Emory University has a prime opportunity to hold the line on college-age drinking.

The Alliance to Improve Emory Village is a nonprofit organization with the stated mission of revitalizing Emory Village. Stuart Meddin, a property owner in Emory Village and a former CEO and current co-chair of the AIEV, has asked the DeKalb County commissioners to change the county alcohol ordinance to remove the distance requirements between businesses that serve alcohol and schools, churches and residences surrounding Emory Village in the Druid Hills residential community.

Emory University is a nationally recognized institution founded by the Methodist Church and one of the largest employers in DeKalb County. There is a long history of Emory officials serving on the AIEV board. Emory also has a long history of concern about alcohol use and abuse among college-age students.

A quote from a March 20, 2006, Emory Report article summarizing the work of campus task forces stated, "Emory has a substantial and worsening problem with high-risk drinking and drug use among its student body and it needs to address this problem before being forced to do so by a high-profile incident such as a student death or an episode of violence."

Addressing this concern, the university's alcohol policy states in part that "Emory University is committed to the health and well being of the members of its staff, faculty, and student body. As part of this commitment, Emory University complies with and upholds all federal, state, and local laws that regulate or prohibit the possession, use or distribution of alcoholic beverages. . . ."

The community looks to Emory University to use its concerns for the health and safety of Emory students, its position in the economy of DeKalb County and its presence on the AIEV board to oppose changes to county alcohol laws that would bring liquor sales to the front door of Emory University.

> Julia Ann Griffith lives in Druid Hills.