In response to the Nov. 12 article "PSU alcohol stats on rise," it's bewildering to think that university officials are in any way shocked by the reports that alcohol abuse is getting worse. With the administration's strict enforcement of Pennsylvania's counter-productive, zero-tolerance underage drinking policy, this should come as no surprise.

Instead of Penn State officials realizing the blatantly obvious reality that students are going to drink regardless of the legal risk, Penn State believes the more underages they give, the safer students will be. The efficacy of this policy is in the numbers; kids are being set to the hospital with higher and higher levels of blood alcohol.

The reason for this increase in dangerous drinking is because Penn State officials continue the policy of, if you drink one beer, two beers, or 25 beers, you're breaking the law and should be punished the same amount. Instead of encouraging students to drink safely and modestly, the university gives students two choices: Do not to drink at all, or since you're going to get in the same amount of trouble anyway, drink as much as possible.

Instead of targeting the students who are vomiting, stumbling, slurring or being destructive, Penn State police ask everyone for their IDs at parties and tailgates. If you were drinking responsibly, Penn State doesn't care. You're going to get in the same amount of trouble as "that guy" who is pale in the face, throwing up in the bush. Maybe next time you will learn not to drink modestly.

If Penn State wants to keep students from unsafe binge drinking, the policy needs to be changed. With the policy targeting everyone who is underage, there is no incentive for students to participate in safe drinking. With no change to the current policy, Penn State will show its commitment to student safety or at least lack thereof.

Steve Maggio

senior-health policy and administration