UW Madison has made some progress in efforts to decrease student drinking, but there continues to be a “binge drinking culture” on campus. Madison alcohol counselor Janet Duberry runs classes called Alcohol Smart for UW students who run afoul of the law. “Unfortunately, our classes are very full, in fact we’re adding classes this semester,” she says, adding that her close up view of the campus drinking culture is “a little scary”

Duberry’s students end up in her class after being arrested for underage drinking, or being sent to detox. “They’re drinking so thoughtlessly, and without knowing that there are consequences,” she says. “They’ve normalized it to the point where they forget about the consequences.”

John Colbert, WIBA