MU WANTS TO KEEP SOME PARENTS UPDATED

The University of Missouri Board of Curators is absolutely correct with its proposed new policy of informing parents of their underage sons' and daughters' on-campus drinking.

Here's how it works: If a student is under 21 and caught drinking on campus, he or she gets a pass the first time in most cases. The second time, Mom and Dad get a call from university officials. The rule doesn't apply to students who are married or financially independent or whose parents have asked not to be notified.

Had the policy been in place last year, about 100 students of the 20,000 under age 21 in the University of Missouri system would have been reported.

Paul Steele, president of the board of curators, says the policy will help students make good decisions.

The message to students, Steele said, is "Go out and have a good time. If it's your desire to drink, have a drink. Just don't go out and drink 12 beers and abuse someone else or risk your own well-being and safety."

No stick-in-the-mud there. Steele simply is advocating common sense. And, we hope, compliance with drinking laws.

Of course, most students aren't too happy with the idea. Organized groups on all four University of Missouri campuses are opposing the move.

Stephen Sugg, the student curator, says there's no evidence parental notification is a deterrent. And he points out that on-campus binge drinking represents a very small part of the total problem.

But that's not the point.

Note that the policy doesn't apply to students who are financially independent. The fact is, if college-age men and women are going to take their parents' money for education and housing, those parents should be able to track their investments. They probably wouldn't want to continue investing in a son or daughter who is too hung over to get to class. Rather, they would like to get that child straightened out so their investment will result in a productive member of society.

That's life, students. You can put yourself through school with no financial dependence on your parents. Thousands upon thousands of students do so pulling themselves out of all kinds of situations and building better lives through education.

And if students who place a premium on education and are old enough want to tip a glass or bottle now and then, more power to them.

But they probably wouldn't have the time.