Purdue will offer tremendous cultural and social opportunities, as well as an intense academic environment. Alcohol abuse by young adults is a very serious issue in America, and it has unique dimensions on college campuses. My intent is not to alarm you. Unfortunately, many young people see consumption of alcohol as an expression of their new adulthood. Many college students already have experimented with the substance, and a few already are problem drinkers when they enroll.
Most college freshmen experience a new level of independence when they move from home to campus.
This freedom, when combined with relative immaturity and intense peer pressure, can lead to serious problems. Most campus incidents of assault, vandalism, and date rape are alcohol-related. These problems exist at all major universities, and I know neither Purdue nor Iowa State University, where I have been president since 1991, is an exception. Purdue's approach is to encourage good decisions by its students and employees. For those who are below the legal drinking age, the only responsible choice is abstention.