Scouting A Dry Campus

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As families begin focusing on campus drinking, schools that crack down can win applicants. After years of rampant alcohol abuse at the University of Rhode Island, administrators went on the offensive, banning alcohol from campus parties and toughening penalties for students caught drinking. To really change campus culture, officials discourage heavy drinkers from applying. "I'm very direct," says president Robert Carothers. "I tell parents and kids that if they're looking for a place to abuse alcohol, don't come here--you won't be happy."

No matter which school a family chooses, there's no guarantee bad things won't happen to good kids. "Any individual on any particular night can make bad choices," says Wesley Perkins, a Hobart and William Smith Colleges sociologist. The best protection is to talk to kids about sensible drinking long before they depart for college. When it comes to alcohol, a concerned parent can be a better teacher than anyone with a Ph.D.

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Posted By: debi@dryohn.com @ 07/03/2008 10:42:15 PM

There are many on campus activities that do not involve drinking and there are kids who are having a great college experience without the alcohol. I encourage parents to have appropriate expectations of their college students. They should have a budget. Alcohol and partying costs money. Students should be involved in healthy activities such as sports, volunteer activities and part time jobs. Ask your student what they are doing in their free time? College is more than going to class. Whe
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Posted By: debi@dryohn.com @ 07/03/2008 10:37:15 PM

There are many on campus activities that do not involve drinking and there are kids who are having a great college experience without the alcohol. I encourage parents to have appropriate expectations of their college students. They should have a budget. Alcohol and partying costs money. Students should be involved in healthy activities such as sports, volunteer activities and part time jobs. Ask your student what they are doing in their free time? College is more than going to class. Whe
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Posted By: debi@dryohn.com @ 07/03/2008 10:36:13 PM

There are many on campus activities that do not involve drinking and there are kids who are having a great college experience without the alcohol. I encourage parents to have appropriate expectations of their college students. They should have a budget. Alcohol and partying costs money. Students should be involved in healthy activities such as sports, volunteer activities and part time jobs. Ask your student what they are doing in their free time? College is more than going to class. Whe