Senate Pushes Amethyst
By: Alyssa Gerety
There exists an ongoing debate between the Student Senate and the administration, specifically President Gast, as to the merits of adopting the Amethyst Initiative, a public statement signed by over 130 university presidents supporting, as their website states, “informed and unimpeded debate on the 21 year-old drinking age.” In an open letter published last year President Gast stated, “I believe that signing, in effect, would signal support for lowering the drinking age to 18, though the Initiative’s supporters insist it is merely intended to encourage debate on this topic.”
Nevertheless, Student Senate XXII has vowed to push the initiative for a second year, establishing an Ad-Hoc committee headed by Michael Caffrey. The need for President Gast’s signature and the controversy surrounding the initiative have eclipsed the broader goals of the Senate: discussions and events designed to educate the student body and promote safe and healthy drinking habits.
Ostensibly, the administration agrees with the Student Senate’s safety and health approach, as President Gast writes, “I am not naive about our students’ use of alcohol, nor are my colleagues at Lehigh. We share a goal and a commitment to help our students make safe, healthy choices and reduce the problems that so frequently occur with alcohol abuse.” Not to say that Lehigh doesn’t provide resources such as substance-free housing and a blooming AlcoholEdu program to encourage responsible behavior, but the Student Senate is looking for a different type of resource. Student Senate XXII Treasurer Binay Patel identifies discussion as one of these valuable resources, where “student-run focus groups and administration hosted town hall meetings would start to define the specific issues that are prevalent to Lehigh.” Binay insists the importance of the Amethyst Initiative rests in the possibility Lehigh could become part of a global network with a capability to “develop integrated, thoughtful, and well-rounded programs to solve this issue.”
The Senate, however, faces a formidable barrier in that President Gast has already stated her refusal to sign the initiative. Even so, the debate does not encompass whether to change the drinking age, due to the immensity of a national campaign. The Student Senate recognizes the denial that surrounds underage and dangerous alcohol abuse, as well as its tendency to be masked and hidden by parents, universities, and the nation. Students – possibly due to their proximity and experience in underage and dangerous drinking – see the need for change but administrators and the nation as whole remain hesitant.
John Smeaton, Vice Provost of Student Affairs, advocates an approach that “separates abuse from use”. This position, as well as the Senate’s goal of open discussion, at least from a university administration standpoint, will be difficult to achieve. Events with truly open discussions about underage and unsafe drinking could be difficult to hold due to legal restrictions. Discussion about alcohol that maintains the necessity of strict abstinence for those under the legal drinking age prevents a candid discussion of alcohol’s prevalent underage use.
The Student Senate believes the “status quo isn’t working,” thus they are urging action. The administration acknowledges the problem of dangerous drinking but is extremely hesitant to take new action to foster discussion and education. While President Gast says she “encourage[s] open debate and discussion about drinking and alcohol abuse,” students want tangible steps taken, and they view the signing of the Amethyst Initiative as a catalyst to important new programs and discussion groups.
