College Drinking Is Out of Control

by Dr. Boyce Watkins

I recently noticed that the Duke Lacrosse team, the same guys caught in the middle of the rape fiasco that occurred a couple of years ago, were knocked out of the NCAA tournament. The upset by Johns Hopkins ended a season that will surely allow these young men to be remembered as heroes. Granted, their comeback from the depths of despair after the rape scandal in 2006 is quite remarkable. Also, Duke is a great school, a place that my little brother was planning to attend. However, we might want to put the “heroism” of Duke University athletes into perspective, for we don’t want to get carried away.

I was quite vocal about the Duke lacrosse situation in 2006, and I don’t regret one word of my commentary. When a young black student at another university accused the athletes of rape at a party, there was quite a bit of legitimate racial tension in the Raleigh-Durham area, as well as across the nation. I did not stand up in defense of the young black woman’s story, nor did I accuse the athletes of anything that was not yet proven in the court of law. I wasn’t there when the event allegedly took place, since I don’t hang out at drunken stripper parties.

What concerned me about the situation was not the lies that may have been told by the victim. I assume she was lying, since she disappeared and her story fell apart like a Sean Hannity argument. Perhaps she was paid or threatened to remain quiet, but we will never know what happened. I also had no problem with the punishment of Mike Nifong, the District Attorney who seemed to presume guilt before actually proving it.

What I had a problem with is that everyone continues to miss an important piece of this picture. The athletes on the Duke Lacrosse team are NOT great American heroes. At best, their behavior was that of drunken thugs who were fortunate enough to be able to hire good attorneys to get them out of trouble. I have friends in “the hood” who behave this way, some of whom are still in prison for things they didn’t do. There is a Bill Cosby argument to be made which states that staying out of trouble means avoiding situations most likely to get you into trouble.
Heroes don’t drink till they puke every weekend. Heroes don’t hold parties with booze and strippers till all hours of the night. After all was said and done, I hope that these men were not given the green light to continue the same egregious behavior that got them into trouble in the first place. That would be sending the wrong message to these young men.

But the kids on the Duke Lacrosse team are not alone. I find myself consistently shocked at some of the behavior I see on many college campuses. While we consider college campuses to be havens of the elite, I can simply say that I know men who’ve gone to prison who don’t behave in such a deplorable fashion. The fact that individuals like George Bush are products of this tradition explains a lot about the brilliant policies of our great nation. It also explains why Bill O’Reilly has a loyal audience. I can’t use this culture to explain the drug abuse and illegal behavior of the caricature known as Rush Limbaugh, since he never graduated from college. In fact, according to Rush’s own mother, “he flunked everything, even a modern ballroom dancing class”. I’m honestly not surprised.

After spending my life on major college campuses for the last 18 years, I can only ask this question: Who IN THE HELL decided that it was normal to drink every weekend until you pass out? Who decided that this behavior is simply a “part of college life”, with kids not being taught the first thing about personal responsibility? I’m sorry, but in the real world, people who engage in excessive alcohol consumption destroy their livers, are far more likely to get raped, are more likely to be caught in violence, are at risk of driving and killing their best friends and put the rest of us in jeopardy. I’m not cool with that.

The U.S. Surgeon General has identified binge drinking on college campuses as a major health problem. I have middle aged alcoholic friends who took their first drink on a college campus. What concerns me the most is that the parents of these students and administrators around them are not stepping up to the plate and forcing these kids to chill out. Even well-intended administrators are ham strung by overzealous parents who believe their children can do no wrong. Perhaps they should call Bill Cosby in on this one, since there is a lot of bad parenting going on.

I know cops and prosecutors who claim that parents are one of the primary reasons that arrested college students don’t usually learn lessons from their audacious behavior. The next time I hear someone criticizing parenting in the black community, I am going to tell them to look to our elite campuses as the greatest examples of irresponsible parenting. I’m no bible thumper and I’m surely not a conservative, but I grew up with good role models who taught me the importance of common sense.

When I read about the Duke Lacrosse party, that is what I saw: another episode of college campus culture teaching young men and women to be comfortable behaving as menaces to society. Over 1,700 college students die each year from unintentional alcohol-related accidents. Roughly half of all college women are sexually assaulted during college, with at least half of these incidents involving alcohol. Individuals who consistently promote this kind of behavior on campus are no heroes of mine. But I don’t blame the students, I blame their parents and the adults who refuse to tell them the truth. If my son were at that party engaging in this kind of embarrassing behavior, I would (keeping it honest, in the words of my grandmother) “whoop his black ass”. Only men who host drunken stripper parties have to worry about strippers accusing them of rape.

