Death prompts review of underage drinking

CLEMSON, S.C. --- Clemson University will review how it handles underage drinking on campus after the death of an 18-year-old freshman earlier this month. The coroner has said Benjamin Garrison Sprague, who was found dead on at an off-campus fraternity house on Dec. 9, died from alcohol poisoning.

The university has heard from parents and alumni, said Gail DiSabatino, the vice president of student affairs at Clemson University. "There's the idea of training our students to do a better job of recognizing the signs and when they need to make a call," she said.

Since Mr. Sprague's death, Clemson officials have reviewed policies to try to keep anything similar from happening again, Ms. DiSabatino said.

"What we don't want to do is just react, but make sure that what we do is evidence-based and be smart about what steps we take," she said.

The number of violations of the school's alcohol regulations almost doubled in the 2005-06 school year from the 2003-04 year, according to the university's Office of Community and Ethical Standards. Ms. DiSabatino said she thinks the increase is the result of more aggressive enforcement.

But some former students say it's not a problem the school can fix.

"Overall, I would say students do not listen to the administration, parents, law enforcement officials or others when it comes to drinking issues," said Christopher Woods, a 2006 Clemson graduate and a member of Sigma Nu fraternity. Mr. Sprague died at the Sigma Nu house in Seneca. "Students in college who want to drink are going to drink, and the vast majority want to."

National health statistics seem to agree with Woods. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 20 percent of all alcohol consumed in the United States is consumed by people who are not old enough to drink.

"On average, underage drinkers consume more drinks per drinking occasion than adult drinkers," the CDC reported on its Web site.

Underage drinking is a violation of Clemson's student code of conduct and disciplinary action ranges from a reprimand and a letter to parents to suspension, Ms. DiSabatino said.

Students also face criminal charges if campus police are involved in a case.