At Virginia Tech, where tailgating and raucous apartment- complex parties are time-honored rituals, university officials are turning increasingly to Mom and Dad to curb problems with underage drinking.
This semester, the school in Blacksburg, Va., began notifying parents when their under- 21 students were found guilty of even minor alcohol violations, such as getting caught with a beer in a dorm room.
Although it is common for colleges to alert parents of major alcohol offenses — or when a student faces suspension — Virginia Tech is part of a small but growing number sending letters home on minor ones.
The debate about how much to involve parents is a balancing act for colleges and universities. Officials want to hold young adults accountable as they venture out on their own and are well aware that drinking is part of the college experience, but they also recognize potential allies in a generation of hands-on parents who can help when things go too far.
“I think it helps students open up to parents,” said Steven Clarke, director of Virginia Tech’s College Alcohol Abuse Prevention Center. “And parents can be helpful in setting boundaries students might need.”
The beefed-up parental-notification policy is part of a broader strategy that includes alcohol- education classes and a “party positive” program that encourages responsible drinking.
Students’ reaction has been less than enthusiastic.
“If you have one beer in the dorm and you get caught, I don’t feel like parents should be notified,” said Erik Pryslak, a junior engineering major. “Now that we’re all in college, we’re all adults. It’s kind of your responsibility to take care of yourself. If you want to make your parents aware you’re about to be kicked out of school, then it’s on you.”
