Iowa faculty leaders back 21 bar ordinance, more Friday classes

IOWA CITY - University of Iowa professors should schedule and design Friday morning classes in ways that increase student attendance, to combat Thursday night binge drinking, faculty leaders urged Tuesday.

The UI Faculty Council, the leadership group of the university's Faculty Senate, also passed a resolution backing the city's plan to raise the bar entry age to 21. The Iowa City Council will vote on the 21-only ordinance later this month. Currently, anyone 19 and older can be in Iowa City bars at night.

“I don't think we can stay seated anymore,” Faculty Senate President David Drake said. “We're talking about our students' health and well being.”

Engineering Professor Richard Valentine said he is skeptical that more Friday classes or backing the 21-ordinance will make much difference. He said binge drinking would be reduced more by academic rigor.

But other faculty said the two resolutions passed Tuesday are a start toward changing attitudes.

Michael Takacs, clinical assistant professor of emergency medicine, presented data that he thinks shows scheduling more Friday morning classes does lead to less Thursday night drinking.

A four-year study from the University of Missouri shows excessive drinking was moderated by Friday morning classes.

Takacs compiled UI information from 2007-08 and 2008-09, showing that alcohol-related emergency room visits by students age 18 to 22 declined since the UI focused on more Friday classes in recent years. It's hard to say for sure it is a direct result, as the UI implemented other measures in that time, but Takacs believes there is a correlation.

“I believe it had a big part, but that's still up for argument,” he said. “It looks like a good intervention.”

UI students drink, and binge drink, at rates much higher than the national average, and they suffer more negative consequences, according to national statistics.

“Our students drink more often, in riskier ways and they suffer more harm,” Victoria Sharp, clinical associate professor of urology and special assistant to the provost for alcohol safety, said.