In letter to N.J. college presidents, Codey demands review of alcohol policiesby Ana M. Alaya/The Star-Ledger
Wednesday September 10, 2008
State Senate President Richard J. Codey sent a letter today to the presidents of every college in New Jersey, demanding details of their alcohol policies and announcing legislative hearings will be called this fall to explore underage drinking at their schools.
State Senate President Richard J. Codey sent a letter today to the presidents of every college in New Jersey, demanding details of their alcohol policies and announcing legislative hearings will be called this fall to explore underage drinking at their schools.
The move is in direct response to the "Amethyst Initiative," signed by 129 college presidents in what they say is a way of dealing with the long-standing problem of campus binge drinking.
So far, only three college presidents in New Jersey have signed on to the national initiative -- at Drew, Montclair State and Stevens Institute of Technology. Presidents of others, such as Ramapo, Rowan and William Paterson, have pointedly refused to do so. But Codey said the initiative is sending a "bad signal.
"They're clearly on the wrong track," he said. "It's almost as if they're throwing up the white flag and surrendering. Even to raise the specter that we should lower the drinking age to 18 is wrong."
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