r|-i Tuesday, September 2,2008 Tuesday, sepiemoer z, * E DA ILY UTAH CHRONICLE www. dailyu tahch ronicle. com T h e U n i v e r s i t y of U t a h ' s I n d e p e n d e n t S t u d e n t Voice Since 1890 Vol. 118 No. 7 ©2008 Young opposed to lower drinking age Ryan Shelton ASST. NEWS EDITOR Every year, nearly 600,000 college students ages 18 to 24 are unintentionally injured under the influence of alcohol in the United States—1,700 of those injuries result in death, according to a 2005 study published in the Annual Review of Public Health. "The drinking age is practically 18 anyways," said U freshman Amanda Hartright. "If young people who choose to drink didn't have to hide it, they probably wouldn't get in so much trouble. You don't have to be 21 to drink in most foreign countries, so why should you here?" However, the initiative has several critics, including the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving, which has launched a nationwide ad campaign in support of the A growing community of university presidents has sparked a national debate, suggesting that lowering the national drinking age could curb binge drinking among college students. However, U President Michael Young isn't convinced, calling the initiative "misguided" and "ill-advised." "There's absolutely no evidence that suggests lowering the drinking age is a good idea," Young said. "Kids don't binge drink because it's illegal and then decide to stop when it becomes legal. Having a dialogue is fine, but it needs to be based on empirical research." To date, 129 university presidents and chancellors have signed the Amethyst Initiative, which calls upon elected officials to See DRINKING Page 3 re-examine the country's 24-year-old alcohol policies. The list of college leaders that support Fewer Utahns binge drink the initiative include Michael Bassis, president of Westminster College in Salt Lake City, and Gordon Gee, president of Ohio -10.9 percent of students surState University, one of the largest univer/eye||itatewide reported ensities in the country. In 1984, Congress passed the National gaging in binge drinking. Minimum Drinking Age Act, which im] p rcent of U students posed a 10 percent penalty on federal high€ dTeportedjehgaging way funding to any state that lowers its drinking age below 21. That law is up for reauthorization in 2009. tudej Vermont's Middlebury College President John McCardell, who started the Amethyst nally reports Initiative, wants the law changed so states ngin binge drinki can decide for themselves the best drinking age without fear of losing federal money. bffcl College He Proponents of the initiative say the current drinking age has established a dangerous and secretive culture surrounding f Substance,^ alcohol consumption, often resulting in binge drinking. Binge drinking is defined as drinking five or more drinks in one sitting. Utah players gather on the sideline of Michigan Stadium to sing "Utah Man" with the Utah fans after beating the Michigan Wolverines 25-23 in the season opener. Utes crash Big House playing time that otherwise wouldn't have, so I think that showed up there this afternoon," SPORTS EDITOR head coach Kyle Whittingham said. Whether it was the pressure of playing in the ANN ARBOR, MICH.— In each half of the Utes' visit to the Big House, Utah seemed in- Big House, the excitement of a season opener tent on shooting itself in the foot, while Michi- or a combination of the two, Utah's start was gan was content with turning those mistakes not indicative of the final result. into points. That's what turns a game where Utah's defense managed to force Michigan Utah essentially dominated statistically into a into an opening 3-and-out, only to see Jereme two-point nail-biter. Brooks botch the ensuing punt and hand the "We wanted to come here and play our Wolverines a prime touchdown-scoring opbrand of football," defensive end Paul Kruger portunity, said. "We knew if we did that, then we'd get "I've just got to get over it," Brooks said. "I it done." was just too amped up, just trying to do too In the end, it was the battle-tested Utes' much." ability to overcome early first-half and late The Wolverines eventually capitalized for second-half miscues that enabled them to start seven points starting from Utah's 26-yard line, another potentially BCS-busting season with a but not before linebacker Stevenson Sylveswin on the largest stage in college football. ter's pass interference call negated teammate "What I think appears to be a big positive for Robert Johnson's interception on Michigan's us is, the injury situation we went through last year allowed a lot of guys to develop and get See MICHIGAN Page 8 Tony Pizza Obama inspires campus Dems Alumni produce U Book Guide includes traditions, info on student groups Jed Layton HINCKLEY INSTITUTE JOURNALISM PROGRAM H. Rachelle Graham STAFF WRITER DENVER—Erika George used two words to describe her feelings as she saw Barack Obama step onto the stage Thursday night to accept the nomination at the Democratic National Convention: proud and triumphant. George, a U law professor, attended the convention as an alternate for the Utah delegatioa She spent the previous days in Denver attending meetings, parties and conventions, but said the highlight of her experience was Obama's acceptance speech. "I was tremendously proud," she said. "I was proud to share in such an important and historic moment for our nation." Amid a crowd of more than 84,000 people chanting Obama's message of change, 'Tes, we can," George remembered the day when Obama told her she could go to Harvard Law School. . George has a personal connection with Obama that goes back to her days as a student at the University of Chicago. George said she met Obama at a gym where they both worked out. George happened to notice a T-shirt Obama was wearing about lawyers. Her curiosity was aroused, so she asked him about it and ended ip speaking with Obama about his wife, Michelle Obama, and their days spent as students at Harvard Law SchooL "He told me I could do that, too— go