Are you in the process of searching for colleges for your high school junior or senior? Many people believe that education is the most important factor to consider, however what about the social atmosphere in which your college-bound child will be part of socially? College is a time for new experiences, meeting people, and making memories that will last a lifetime. Unfortunately for many, it is also is a time of excessive drinking and dealing with its aftermath—vandalism, violence, sexual aggression, and even death.
Princeton’s review compiled a list of the top 20 party schools for 2018; and Tulane University made number one. Rankings are formed based on an 80-question survey distributed to students on various elements of campus life. While party life is not all bad- the negative statistics are harrowing. To read the entire report click here.
Here is the list of the top 10 party schools from the report:
- Tulane University – New Orleans
- WVU – West Virginia University
- Bucknell University – PA
- Syracuse University – NY
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- University of Delaware
- University of Colorado-Boulder
- Colgate University – NY
- Lehigh University – PA
- University of Maine
More than 1,800 students die each year from alcohol-related causes, reports the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). In addition, 96,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are assaulted by another student who has been drinking and 97,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 report experiencing alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape.
About four out of five college students drink alcohol, many through binge drinking which is defined as consuming five drinks or more in a row for men, and four drinks or more in a row for women. The more students drink, the more likely they will suffer negative consequences ranging in severity from having a hangover, performing poorly on a test, or missing class to getting into an argument or fight, driving under the influence, being hurt or injured, or being taken advantage of sexually. These negative consequences not only impact the college student but their families, friends and entire college communities as well. Alcohol is the most widely used substance of abuse among America’s youth.
What can you do as a parent? Inquire about campus alcohol policies, keep in touch with you children, and ask about roommates and living arrangements. Be sure to discuss the penalties for underage drinking, and how alcohol use can lead to date rape, violence, and academic failure.
Many colleges, including those on Long Island, are trying new tactics in the battle against binge drinking. Stony Brook University has the Red Watch Band program that teaches students to recognize the warning signs of alcohol poisoning – vomiting, cold, clammy skin, the inability to wake up – and to call for medical help.
If you or someone you care about has been injured in an alcohol-related incident, contact Rosenberg & Gluck, personal injury attorneys, for a free, confidential legal consultation to learn more about your options.
