Campuses that are not racially diverse foster a significant increase in student binge drinking, according to a study appearing in the American Journal of Public Health's November 2003 issue.
Henry Wechsler, principal investigator of the study and director of College Alcohol Studies at the Harvard School of Public Health, said he could not reveal whether the study was conducted at UW-Madison, but noted it surveyed alcohol use at 114 predominately white colleges across the nation and included 52,312 students in its scope.
The study used data collected since 1993 and found two major results: Young white men have the highest binge drinking rates among demographic groups and binge drinking decreases significantly in racially diverse environments.
\Diversity offers other models for behavior, for partying, for recreation,"" Wechsler explained. ""Incoming students who had not been binge drinkers in high school were less likely to take up binge drinking if they came onto a more diverse campus. If they went to a less diverse campus their odds of binge drinking were greater.""
UW-Madison Clinical Professor of Social Work Beverly Flanigan considers the results of the study valid and pointed to statistics showing black men drink less than white men. Flanigan said blacks' religious and historical tradition of drinking alcohol only at important life events may contribute to their lower rates of binge drinking.
In addition, the study found young males in particular were the single largest contributors to drinking, ""to facilitate social interaction with young women,"" according to Flanigan.
""Guys, I feel, in their nature, have a history of excess and, you know, it kind of comes with the stereotype 'I'm a man, I'm a big strong guy, I can do whatever',"" said Interfraternity Council Vice President of Risk Management Phil Jaynes.
The almost homogeneous concentration of young, white males in fraternities is a significant reason they have the highest binge drinking rates of any group on campus, according to Wechsler.
Jaynes disputed these claims, saying they exaggerated the view of fraternities as centers of drinking.
""By just saying you're [in a fraternity] to drink, that is not there at all. A lot of men that come to college are part of a group ... and I think a fraternity helps bolster that friendship and inner camaraderieship,"" Jaynes said.
He agreed, however, that pack mentality, especially among freshmen men, leads to increased rates of binge drinking.
Wechsler outlined a number of policies the university could adopt to help lower these rates, including curbing the ""exclusive concentration of people in housing arrangements, for example, freshman dorms.""
""They might also want to think about the admissions process ... to get a more diverse campus both with respect to age and race,"" Wechsler said.
