Amethyst Initiative legislation passes at joint session

MU student governments urged Forsee and Deaton to sign.

By Megan Pearl

Published Oct. 16, 2009

After an hour-long debate, the MU student governments passed a joint resolution to urge UM system President Gary Forsee and Chancellor Brady Deaton to sign on to the Amethyst Initiative. The Amethyst Initiative is a movement supported by 135 American college and university presidents who support a discussion on the legal drinking age and what changes could be made to encourage responsible drinking among young adults.

Josh Travis, Missouri Students Association Operations Committee chairman, gave the initial speech about the legislation. Travis claims the legal drinking age is not working and has developed an increase in the amount of dangerous binge drinking habits among underage university students.

Much of the debate was concerning the repercussions of changing the drinking age, not the legislation itself. Dissent developed quickly in response to the allegation the age limit is responsible for dangerous drinking habits among university students.

In a speech of opposition to the legislation, MSA Sen. Garret Bergquist said Mothers Against Drunk Driving publicly spoke against trying to lower the drinking age. According to the MADD Web site, an estimated 25,000 lives have been saved by the instatement of the age limit.

The discussion over the bill became heated on the topic of student drinking and arguments of legal contradictions on campus.

"The culture on campus is that of binge drinking," MSA Sen. Brett Dinkins said." People do not binge drink because they cannot buy alcohol. They do it because they want to be drunk."

Travis' legislation also alleges a double standard between 18-year-olds being able to vote, sign contracts, serve on juries or enlist in the military, but who are then denied the ability to legally drink alcohol.

"There is an inconsistency in the rules for arrest on regular day versus game days," said Blake Lawrence, Residence Halls Association speaker of Congress. "If the campus is dry, then why can parents and alumni bring alcohol on game day, and then the next day arrest students for the very same thing?"

Of those opposed to the initiative, biased intentions of the creators and the people signing the petition were a primary concern.

"This is not an open discussion," Dinkins said. "The discussion is about all the things you can do under 21 except drink alcohol, and they obviously believe the drinking age is too high. It is a lobbying effort to lower the age limit."

Operations Committee Vice Chairman Evan Wood responded to this claim in his speech by saying he felt bias was a non-issue. He said the Amethyst Initiative wants to open a discussion about the drinking age and any debate is open to public input.

Among further dissent, the question was raised of what effect signing the Amethyst Initiative would have on MU's public image.

"It would reflect as a university that is willing to discuss issues that are affecting college-aged students, such as the drinking age," Wood said.

Although the legislation was passed through the student governments, it does not mean Forsee and Deaton will be forced to, or choose to, sign the statement.