to Harvard," she said "This was thefirsttime I had heard this. I was thinking about law school, but it isn't often that somebody comes along and tells you something you can do." George followed Obama's advice and graduated from Harvard Law School in 1996. She continued to follow Obama's career and supported him when he ran for the US. Senate. When Obama declared his candidacy for president and began the campaign message of "Yes, we can!" she immediately recognized it as something she had already heard from him. That's why she was thrilled to be on the conventionfloor,es- PHOTO COURTESY MA JING /Hwtkkylastitalt loumelwi Prcqrvn The Democratic National Convention concluded with a speech from Barack Obama that drew more than 84,000 spectators. pecially because his speech coincided with the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. Obama—the first black candidate to be nominated for the presidency by a major political party— emphasized King's visioa Obama said King's speech could have been negative or angry, but instead he spoke of his hopes and wishes. "What the people heard instead—people of every creed and color, from every walk of life—is that in America, our destiny is inextricably linked. That together, our dreams can be one," Obama said. In another part of the stadium, Sarah Day, a sophomore in political science and environmental studies, said Obama's acceptance speech helped people remember the American dream and motivated them to do something about it. She went to the convention with her mother, Julie Day, the medical director of the Redwood Health Center, a U community clinic. Julie Day attended the convention as an at-large delegate. Sarah Day was impressed by the directness of Obama's message. "Tonight, I say to the American people, to Democrats and Republicans and Independents across this great land—enoughl" Obama said. "This moment—this election—is our chance to keep, in the 21st century, the American promise alive." "He stood there and said, 'Enough!' and continued to say how he will fight tofixthe problems our country is facing," Sarah Day said Julie Day said Obama's speech left the crowd with a sense of awe, "The feeling on the floor (of INVSECO Field) was thrilling," she said. "It is the sense of hope for the future, hope for restoring our country's moral standing and security that overwhelms people." Her daughter felt the same way, even though she sat yards away in the stadium seating. "I felt a rush of emotion when I first saw Barack come onto the stage," Sarah Day said. "I felt proud because I know he will be able to turn this country around and get us onto the correct path again when he is president." Many attending Obama's acceptance speech said the most moving segment was his attempt to unify the country despite bipartisan politics. "The challenges we face require tough choices, and Democrats as See OBAMA Page 7 There is now a resource available for students who aren't sure what is offered on campus—the UBook. The Student Alumni Board of the U Alumni Association and U publishers wrote and produced the V Book, which includes an "essential guide for freshmen" with information on student groups, scholarships, academic resources, athletics, social and cultural events, a campus map and U history. The 100-page book is devoted to building U traditions, and includes a section of 50 traditions students can complete on campus to receive special recognition from the Alumni Association, ranging from attending the Homecoming dance to going to a U rugby match or eating at The Pie. Students can take pictures of themselves completing the traditions and paste them in the UBook to achieve different levels of recognition. Students can receive U pins from the Alumni Association for each 25 traditions they complete. Those who com- plete 45 traditions receive a crimson medallion and all 50 traditions will be recognized at a yearly Alumni Association event "The U book will hopefully get people more connected to different traditions on campus," said Brent Schmidt, a senior in Spanish and president of the Student Alumni Association. Remi Barron, a U spokesman, said the target audience of the U book is incoming freshmen and new transfer students, who can receive the book for free. Students in the MUSS can also get their books for free when they pick up football tickets. Returning students can buy the book for $8 from the Alumni Association. The book is available at the Alumni House. Barron said the book is intended to help do away with the misconception that the U is only a commuter school. He said the book should make it easier for U students to learn about participating in events and activities on campus. 'It is a big school and it is spread out," he said. "There is a lot going on and we just didn't want it to be difficult Inside: SPORTS: The volleyball ••>" team overcomes Santa Clara and • UVU to start the season off with a perfect 2-0. See Page 8- ^ , _ , >»w.-V- >*%'•'r'i&.-Sf'-> T •. •. • -'vji,'^ • '••--•' .••!-; •'• _ oPiifiibN : Anne Roper says don't get beat at the bookstore— avoid buying costly textbooks. See page 4. for new students to figure out how to participate. (With) this book they will have a handle on things right away." John Fackler, director of Alumni Relations, said there are too many students who attend classes from freshman year to graduation and have no idea what is going on around campus. "They take classes (and) maybe they stroll over to the Union building once and awhile," he said *They do not know how to get involved in student organizations. The book is telling you to get involved." Fallon Terry, a sophomore in English, said she still wants to know more about homecoming events and wants to buy the book. She said she wouldVe known more her freshman year if the book had been available. "It's nice to be able to have a book around to look it all up," she said. "1 saw all the information about tutoring and stuff like that. I didn't know anything about that until I went to my classes and my teachers mentioned something." h.graham@ chronicle.utah.edu