2004-12-29
This is Gwen Outen with the VOA Special English Education Report.
We continue our series of reports about foreign students at
American colleges and universities.
Students at American colleges are on winter holiday until early
next year. Many young people are making plans to attend celebrations
in honor of New Year. At this time of year, parents of college
students worry about how young people use alcoholic drinks. Parents
also worry about alcohol use at school. This is our subject today.
American education officials have been concerned for years about
how students use alcohol. Some of it has had deadly results. For
example, a student at the University of Oklahoma died in September
following a fraternity party. His blood alcohol level was five times
the legal limit.
Such extreme use of alcohol is
known as "binge drinking." It means having four to five drinks in
less than one hour. Studies have found a link between binge drinking
and parties at college fraternity houses. Reports say the deaths of
one thousand four hundred college students in the United States last
year were linked to alcohol use.
College officials say dangerous drinking has taken place at
colleges for many years. But they still have not found a way to stop
it. Now, the University of Oklahoma at Norman has decided to ban the
use of alcohol.
The ban goes into effect on January eighteenth. It affects all
twenty two thousand students at the University, including the one
thousand six hundred foreign students attending this year.
Parents of students will be told if their child is found with any
kind of alcohol. The students also will take part in an alcohol
education program. A second violation of the rule will result in
punishment. The student will be suspended from school after three
violations.
All new students will be required to complete an alcohol
education program. And the University of Oklahoma will cooperate
with the local police force to stop parties where binge drinking
takes place.
University President David Boren says the goal of the plan is to
reduce dangerous drinking by students and to develop a successful
program that other schools can follow.
For more information about the alcohol ban and admission
information for the University of Oklahoma, go to its web site at
www.ou.edu.
This VOA Special English EDUCATION REPORT was written by Nancy
Steinbach. This is Gwen Outen.