Boosting the passage rate to adulthood

Spring break is just around the corner. That traditional time where young adults let loose can be a time of some trepidation for their parents.

And so it was with more than passing curiosity that we read a recent Associated Press report about some colleges that are taking a more proactive approach to preventing alcohol abuse, in part, by communicating more with parents.

The story noted that Virginia Tech in particular has taken steps to include parents in their plan to curb underage drinking. The school began notifying parents when their under-21 students were found guilty of major alcohol offenses or a series of several minor violations like getting caught with a beer in a dorm room.

It won't be a shock to anyone that the new policy isn't a hit with many students.

"We're all adults," The Associated Press quoted junior Erik Pryslak as saying. "If you want to make your parents aware you're about to be kicked out of school, then it's on you."

Oh, the conversation this can prompt. And should prompt. Yes, those years from 17 to 20 are a time when young adults take on more responsibility and should learn to face the consequences of their own actions.

Still, we think Virginia Tech is on to something that deserves more study and perhaps should be used at more and more schools across the country. Certainly, we want our children to mature and to lead healthy lives. Certainly, we do not believe parents should get a call or letter every time their 17- to 20-year old misses class or gets a speeding ticket. But who among us would say we would not want some help from those who love us if we had repeatedly violated alcohol laws?

We were that age once and we broke some rules, so we can empathize with Pryslak. But we also have seen too many young adults who are not yet disciplined and mature enough succumb to binge drinking, peer pressure and drinking and driving. Many young adults in this age group still depend on their parents to pay for school and to provide them with health insurance. We think it's a reasonable thing for our colleges and universities to let young adults know that if they engage in a pattern of major underage drinking or of also violating the law by taking drugs, their parents could be notified.

We definitely believe all of our colleges and universities ought to boost efforts as Virginia Tech has to implement broader programs that include alcohol education and "party positive" programs that encourage responsible drinking.

We've witnessed too many stories of destruction from young adults who cannot handle all the birthday shots or drinking games that remain a rite of passage. We encourage students, parents and college officials to agree to a middle ground that will help improve the rates of passage into adulthood.