Bradley president against lowering drinking age

PEORIA -- The president of Bradley University says she is opposed to the idea of lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18 years old as proposed by the Amethyst Initiative.

The presidents of Duke, Dartmouth and Ohio State have called on lawmakers to consider lowering the drinking age. They say current laws actually encourage dangerous binge drinking on campus.

But Bradley President Joanne Glasser said based on the alcohol-related deaths of two Bradley students, universities promote activities that reduces the misuse and abuse of alcohol.

Last March, Bradley junior Robert Hurt Pontiac was killed after falling into oncoming traffic while horsing around with a friend. Witnesses said both had been drinking.

In August 2007, Bradley soccer player Sheridan Dahlquist was killed in a house fire caused by a prank by four of friends who had been drinking.