The Red and Black

Issue date: 8/20/08 Section: Opinions

Forbidden fruit

Personal responsibility, not age, affects drinking behavior and alcohol abuse

About 100 university Presidents throughout the country - including three from Georgia - are advocating the U.S. should change the drinking age from 21 to 18, as reported on page 1 of today's edition of The Red & Black.

The Amethyst Initiative, a group started to create discussion and debate regarding whether or not the legal drinking age is working, has garnered the support of presidents from universities including Duke, Dartmouth and Oglethorpe.

The Red & Black editorial board agrees with these leaders; altering the drinking age ultimately would change the way students view alcohol.

If it were legal for those 18 and older to drink, they may be less likely to overconsume and drink irresponsibly.

Because many underage drinkers view alcohol as something unique and exciting, they try to make the most out of their drinking experiences, which tends to include overconsumption and irresponsible actions.

If the drinking age is lowered, alcohol will become less of an issue, making it more common and less of a forbidden fruit. Assuming underage students knew they could just as easily go drinking downtown tomorrow or the next day, the appeal of doing something risky would drop immensely.

We understand that alcohol abuse in Athens still will occur if the legal age is reduced to 18, but we know that irresponsible drinking can be a problem at any age. What matters is a sense of personal responsibility.

- Kristen Coulter and Kelly Shaul for the editorial board

Religious refuge

One Athens church offers sanctuary no matter what your sexual orientation

The University included sexual orientation in its Anti-Discrimination and Harassment Policy in spring 2006. The move was a tremendous victory for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community in Athens after years of challenging the administration's views.

Is it possible for the same treatment to exist at a Christian church in Georgia?

As reported on the front page of today's Red & Black, Rev. Renee DuBose, a pastor at Our Hope Metropolitan Community Church, aims to bridge the gap of intolerance between religious doctrine and homosexuality.

DuBose, a lesbian, believes Our Hope is a must in Athens for those LGBT members who feel spiritually isolated. Many Christian churches refuse membership to gays, lesbians and transgenders, DuBose said. Our Hope therefore serves as a religious refuge.

Regardless of one's personal views of homosexuality and the church, everyone deserves a chance to explore his or her spirituality.

The Red & Black editorial board commends DuBose for her brave efforts toward acceptance, or tolerance at the very least, in the local community.

As this year's current freshmen class is the University's most diverse yet, each student should treat all diverse traits within the student body, including sexual orientation, with respect and understanding.

- Jennifer Paxton for the editorial board

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools