From Chattanooga-
Trustees at Sewanee: The University of the South named a university president Wednesday to succeed Joel Cunningham, who led the campus for more than a decade.
John McCardell is a former president of Middlebury College, a top-ranked, liberal arts college in Vermont. He will take office July 1 as the 16th president and vice chancellor of Sewanee, an Episcopal liberal arts college.
"I look forward to working with the entire Sewanee community to advance what I consider one of the true gems of American higher education," Dr. McCardell said in a statement.
"The prospect of serving a unique institution whose history and traditions are so inextricably tied to the American South and to the Episcopal Church, and where the academic attainment of its faculty, students and alumni is so distinguished, was one to which I felt particularly drawn."
Dr. McCardell, 60, served as Middlebury president from 1992 until 2004. He has worked as a historian specializing in 19th-century U.S. history and advocate to lower the legal drinking age from 21 to 18.
In 2006, Dr. McCardell founded Choose Responsibly, which promotes debate about the effects of a legal drinking age of 21. Two years ago he co-sponsored the Amethyst Initiative, a statement signed by 135 college and university presidents that challenges drinking-age laws.
"He is an inspirational leader who will strengthen Sewanee's historic commitment to excellence in the liberal arts and service to the Episcopal Church," university Chancellor J. Neil Alexander said in a statement. "We are delighted that he has answered this call to service."
More here-
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2010/jan/07/mccardell-named-sewanee-president/?local
1 comment:
John McCardell has done a wonderful job sparking debate about the drinking age. I will continue to support him.
Most states in the nation adopted a minimum drinking age of 21 soon after federal passage of the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984, which required states to maintain a minimum drinking age of 21 in order to avoid a reduction in federal highway funds. The original intention of the law was to reduce the incidents of alcohol-related accidents among people under 21. But since passage of this legislation, and the raising of the drinking age in many states, the percentage of people who drink between the ages of 18 to 20 has skyrocketed. Many say the prohibitions have actually encouraged secretive binge drinking, more dangerous behavior, and less educational programming targeting this age group. Respected law enforcement officials and university presidents have recently called for changes in the federal law to permit states to lower the drinking age.
It's time for the nation to repeal these Prohibition-era laws and adopt a more intelligent, progressive, and educational approach to drinking among younger adults. These laws simply don't work, they aren't enforceable any longer, and if anything they are counterproductive. Literally millions of responsible young adults are already consuming alcohol and that's not going to change. What we need to do is stop wasting the taxpayers money chasing, charging and prosecuting responsible young adults who want to have a beer, and start putting the money where it ought to be, in promoting smart education about responsible drinking, and in pursuing far more serious criminals, including those at all ages who drive under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
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Eric Paine
President & Founder
Drink At 18
www.drinkat18.com
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