problem of alcohol abuse among young people," he said in an Aug. 21 media release statement.
"It is not a call for a specific policy change," Troutt said. "It is a compelling call for dialogue because too many of America's young people are losing their lives, ruining their lives or not living up to their full potential, and the common cause is alcohol abuse."
Many students at The University of Memphis support Raines's decision to disagree with Amethyst Initiative and not sign.
"I don't think it'll do anything," said Emily Blow, senior art history major. "I know I wasn't responsible enough when I was 18. I was so immature at 18."
Fatal alcohol related car crashes decreased 60 percent between ages 16 and 17, and decreased 55 percent between ages 18 and 20, according to a 2006 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.
Emily Greenberg, senior art history major, thinks people will see more alcohol related car accidents if the legal drinking age is lowered.
"I think it'll cause more drunk driving accidents. I don't think that's a good idea," Greenberg said.
Matthew Martens, associate professor for counseling psychology, said the brain is not fully developed at 18.
"I don't plan on signing," said Shirley Raines, University of Memphis president. "I am concerned with binge drinking, but I'm also very concerned about the number of deaths that have decreased because of the drinking age."
The petition, Amethyst Initiative, believes lowering the drinking age would prevent binge drinking and stop young people from making "ethical compromises that erode respect for the law" by making fake IDs.
Rhodes College President William Troutt agrees with Amethyst Initiative and recently signed the petition.
Troutt wants to encourage dialogue on "the problem of alcohol abuse among young people," he said in an Aug. 21 media release statement.
"It is not a call for a specific policy change," Troutt said. "It is a compelling call for dialogue because too many of America's young people are losing their lives, ruining their lives or not living up to their full potential, and the common cause is alcohol abuse."
Many students at The University of Memphis support Raines's decision to disagree with Amethyst Initiative and not sign.
"I don't think it'll do anything," said Emily Blow, senior art history major. "I know I wasn't responsible enough when I was 18. I was so immature at 18."
Fatal alcohol related car crashes decreased 60 percent between ages 16 and 17, and decreased 55 percent between ages 18 and 20, according to a 2006 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.
Emily Greenberg, senior art history major, thinks people will see more alcohol related car accidents if the legal drinking age is lowered.
"I think it'll cause more drunk driving accidents. I don't think that's a good idea," Greenberg said.
Matthew Martens, associate professor for counseling psychology, said the brain is not fully developed at 18.