2008 Woodie Awards
Alumnus and President emeritus asks: Why 21?
Briana Gapsis
Issue date: 4/3/07 Section: News
Could this be the answer to underage drinking? Meghan Joss, a senior psychology major and veritable expert on alcohol addiction having studied it since high school, serving with LIFE, as a peer counselor, dorm counselor, and having surveyed over 400 Washington and Lee students on their drinking behaviors, cautions that underage abuse of alcohol involves more than education.
"The desire to get a license would probably increase the likelihood that students would engage in the education process," says Joss. However, this doesn't guarantee responsibility. "Effective preventions for irresponsible drinking should come from thinking about why it is that students drink irresponsibly in the first place," continues Joss, noting that "It's an errant assumption to assume that drinking choices are made purely on the basis of rational decision-making."
However, in her research, Joss has revealed a strong correlation between the goals of students at W&L and their drinking habits. Joss found that "the less social goals that students have and their attention to things outside of their own personal pleasure protect them from irresponsible drinking." So, if prohibition is ineffective and education isn't a guarantee of responsibility, what can a school do? Joss states that, "At W&L in particular I think that this would mean encouraging students to engage in classes and relationships with professors, other students, staff, and the community in such a way as to foster their interests."
A W&L alumnus, McCardell would not doubt recognize the abilities of school such as W&L to do just that. He emphasized in his speech that the licensing program was just one alternative to the failing status quo, not a definitive solution. However, McCardell's brave attempts to re-open discussion about the legal drinking age and to promote awareness about the very real dangers resulting under the status quo are admirable and, hopefully, will ultimately lead to a solution that promotes the well being and beverage-related responsibility of all parties involved.
"The desire to get a license would probably increase the likelihood that students would engage in the education process," says Joss. However, this doesn't guarantee responsibility. "Effective preventions for irresponsible drinking should come from thinking about why it is that students drink irresponsibly in the first place," continues Joss, noting that "It's an errant assumption to assume that drinking choices are made purely on the basis of rational decision-making."
However, in her research, Joss has revealed a strong correlation between the goals of students at W&L and their drinking habits. Joss found that "the less social goals that students have and their attention to things outside of their own personal pleasure protect them from irresponsible drinking." So, if prohibition is ineffective and education isn't a guarantee of responsibility, what can a school do? Joss states that, "At W&L in particular I think that this would mean encouraging students to engage in classes and relationships with professors, other students, staff, and the community in such a way as to foster their interests."
A W&L alumnus, McCardell would not doubt recognize the abilities of school such as W&L to do just that. He emphasized in his speech that the licensing program was just one alternative to the failing status quo, not a definitive solution. However, McCardell's brave attempts to re-open discussion about the legal drinking age and to promote awareness about the very real dangers resulting under the status quo are admirable and, hopefully, will ultimately lead to a solution that promotes the well being and beverage-related responsibility of all parties involved.
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