MSU-Moorhead requires alcohol safety course

Incoming freshmen at Minnesota State University-Moorhead are already signing up for the classes they'll take this fall. One class they'll all be signing up for this year is a course on the dangers of alcohol.

"Alcohol and College Life" is a one-credit, online course that combines advice and statistics with interactive video and personal testimonials about problems with drinking. Students can complete assignments in their dorm rooms, in computer labs, or download lessons onto portable audio players.

The University of Minnesota developed the course, which is in use at other schools, but MSU-Moorhead is the first state school to require it of incoming Freshmen. In the last two years two Moorhead students -- Jason Reinhardt and Patrick Kycia -- have died in alcohol-related incidents.

Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Crann talked to Susanne Williams, who chairs the university's Task Force on Alcohol Misuse.