VIRGINIA TECH PRESIDENT SUGGESTS BATTLING STUDENT DRINKING WITH HOMEWORK

The president of Virginia Tech has asked all faculty members to help
curb alcohol abuse among students by ending the practice of giving
less homework on weekends.

"The expectation of productive academic work over the weekend can also
be very helpful in keeping students focused on their academic
purposes," wrote the president, Paul E. Torgersen, in a memorandum he
sent to all professors.

The memo urges faculty members to send the message "that the abuse of
alcohol is not just a rite of passage to be tolerated." President
Torgersen also warns professors to avoid remarks that appear to
condone excessive drinking.

According to Larry Hincker, associate vice-president for university
relations, President Torgersen circulated the memo because he thought
the entire university -- not just health services -- should encourage
students avoid drinking too much. Virginia Tech has an average of two
or three cases of near-fatal alcohol poisoning each semester, Mr.
Hincker said.

But students may not be open to faculty intervention. "You don't
usually have a personal relationship with professors, and if they
suddenly come up and say, 'You look hung over,' that's going to be
weird," said an accounting student, who asked not to be identified.
She said students already feel swamped with homework, and assigning
more would not influence how much they drank.

Copyright 1998 by The Chronicle of Higher Education

Checked-by: Rich O'Grady