Re: "CU needs mandatory alcohol course" by Andriana Rogers in Thursday's Colorado Daily:

I recall being a freshman at CU and noticing the problematic drinking behaviors of my peers. Yes, alcohol and drugs can be dangerous, but the answer is not to create a mandatory course for incoming students.

You are essentially arguing for a collegiate DARE program, and it is well known that kids who participated in the DARE program end up being more likely to use alcohol and drugs.

Additionally, CU does already offer a course that discusses drugs and alcohol through the sociology department. No, it is not an anti-drug/alcohol course, but it does talk about the effects of substance use.

It is not mandatory because there are realities to the university system, including the fact that a mandatory alcohol course is simply not practical. Simply put, you cannot force 5,000-plus people to take the same course in the same semester and afford to pay prospective teachers.

Safety should be a concern, but there are bigger issues. According to the U.S. Census, there are 15.9 million people in college. Therefore, those 1,400 college students who do, sadly, die each year amount to less than 1 percent of the population.

So make resources available, increase public awareness, but please, don't make a course on the dangers of alcohol mandatory to people who might not listen anyway.

Rachel Zeller

CU student