Adults must be leaders for students

On Tuesday at Husson College, the Penobscot Valley Conference held the fourth annual Student-Athlete Summit for student athletes from member schools. Male and female students attended meeting for the purpose of exploring the concept of leadership, both in and out of sports. I had the honor of speaking at the meeting and talking with some of the students and school administrators.

While the session presented the opportunity for the students to consider and discuss what constitutes a leader and how to improve leadership skills, there was a learning process going on for the school officials as well.

PVC officials wanted input from students on how the adults are doing as leaders in their teaching and coaching capacities. Administrators also wanted to hear from the students on what problems they as school officials may be missing or need to pay more attention to both in the classroom and on the fields.

The students were great. They were attentive, responsive and forthcoming with ideas and matters of concern at their respective schools. This was a group of student-athletes selected for their past display of leadership abilities and it showed.

What they said needs to be heeded by schools and parents.

They are no different than every generation in their search for guidance in the growing up process. They want leaders who display integrity, caring and genuineness.

What remains disturbing is the continuing, and if these students are right, the growing problems of drugs and alcohol among their peers. When asked to list problems areas where leadership was most needed, drug and alcohol concerns in the context of “parties” were invariably raised.

Drugs of all kinds are readily available. The quantity and nature of the drugs, to include heroin, is serious.

Even more disturbing was a discussion with an administrator who talked about the double whammy he encounters when trying to deal with these problems. There are parents who, in the case of alcohol at least, are providing a venue for student parties and providing, illegally, the alcohol.

They are willing to lie to school officials who investigate such cases and rely on the tired and erroneous position that “everyone is doing it.”

One official actually had parents get mad when a party where alcohol was to be provided to underage students was discovered in advance and school administrators told other parents about it.

Alcohol is no new problem. It has been a school-related issue forever, in a society where the beer and alcohol industry relentlessly hammers away with advertising designed to convince kids and adults that you have to drink to be “in.”

As to sports, the beer industry long ago grabbed onto athletes’ coattails in order to relate beer to sports, knowing it would boost sales. The sports/alcohol connection is one way the industry can increase sales and attract young athletes and fans with the same “you have to be doing it to be in” theme.

When parents buy into this sales pitch and put kids at risk by being the providers, the schools are left to deal with the issue as best they can.

Do the kids and the schools a favor. Be a leader. Make clear to your own children and any others you come in contact with illegal drugs that can kill. Alcohol is a drug, and while legal for adults to consume, it is a decision for adults to make and not for kids to undertake at a time when use can forever damage their lives.

Old Town native Gary Thorne is an ESPN and NBC sportscaster.