2008 Woodie Awards
Popping the top on national drinking age discussion
Ashley Fuquay
Issue date: 9/4/08 Section: News
So far 100 college presidents have signed on with the Amethyst Initiative, a controversial group discussing the law for the drinking age, and, according to Dr. Dominic Dottavio and Dr. Wanda Mercer, Tarleton might be next.
"It is one of those things that we need to think seriously about and when you have 100 other universities, very well respected universities, that have looked at it seriously, it is certainly something that we too need to look at," said Dottavio. "What does it mean and whether or not it makes sense for us to sign that agreement at this point and time, we have not made a decision on that."
Included in the 100 universities are well-known schools such as Dartmouth, Duke and Ohio State University, from where President Dottavio is a graduate. A list of all of the schools can be found on the Amethyst Initative's Web site.
"One of the things that we certainly experienced when I was at Ohio State was excessive celebration around some of the football events and because of that there was a very, very serious look at how alcohol was contributing to some of the excessive celebration the we saw in the destruction of property and a variety of other things," Dottavio said. "I'm new enough to Tarleton that I can tell you that I really don't know what the culture is, what it has been here and what kind of issues that we have."
For experience with Tarleton students, Dottavio sought the opinion of Vice President of Student Activities Dr. Wanda Mercer.
"I have actually started a conversation with Dr. Mercer around the Amethyst Initiative and she is in fact in the process of looking at it and is going to be providing some recommendations on whether or not it makes sense for Tarleton to consider it," he said.
Mercer said she was in favor of Tarleton taking a good hard look into it.
"I have been in higher education 35 years. I was around when the drinking age was lowered the last time in the early eighties," Mercer said. "From my perspective, I think it is a worthy dialogue."
"It is one of those things that we need to think seriously about and when you have 100 other universities, very well respected universities, that have looked at it seriously, it is certainly something that we too need to look at," said Dottavio. "What does it mean and whether or not it makes sense for us to sign that agreement at this point and time, we have not made a decision on that."
Included in the 100 universities are well-known schools such as Dartmouth, Duke and Ohio State University, from where President Dottavio is a graduate. A list of all of the schools can be found on the Amethyst Initative's Web site.
"One of the things that we certainly experienced when I was at Ohio State was excessive celebration around some of the football events and because of that there was a very, very serious look at how alcohol was contributing to some of the excessive celebration the we saw in the destruction of property and a variety of other things," Dottavio said. "I'm new enough to Tarleton that I can tell you that I really don't know what the culture is, what it has been here and what kind of issues that we have."
For experience with Tarleton students, Dottavio sought the opinion of Vice President of Student Activities Dr. Wanda Mercer.
"I have actually started a conversation with Dr. Mercer around the Amethyst Initiative and she is in fact in the process of looking at it and is going to be providing some recommendations on whether or not it makes sense for Tarleton to consider it," he said.
Mercer said she was in favor of Tarleton taking a good hard look into it.
"I have been in higher education 35 years. I was around when the drinking age was lowered the last time in the early eighties," Mercer said. "From my perspective, I think it is a worthy dialogue."
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