It was disappointing, but not surprising, to read in "Colby in a quandary" Morning Sentinel (May 19) Waterville Police Chief Joseph Massey's snide remarks regarding Colby College's alcohol policy.

Massey's comments mocking Colby's alcohol policy and suggesting that Colby students who were disciplined "all got a six-pack and were sent to their rooms" might be funny if it didn't come from the chief law enforcement agent of Elm City.

But then Massey has a history of foolish remarks regarding Colby students and alcohol: During my senior year at Colby, he was quoted in the Sentinel threatening to arrest Colby students who responsibly acted as designated drivers.

That same year, as a member of Colby's College Affairs Committee, I saw firsthand the time and effort that Colby administrators put into crafting a policy regarding students and alcohol. The task is not easy, because a substantial portion of Colby students are older than 21 and can drink legally.

And the hypocrisy of the law that treats 18- to 20-year-olds as adults who can vote or be sent to war but cannot legally have a single beer certainly makes the creation of a fair alcohol policy difficult, as it is neither wise nor desirable for Colby to treat adult students like children.

Waterville deserves better than a police chief who responds to good-faith efforts to encourage responsible drinking with lawbreaking. Perhaps someone should inform Massey that prohibition was repealed.

Patrick Semmens

Arlington, Va.

Colby Class of 2005