I grow weary of appearing on shows in which I am asked to defend the behavior of black males, when I see students on college campuses behaving in ways that should make their families ashamed. I long for the day that a man like Bill O’Reilly takes a break from judging the values of the black community and turns that same self-righteous eye toward the Ivy League and private university thugs-in-training who think it’s ok to begin the quest toward alcoholism right after freshman orientation. But of course, the racism and elitism of America lead us to only see flaws in the oppressed. That is what my book, “What if George Bush were a Black Man?” was all about.

So, my tough love for the lacrosse players at Duke University is this: Congratulations on coming back from your setback. You were lucky, because prisons are full of men who never got a second chance. I’m sorry the stripper you hired lied to the police after your liquor and stripper-fest was over. But you shouldn’t be hiring strippers at the age of 19, and you should never have been in that situation. Now that we’ve had this conversation, you are free to go out in the world and truly become heroes.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Finance Professor at Syracuse University and author of “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About College”. For more information, please visit www.BoyceWatkins.com.

Jesse Jackson, Marc Lamont Hill, Boyce Watkins Give Solutions to Black Students

Dr. Boyce Watkins and Marc Lamont Hill appeared on the Rev. Jesse Jackson show to discuss educational policy. Rev. Jackson asked Dr. Watkins and Dr. Hill to make recommendations on the educational achievement gap and how to support the problems experienced by black males. Marc Lamont Hill is a Temple University Professor and Boyce Watkins teaches at Syracuse University. Both men are regulars on CNN, FOX and BET.

Jesse Jackson runs the Rainbow Push Coalition, which is going to make the dropout problem one of its key initiatives this year. Jackson is putting together a panel consisting of Marc Lamont Hill, Boyce Watkins and other experts specifically to address this issue.

During the discussion, which took place on The Jesse Jackson Show, Jackson asked the panelists if race still matters in America. Both men agreed.

“There is a litany of statistics showing that black students don’t get the benefit of the doubt in our school systems,” says Dr. Hill. “Race matters in America and it matters in our schools.”

Dr. Watkins, who wrote the book “Everything you ever wanted to know about college” agreed with Rev. Jackson and Dr. Hill. He also added that money is critical to solving the problem.

“America is more capitalist than it is racist, sexist or democratic,” says Dr. Watkins. “If we do not put resources into the schools, the educational problems will continue to persist.”

Dr. Hill and Dr. Watkins are going to meet with Jesse Jackson this summer at the Rainbow Push Coalition meetings to further discuss this issue. Al Sharpton and other black leaders are expected there as well.

Was there a Book Under the Tree? Knowledge is Power

If you've shared a book with a child, you know the joy and excitement this small but meaningful act can bring. Did you keep that in mind when selecting your Holiday gifts? If not, start the new year out right, buy a book, visit a library, or share one from your bookshelves with a child. Children who are read to at home have a higher success rate in school, Children who read frequently develop stronger reading skills, Reading together helps grow the bond between family members.

According to the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics, the Black community is still lagging behing when it comes to reading: White, non-Hispanic students had higher scores in 2005 than their Black, non-Hispanic and Hispanic peers at grades 4, 8, and 12. There were no changes in these gaps from 1992 to 2005 at grades 4, 8, and 12. This has got to change.

Our ancestors built pyramids and invented almost everything. Perhaps it was easier to excel then because positive role models were everywhere and excellence was not only a necessity, it was expected. We can duplicate that environment today. Read, read, read! The local black press has loads of information on positive contributions in the community. Sit down and read the papers with your child. In addition, there are now thousands of exciting multicultural children's books and history books to choose from. Although Black brick and mortar book stores are becoming extinct, bookstores online and offline are still the source for your broadest selections. There is bound to be some that your child would love and will also interest and inform you. Read, read, read!

10 Tips to Get You Through College...Successfully!

Back in school at 30? Don’t just get your degree. Build a life!

Education expert Brenda Major discusses her top 10 things to consider before and during the college experience.
As told to Andrea D. Johnson

Not everyone goes to college directly after high school. Of those who do, some don't graduate or take advantage of the vast resources available. For some, life happens and we're swept off our feet with sudden responsiblity. We get married, we have kids, relatives need taking care of. And of course there are those who hate heir jobs. No matter the situation, something (or someone) is always nudging... "Go get your degree.” Bachelor Degree or Masters-in any case, all of us have been advised that that piece of paper will solve all of our problems. Here's the reality check: College is more than receiving a piece of paper at the end of two or four years. It’s a paradigm shift, it’s an attitude adjustment, it’s a time to reposition yourself, and as Admissions Director at Eastern Illinois University, Brenda Major says, “It’s a time to build a life! And it’s not just about making A’s.What you do while you’re getting that degree is what really matters. A degree doesn’t guarantee you a job.” In an exclusive interview, Major outlines important ideas continuing students should consider.

Ask yourself, “Why do I want to go to school?” College is not the answer to everything. All students should really consider what they want their degree for. Some think it will instantly give them a better job. But what’s the real purpose for getting it? People are told that they should "go get their degree" but they need to check out a career service and ask what’s available in the market. There are so many careers that people just haven’t thought about. Just an example; people are living longer now, so there will be a need for people in the geriatric field. A career counselor will help you consider those jobs which don’t readily come to mind.

Do a self assessment. Ask “Do I know how to study? What hours of the day am I most alert?” Be the best judge of yourself. I know adults who seek out high school teachers to help with study tips. Maybe you have to go back to grade school and ask that person to mentor you. You need to be around positive people. You should be around people willing to take you from where you are, to where you need to be.

Scholarships are not just for YOUNG people! You can get a scholarship too. Look for the money! “A lot of times adults feel that scholarships are not for them, but financial aid is out there. Google “financial aid for adult students.” Several websites including FAFSA have scholarship information. It takes some research but if you really want it, it’s out there.”
Generally, people become scared from simply hearing the words “private” and “out-of-state.” This shouldn't mean that they can’t become an option. Many experts support the idea that college is an investment and cost shouldn’t be a reason not to go to college. Major agrees and she doesn’t believe loans are the only answer. “Most private schools will discount their tuition charges for students with a demonstrated financial need. At state schools like Eastern Illinois University, there is a growing population of adult learners, and many receive aid.

Cost is never the reason to attend a particular college. Create a budget so you'll know the exact cost of your education each year.“In addition to scholarships, you should create an exact budget-- to the penny. What do you absolutely have to have? Be realistic, college is a sacrifice. Create a budget so that you are able to take advantage of the really great things that are bound to come your way. Things like traveling abroad, internships, or fellowships. Learn to budget once so that later cutting things out become easy. Besides some things that you sacrifice, you’ll realize you don't need. We have to remember colleges are selling a product-a product somebody has to pay for. Financial aid is designed to help, not give education away so there is no such thing as a full ride. You can't go to anybody’s college for free. It’s their job to help, not pay for you to learn.”

Search for colleges with programs to assist you to complete your degree in four years. “GET IN, GET OUT. Look for incentive programs that help you to graduate in four years. Focus on this idea: You don't want just a job, you want to build a life. Therefore, you have to do more than make good grades. Internships, volunteer opportunities, studying overseas…a resume that makes you look fascinating will attract employers. Spend some time volunteering at a company you would like to be employed by, or similar to your desired company. You are building a life! If you are willing to give of your time in exchange for experience, not money, and you do a superior job, someone will notice your strong work ethic. In turn, they may write recommendation letters, know of scholarships, and may even pay you to go to school so you can come back and work for them.”

Complete every section of the application and proof read it before sending.“Proof it. People easily skip questions because they are going too quickly. If they ask an optional essay question, answer it! What you put on the application- that piece of paper- is all we know about you. Be sure to include your personality and passion.”

Ask for an application fee waiver if you think you may qualify. Even if you doubt the school waives the application fee, ask. If they say no, some community educational service agencies can assist and will submit a waiver request for you.”

Expect to stretch beyond your comfort zone academically and personally. Major says that people wanting to return to school are usually determined and goal oriented, but even those people may underestimate what they may have to sacrifice. Really consider your goals and what may conflict with your plans.

Get the full experience by approaching school with a positive mindset. It’s not just going to class, you’re building a life! With traditional college students, it makes sense to conduct a college search that spans the country. But older students with full-time jobs, maybe kids or a relative to care for don’t have that option. This can sometimes be a downside. But according to our expert the “full experience” doesn’t have to mean having roommates and barely enough room to turnover at night. Major says, “Even if you are landlocked, you can’t treat college like you treat work. Then you definitely won’t get the most out of your experience. After working all day you should look forward to school, look forward to being with people who think big! It’s a chance to advance your mind. Join organizations. We want older students to run student government. They have common sense! They can motivate other students by their presence, and can advise some of the younger students. If you don’t network while you’re getting the degree, your life doesn’t change after you get the degree. Allow college to advance your thinking. Even if you have to uproot the family and head for New York just to have a better opportunity in life, the full experience can help you. Then what an incredible role model you've become for your children, your family, even your parents. Then you are teaching by example.”

Form a support group. “Hang with other people who are raising a family, holding down a full time job, or taking care of parents--that’s what more unique to adult learners, they have a group mentality. You don’t need to feel alone. Develop a network of adult students, with similar goals and even similar ages. It can make a difference!”

Currently the Director of Admissions at Eastern Illinois University, Brenda Major has been working in college admissions over 20 years. She has assisted nearly 5,000 students from high school to college graduation and beyond.

Saggin Pants? Does it justify racism and exclusion?

Is the saggin pants issue bad for black men or just a form of self-expression? Give us your thoughts.