The Dark Side of College Education

When College Tours Open Doors To Drinking and Sex

By Laura Cone

Jeannine Athens-Virtue of Porter, Ind., wants to accompany her 17-year-old son, Jordan, on college tours so she can check out her investment, one that will amount to tens of thousands of tuition dollars. As the mother of four teenage boys, ages 13 to 19, Athens-Virtue is also not na. She knows there are opportunities for teenagers to drink alcohol while visiting fraternities in addition to the obligatory trips to the college library, computer lab and dining hall. "It's not a matter of if they could drink," she says. "They probably are going to be seeking it out, because most teenagers look at colleges like, 'This is a cool party.'" Fortunately, there are steps parents can take to make sure teens get information and fun all while playing it safe during college visits.

According to a survey by Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and Liberty Mutual Group, boys are two to three times more likely than girls to participate in drinking, sex and drugs during overnight college visits. The study reveals more than a quarter of teens surveyed had sex or drank alcohol. More than 20 percent used drugs.

Athens-Virtue finds there are advantages, besides peace of mind, to having a responsible adult accompany a teenager on college tours. "My sister went to Purdue, so she is going to take him down to Purdue," Athens-Virtue says. "I went to IU, so I will be taking him there. We are trying to hook him up with people who know the colleges and who know their way around so it's a little less intimidating for him. That takes care of the chaperone issue as well." Athens-Virtue is scheduling college visits around sporting events so Jordan, who wants to study graphic design, gets a taste of college life. "I want to go when school is in session for him to be able to see the kids and hang out," she says. "He is very familiar with IU because he has been to a soccer camp. He has a stepbrother who goes there, so he knows where the dorms are and some of the pizza places around that area."

Want to see more?

• College Bound: A Timeline for Success
• Journey to the Right College: Guideposts for Success
• School Security: Staying Safe on Campus
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