Still, they're college kids. They don't want to call themselves the 'Maryland Church of Christ,' they want something cool. Mr. Baker, like many other parents, seeks greater publicity for the issue. But the University of Maryland's Thomas is cautious. We have tried to inform students as fairly as we could.
Some critics suggest that political correctness is a factor in schools' cautious response.
Skeptics point out that turnover in many groups is high - showing that many people are able to exit on their own. Nevertheless, schools are moving forward on some fronts. Like Maryland, Boston University has focused on thorough training of RAs, something administrators say has helped curb problems. Experts have also noticed an upsurge in campuses requesting speakers on such groups. And the number of campuses addressing the issue seems to be growing.