New Gustavus President Jack Ohle surprised many when he was revealed to have signed a statement calling the 21-year-old drinking age ineffective. Ohle, who does not support lowering the drinking age, has said that the point of the statement, called the Amethyst Inititiave, is to encourage debate about the law.

While the 21-year-old drinking age limit excludes many college students from legally consuming alcohol, when students arrive at college, some jump right into drinking without knowing their limits. The Amethyst signees believes it is necessary to establish healthier drinking habits at a younger age.

Although the Initiative does not explicitly call for a lowering in the legal drinking age, it has started conversation on the topic.  Sophomore Adam George said, ”

Most people do it anyway, at least [if the age was reduced to 18], it would be safer, because they would not be doing anything illegal.”

Sophomore Noah Setterholm said, “The federal government cannot mandate the states. However, federal transportation funding is tied to the drinking age. If the states lower the age, they lose that essential funding.”

Sophomore English Major Susan Kranz said, “We need to promote responsible drinking, such as starting with the family or those closest to you, so that healthy habits are learned sooner.”

Last year, five students died in Minnesota as a result of excessive drinking. President Ohle believes that this is unacceptable.

“I just want to make sure that students understand the responsibility of drinking and how it can affect their lives,” said Ohle. “I’ve asked [Dean of Students Hank] Toutain to lead the effort to start a discussion on campus.”

The Amethyst Initiative is a public statement signed by 130 presidents and chancellors of colleges and universities across the country, including Ohle. Started in June 2008 by John McCardell,  the president of Middlebury College, the initiative supports discussion and debate on the 21-year-old drinking age.

According to the group’s website, the Amethyst Initiative calls upon elected officials “to weigh all the consequences of current alcohol policies and to invite new ideas on how to best prepare young adults to make responsible decisions about alcohol use.”

Ohle, the only representative from Minnesota, is extremely pleased that Gustavus Adolphus College is part of the Amethyst Initiative. “I strongly believe that college campuses must have a robust discussion and debate about high risk drinking,” he said. “We have to bring up the root cause rather than put up barriers and laws. The important thing is to drink in a reasonable way and for every student to take responsibility not only for themselves, but for others.”

Photo By: Sarah Cartwright