The University of Michigan Will Call Your Mom If You Drink Too Much

The University of Michigan has unveiled a new program designed to discourage incoming freshmen from drinking. They're going to call your Mom. 

I know from experience -- this doesn't work. 

After receiving two or more alcohol violations – or one violation that results in medical attention or destruction of property – University of Michigan freshmen parents will now receive a notification from the school.

That’s right. Someone from the University of Michigan will rat you out to your mom.

I get what they're trying to do. Alcohol use is up 13 percent among freshmen and they need to cut that number.

But Laura Vicinanza, a sophomore studying business at U-M, told USA TODAY. “It might be good in theory but destructive in practice."

Vicinanza says this policy might even lead to freshmen students at her school putting themselves in greater danger.

“This reminds me of policies that my sheltered high school had,” she says. “It might make people not want to seek out medical attention when they need it … I think everyone would prefer if we were treated like adults.”

Which is exactly what my Dad told Central Michigan University when they wrote to him after I was busted for drinking on my dorm floor back in 1979.

"What do you want me to do about it?" My dear father wrote back to the school, "He's putting himself through school, and he's legally an adult, so if you want to kick him out, kick him out, but I have nothing to do with him any more."

CMU thought about it, and decided they needed the money I was paying them more than they needed me out of the dorm, and issued me a stern warning. I learned my lesson and straightened out. A little bit. I graduated three years later.