In his column, Andrew Banyai does have a good point in that “it’s very comfortable to have someone to blame” (“Students shouldn’t be charged for death,” SN 4/9).

But he misses the point that these people did break the law. They did supply alcohol to a minor, which last time I checked was not legal. And the analogy to you having a few legal friends over and asking for some wine or beer money is not really the same as having a party that charges at the door. When you charge at the door you are trying to make money, but when you ask your friends for some beer money you are not trying to turn a profit.

Maybe the people involved are being punished too harshly, but they did break the law and got caught. Instead of trying to complain about the poor people who are being charged, or how the drinking age should be 18, why not applaud the Ingham County prosecutors for doing their job?

How would changing the drinking age keep people from overindulging? It wouldn’t, so instead of making excuses for these five people being charged, why not try to make a more positive impact on people?

You have the power of the press, make a difference, don’t wallow in self righteousness.

Patrick Reynolds
mathematics junior