LANSING - State officials and representatives from Michigan's 15 public universities met in Lansing yesterday to discuss the implications of college-age binge drinking and how cooperation may change attitudes toward alcohol.
James Haveman, director of Michigan's Department of Community Health director, presented Gov. John Engler's plan to attack college binge drinking to more than 50 people in attendance at Lansing's downtown Radisson Hotel.
"If we don't address it early on, we will pay for it socially for a long time," Haveman said.
Since October, there have been four deaths at colleges across Michigan that were linked to student consumption of alcohol.
"Drinking has become entertainment and we need to do something about that," Haveman said.
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The Department of Community Health will use $433,000 to fund mentoring programs - including activities for first-year students - at universities statewide to stress an alcohol and drug-free life.
Haveman said $50,000 will be used to train university health professionals to identify and address college binge drinking behaviors.
An additional $150,000 will fund a "media blitz" of advertisements in student newspapers and on radio stations to educate college students on the dangers of drugs and alcohol.
Haveman said certain alcohol advertising targeting college students in student newspapers should be denied by editors.
He urged universities to take a strong stance against college binge drinkers by either informing parents or guardians of infractions, expelling those who have excessive drinking behaviors or "drying them out" by helping students to remain sober.
The Department of Community Health is planning to develop a new Website this spring to publicize anti-alcohol efforts at campuses statewide and show how students can abstain from binge drinking behaviors.
Haveman said often resident advisers need to be trained in "tough love," instead of taking a lax approach to infractions in residence halls.
"It's an age old issue," said University Housing Director of Public Affairs Alan Levy, who was not at the conference.
He added that residence staff and security reported just under 1,000 alcohol violations in residence halls last year, "so someone must be reporting something."
Haveman called for greater enforcement from local law enforcement authorities to create an environment that is not supportive of alcohol.
"Why can't we use dogs to sniff out the alcohol that isn't suppose to be" in residence halls, Haveman asked.
Nate Smith-Tyge, chair of Michigan State University's Student Assembly, said he is happy with the ideas Haveman suggested but feels apprehensive when the focus is turned to enforcement.
Smith-Tyge said students often react negatively to regulations and police enforcement.
"We don't want anymore Munn Fields at any other campus," Smith-Tyge said, citing the May 2 riot that erupted in the streets of East Lansing after Michigan State administrators banned alcohol at Munn Field, a popular campus tailgating site.
"We need to involve students at every level, at every campus, across the state in this discussion," Tyge-Smith said.
Michigan Student Assembly President Trent Thompson echoed Tyge-Smith's approval of the involvement of students in the discussions.
Thompson said that during the afternoon closed session, discussions moved from the ideas Haveman presented to what other universities are doing on their campuses to address binge drinking behaviors.
Thompson said some of Haveman's proposals were "pro-active" but others were "extreme."
"Expelling people is not going to solve the problem," Thompson said.
Many people who spoke at the conference said that education, along with a coordinated effort from universities, is the key to changing drinking behaviors.
"They've hit on some key points," said Mary Kuntz, an adviser in the state senate majority policy office.
"We've lost the notion of social drinking," said former Interfraternity Council president Brad Holcman. "The way to go is to teach responsible drinking."
Though some believe that it will be hard to change campus attitudes toward alcohol, those at the conference are optimistic.
"It is my belief if there is a sustained effort with everyone's involvement, this can be done," said Michigan State University President Peter McPherson.
The conference was hosted by the Presidents Council, an organization that addresses common issues shared by Michigan's public universities.
Executive Director Glenn Stevens said "there is strength in numbers," explaining that sharing wisdom across institutions will be most beneficial.
Conference panelist University Dean of Students E. Royster Harper said that having everyone's input will create results.
"We can change social behavior over time," said McPherson.
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