In the past, University of Wisconsin underclassmen could rest easy knowing their parents would be unaware of their college antics.

But a new UW policy is reminding those who misuse their newfound freedoms that Mom and Dad are just a phone call away.

The policy — formally enacted by Chancellor John Wiley Wednesday — provides a routine procedure for the parents of at-risk undergrads under the age of 21 to be notified of their son's or daughter's unacceptable activities.

After announcing the new policy, Wiley said binge-drinking is a "big issue" for the university and is "often life threatening," adding the policy's implementation is a last-ditch effort to stymie the growing and sometimes infamous trend at UW.

"We've tried everything," he said. "I've never thought there was a magic bullet type of thing that would make this go away."

Wiley added the university has notified parents of students involved in "extreme cases" in the past, but, until now, there had been no formal policy in place.

Due to a recent change in the 1998 Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, universities are legally permitted to notify parents of questionable or dangerous activities on their son's or daughter's behalf.

While primarily intended to discourage underage students from using drugs and alcohol, the policy is also meant to provide parental support for students with suicidal or violent tendencies.

"We want our students to get through their years here in good form, and safely," Dean of Students Lori Berquam said.

Students will be given a chance to call home themselves before their parents or guardians are informed by faculty members from the Residence Life Department and Office of the Dean of Students.

Yet UW freshman and occasional binge drinker Chris Osmundson said his behavior is between him and his parents.

"I think it's pretty unnecessary being that, once you're 18, you wouldn't be asked to report to your parents even if you were in your hometown," Osmundson said. "So I don't think it's any business for the university to make you contact your parent."

When asked how he would react if the university notified his parents of a drinking-related episode that required disciplinary action, Osmundson said he was indifferent.

"It wouldn't be the worst thing because I'm sure eventually they would find out," he said. "But I'd rather do it on my own terms."

Berquam, who will oversee much of the parent-university correspondence, said students at UW — especially underage drinkers — must be held accountable for their actions.

"As of Sunday, there have been 14 students transported to detoxification [this year]," Berquam said. "Out of those students, 13 were under the age of 21."

Berquam added the policy is meant to provide special attention to at-risk students and ensure they will leave the university with a positive experience — and a degree.

"We want our students to be successful," she said. "We want to keep them here and have them be as successful as possible."