A chance to speak

You can raise the minimum price for a shot to $1 at local bars. You can even hike up fines if those bars, or anyone else, serve alcohol to minors. But you can't change the simple fact that underage students will find ways to drink, sometimes in excess. At this point, even administrators seem to realize narrowly focused punishments won't change the culture that encourages dangerous drinking on college campuses.

The law to increase penalties for serving alcohol to minors that went into effect Wednesday does not primarily target college campuses, but its passage provides yet another example that the solution to underage or dangerous drinking on college campuses needs to come from the colleges themselves.

We commend administrators for understanding this. Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Warren Kelley stated plainly in the Oct. 3 issue of The Diamondback, "I don't know if we think about [increasing a fine] as the best way to control the amount of alcohol consumed by our students." University President Dan Mote also proved this when he signed the Amethyst Initiative, arguing that as an on-campus official he has a more intimate view of college drinking than politicians and experts. It's clear administrators recognize that the solution will need to come from within, because they set aside a day to talk about it.

On Oct. 29, administrators and students plan to gather for a day-long look at alcohol. After an overzealous backlash stifled the dialogue the Amethyst Initiative sought to create, this forum will give the campus a chance to have an honest dialogue without interference. Administrators must set fair terms for the discussion. They can't expect an honest discussion if they don't let students speak honestly without the threat or fear of punishment. But the onus will ultimately fall on students to shepherd a change in alcohol policy. If administrators are giving them a forum to talk, then students must use that opportunity to convince them to act.

Students need to demonstrate that this problem is not only important, but that they're willing to contribute to a solution. They'll need to turn out in large numbers, across various social groups, to emphasize this point. Beyond that, students will also have to ensure a substantive dialogue. Abstractions about responsibility don't lay out clear plans of action.

To accomplish all of this, planning can't begin Oct. 29. - it needs to start now.