Minnesota State University officials in Mankato need to step up to the plate and take actions to curb binge drinking among students on and off its campus.

Do you recall the headlines in 2004 about drinking in the Upper Midwest? They came from a study in March that year that reported binge drinking among people 34 and younger is more prevalent in the Upper Midwest than any other part of the country. Binge drinking was defined as five or more alcoholic beverages within a few hours. Alcohol, apparently, is the drug of choice among our young adults.

Though the study clearly pointed out that binge drinking isn&8217;t exclusive to college students, it said they attract more attention because they drink together and the groups attend the same school.

MSU students seem to provide clear examples. Student Amanda Jax died Oct 29 from alcohol poisoning after her friends had to carry her out of Sidelines Bar & Grill on her 21st birthday. A 17-year-old driver on Nov. 18 hit two college women crossing the street after being at an event where alcohol was served, killing 22-year-old student Rissa J. Amen-Reif. Investigators have said alcohol was a factor. And last year, a young man visiting students fell from a balcony and died. He, too, had been drinking.

It is time to clamp down.

First, ban drinking on campus. Second, make rules that ban drinking among underage students and have penalties for violators, whether they are caught on or off the campus. Third, provide counseling for students who seek help fighting alcoholism, peer pressure to drink or other alcohol-related issues. Fourth, require counseling for any underage student caught drinking. Fifth, work with campus and Mankato police to take a zero-tolerance approach to drunken driving and underage drinking among college students.

And finally, kick off an awareness campaign to let students, their parents and the region&8217;s communities know MSU takes the matter seriously.