A news story from a nearby state recently reported that a family was awakened in the middle of the night by loud noise in their home. Upon investigation, they discovered a previously unknown and uninvited, but significantly intoxicated, university student showering in their residence. Besides the safety threat to student and frightened family, breaking and entering is rarely a career enhancer.

Science confirms that underage drinking is not some non-sensical "rite of passage," as some like to suggest. Rather, alcohol is an established public health threat, jeopardizing academic potential and performance by many abusing students.

Students attend UNC to obtain a quality education, preparing them for their rightful place in the next generation of leadership. They do not attend to become alcoholics or alcohol abusers, though that is the destiny for many.

But the voluntary drinker is not the only person suffering an adverse consequence. Many non-participants are involuntarily subjected to the secondary effects of that drinking.

At UNC, with approximately 18,000 undergraduates enrolled, most are under age 21. As fall classes begin, 25 percent of incoming students are less than 18 years of age. Benefiting only the alcohol industry, studies find that freshmen now spend more time drinking than studying. The negative academic consequences that often follow are inconsistent with the university mission and student purpose.

UNC expends an inordinate amount of resources dealing with problematic student drinking issues. Cleaning up student alcohol-related messes seems to be a weekly, almost daily, occurrence. Though 22 percent of collegians reportedly do not drink, they, along with the greater university community and town residents, are often negatively impacted by those who do.

Reports of alcohol-fueled sexual assaults on female students are commonplace. According to the National College Women Sexual Victimization Survey, between 20 to 25 percent of college women are victims of an attempted or completed rape during their college career. Most victims know the perpetrator, and 90 percent involve alcohol use by one or both parties.

A Harvard University study finds more than 75 percent of students living in campus housing report experiencing a negative consequence because of another drinking student. For the non-drinking or moderate drinking student, this often proves to be a threat to their physical, mental and emotional well-being. This includes interrupted sleep or study; insults or humiliation; hazing; riots; physical assault or intimidation; damage to property; care for an impaired or unconscious student; serious argument or quarrel; unwanted sexual advances; date rape; or other alcohol-fueled victimization.

In nearby residential neighborhoods, residents living within one mile of campus are, likewise, apt to be the victims of student drinking. Such disturbance impacts the quality of life of innocent town residents. This includes loud noise or disturbance; fighting; automobile crashes; vandalism; property damage; theft; littering; public drunkenness; vomiting; public urination on their property, and the occasional break-in.

Yes, the abusive drinkers will pay the price for their irresponsibility, but they are not the only ones suffering a negative consequence. Solving this community problem requires a comprehensive and collaborative community environmental management effort. As a community, what are we doing to prevent underage drinking? For more information, visit www.highereducationcenter. org.

Ronald E. Bogle is a retired Superior Court judge and works with the Coalition for Alcohol and Drug Free Teenagers.