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Former Middlebury College president John McCardell has spent the last couple years working to lower the drinking age from 21 to 18.
His campaign has been getting a ton of media coverage lately. I heard him on NPR the other day, and the Google News search I just did turned up a bunch of stories from the past few days — in The Washington Post, CBS News, The Wall Street Journal and The Los Angeles Times, among others.
We did a big story on him last summer, "All Stirred Up," (8/22/07). Seven Days publisher/co-editor Paula Routly interviewed McCardell, and asked several Vermont college presidents what they thought of his wacky idea to lower the drinking age. Most of them agreed with him.
Here's Norwich University prez Richard Schneider:
I think the country may be ready for a change, and I think we should experiment with this. I think we should try it. Vermont would be a great place to try John’s idea. We’re leading the Union in so many areas.
And former St. Mike's prez Marc vanderHeyden:
I agree with his efforts, but I would go further. I don’t want an age in there at all. These kids learn to drink socially — or antisocially — behind the backs of their parents. I want to include the parents in educating their children to drink responsibly. Drinking can be a good thing: good for your health, good for conversation.
Cheers!
Photo by Matthew Thorsen.
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