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New policy could curb binge drinking

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'Don't ask, don't tell' hypocritical (March 15, 2007)

by Emily Friedman

Monday, September 26, 2005

Progress reports, parent-teacher conferences and detention slips are all elements of years past — or so we thought. It turns out that University of Wisconsin-Madison is trying to bring the parents back into the school with a new parental notification policy announced last week. Students who thought that upon arriving in Madison they were "free" from their parents are shocked at this policy change. But after a reported 14 trips to detoxification so far this semester, I say it is about time we do something.

Chancellor John Wiley's policy announcement came not only after these trips to city hospitals but also after UW-Madison was ranked the No. 1 party school in the country. Despite claims by the administration that this policy was in the works before the rankings were published, no one disputes that this policy is an effort to clean up the binge-drinking problem on campus.

A press release by the University of Wisconsin explains the policy: "Under the new policy, staff members from University Housing and the Offices of the Dean of Students will contact and notify parents or guardians of students who are under 21 and are involved in a range of incidents … " Such incidents include trips to detoxification, as well as behavior that puts the student's own or other lives in danger.

Some may wonder how it is legal for Wiley to endorse a policy like this for students under the age of 21. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law that protects students' records from being released to parents without signed permission from the student. This law was amended seven years ago, however, to be more flexible in certain life-threatening situations. It is this amendment that allows Wiley to do what he has so wisely chosen to do in hopes of ensuring a safer campus and a better reputation for the university.

Students who are dumbfounded by this recent announcement must understand the nuances of the policy. It has always been true that university authorities would notify parents if their children were contemplating suicide or just generally thought to be mentally unstable. This aspect of the policy is hard to argue against. The new policy, in effect, extends the policy to include binge-drinking as life-threatening, and in fact suicidal. People do die from drinking too much too fast. An argument can and should be made that parents have a right to know about these situations.

In addition to highlighting the danger of binge-drinking and the importance of parental notification in "extreme cases," another detail of the policy is usually overlooked by students who grumble about it. Before the university will even look up your parents' contact number, they will give you, the student, the chance to call and tell them yourself. This provision allows students to maintain some control over parental involvement while, at the same time, making sure that parents will, in fact, be kept informed about possibly dangerous behavior.

It is understandable why Wiley has felt the need to enact this policy. As the chancellor of the university he is responsible for the health, safety and academic success of the students who attend it. Upholding the reputation of UW may seem superficial to some, but imagine what one tragic drinking death would do to our image. The No. 1 party school ranking would not be so funny.

As suffocating as this new policy may seem to some students who are determined to prove their independence at all costs, it is really only a sensible extension of a policy that already existed. Many of us enjoy a drink or two, but excessive underage drinking will always be a problem on our campus. If the Chancellor's new policy might prevent a single death, we should give it a chance.

Emily Friedman (ecfriedman@wisc.edu) is a junior majoring in journalism and legal studies.

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Anonymous (September 26, 2005 @ 2:05am):

Will Emily's parents be getting a phone call?

Craig Chester (September 26, 2005 @ 7:24am):

To everyone that is freaking out about this new policy, here is some simple advice - don't drink too much. You don't think your parents should know about your liver-pickling escapades that sent your semi-comatose body to a night of stomach pumping and charcoal? Not to mention, they are probably financing some portion of your binge. A phone call only seems appropriate. It's hard to imagine that this policy won't be effective in at least making some percentage of students think twice. Ah, glorious rewards of being the number one party school. Is all of this really worth it?

Anonymous (September 26, 2005 @ 10:53am):

I have no problem calling a kid's parents when he or she is sent to detox. However, this will not curb binge drinking. Nothing will.

Anonymous (September 26, 2005 @ 12:44pm):

Emily, which do you prefer, Sunkist, Country Time or Minute-Maid?

Patrick Davis (September 26, 2005 @ 5:42pm):

Are you crazy? Just because you dont imbibe to the excess that the rest of UW does doesnt mean that you should advocate a policy that steals the fundamental right of mischief from students.

Yes we all agree precaution is a good thing, but if a new policy like this enacted, thats a liberty underage students will never get back.

Its pretty clear that you havent been doing your part to make sure UW maintains its slot as the number one party school.

Anonymous (September 26, 2005 @ 7:19pm):

If anyone gets screwed over by this policy, they should sue the university. As a TA, I'm not even allowed to talk to your parents if they ask me about your grades. For the university to violate your privacy in other ways has to be illegal.

Anonymous (September 27, 2005 @ 8:59pm):

Correct me if I'm wrong, Emily's parents would be getting a great deal of phone calls home

Anonymous (November 6, 2005 @ 7:13pm):

I think the policy needs to extend to students that are over 21 also, since alot of seniors in college get streesed. Also, the UW DOES NOT notify the parents of suicidal thoughts as stated in your article. On the contrary, UHS answer to mental health help is to call the MPD! sign me, Upset Parent from Illlinois.