New data are helping paint a clearer picture of what may be behind the drinking problems among students at Kansas University.
While university officials said they are still reviewing results from three surveys, preliminary data indicate:
• KU students are drinking less alcohol on campus and more alcohol off-campus.
• There may be a higher tolerance for underage drinking in this community, compared with other college communities.
• Binge drinking and irresponsible drinking continue to rise among students. One survey indicates about a third of KU students consume more than five drinks per night.
“Alcohol abuse continues to be a problem,” said Marlesa Roney, vice provost for student success.
Increased light was shed on alcohol abuse at KU in 2009, after two students died in incidents involving alcohol. In May, the university began notifying students’ parents about alcohol and drug violations on campus.
Roney said even though education has increased, student alcohol use remains a problem.
“There’s still a significant issue with alcohol consumption on campus and still a need to continue to work hard, to educate our students and give our students tools to make better decisions,” she said.
The university is studying results from a national survey conducted at KU every three years, as well as results from KU’s new AlcoholEDU online course, which is required for all incoming students under 22, and an unscientific student government study.
More specific results from the national survey and online course will be made available in the coming weeks, Roney said.
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d_prowess (anonymous) says…
"One survey indicates about a third of KU students consume more than five drinks per night."
-is that every night? once a week? once a month?
djcheez (anonymous) says…
12 beers 3 nights a week? probable for 1/3rd of college kids
SFBayhawk (anonymous) says…
Never happened in the past!
nobody1793 (anonymous) says…
Clearly the suggestive Joe College T-shirts are to blame. "I got mass faced on sh*t street" indeed.
jonas_opines (anonymous) says…
Holy god, it's almost like absolutely prohibiting or denigrating the use of alcohol rather than encouraging responsable consumption might not be paying off. Shocking, isn't it, how when you make unreasonable situations out of fear then people behave unreasonably.
newmedia (anonymous) says…
College kids haven't changed in the last 50 years !!
Ignorant_Yokel (anonymous) says…
The sky is blue.
OldEnuf2BYurDad (anonymous) says…
You cannot legislate addictions away. These issues are spiritual more than political or administrative.
RogueThrill (anonymous) says…
Spiritual in the sense that, while at KU, I didn't consume enough spirits.
hbjayhawk (anonymous) says…
Look on the bright side . . . at least use of ice (meth), weed, and barbituates are down on ku campus. They should run an ad in the UDK with Brady Morningstar--"Drinking gets you Nowhere: Just look at my play since coming off my suspension."
hbjayhawk (anonymous) says…
This is Lew's fault! (as one famous poster usually writes)
mr_right_wing (anonymous) says…
Wow....so KU students are pretty much the same as most mainstream college students. Who'd have thought?
Liberty275 (anonymous) says…
"One survey indicates about a third of KU students consume more than five drinks per night.”
Lightweights. In my last year at KU I could put away a fifth of scotch in a night when I decided to let it rip.
Cartemus (anonymous) says…
dog bites man, or should we say, beer drinks student?
oakfarm (anonymous) says…
I have never seen a good measure of excessive drinking. The traditional definition of "binge drinking" is "five drinks in a row". When are drinks NOT in a row? If binge drinking is increasing, and grade inflation is continuing, maybe there is something missing in the analysis of "excessive" drinking by college students.
In my youth, binge drinking meant Uncle Mick taking his eight-year-old nephew to the bar and letting him watch his uncle talk through the afternoon. At least now most students know well enough to not drive after bingeing.
BlackVelvet (anonymous) says…
they didn't drink quite this heavily before the 21 years of age law came into effect
gccs14r (anonymous) says…
It takes a lot of 3.2 beer to get dangerously drunk. I think the typical college student would end up full first.
davidsmom (anonymous) says…
This will never change. As long as alcohol consumption is accepted and glorified in society, young folks will always want to do it. There is no such thing as "responsible drinking." Drinking has nothing to do with "responsibility." People do it because they think they can't possibly have a good time without it. It is a sad commentary on people's lives.
jonas_opines (anonymous) says…
"There is no such thing as “responsible drinking.” Drinking has nothing to do with “responsibility.” People do it because they think they can't possibly have a good time without it. It is a sad commentary on people's lives."
These absolute terms make your opinion patently absurd.
thebcman (anonymous) says…
hbjayhawk (Anonymous) says…
They should run an ad in the UDK with Brady Morningstar—”Drinking gets you Nowhere: Just look at my play since coming off my suspension.”
============
I thought Brady played quite well against Nebraska. Only 4 points, but he had 4 assists and only one turnover in 28 mins. I think Coach will take that. Only Sherron had more assists (5). He's averaging 3.1 assists per game, only Sherron and Tyshawn are better. I like Brady .. he has great basketball sense .. has a knack of knowing where to be to contribute.
flyin_squirrel (anonymous) says…
Good thing we allowed a hotel with 7 bars in it to be built next to campus and the freshman dorms...
Jimo (anonymous) says…
Kansas was the center of Prohibition a century ago and the cultural consequences continue to be felt today from people's dysfunctional attitudes.