"We do not simply advocate lowering the drinking age as a solution to a very serious problem," Brodhead wrote in an e-mail. "Rather, we want to encourage an honest and constructive dialogue among educators, lawmakers, parents and students."
The movement, called the Amethyst Initiative, argues that the current law pushes drinking underground and encourages destructive binge-drinking among college students.
"Adults under 21 are deemed capable of voting, signing contracts, serving on juries and enlisting in the military, but are told they are not mature enough to have a beer," the statement signed by college presidents reads.
But though college students might raise their glasses to the idea, it has drawn a critical look from anti-drinking groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving, who have denounced the signatories for advocating a more dangerous drinking culture.
The Amethyst Initiative began in June under a nonprofit organization called Choose Responsibility, which former Middlebury College president John McCardell founded in December 2006.
"It should be obvious to anyone that the current system is broken and isn't doing what it should to protect the health, safety and well-being of our children," Brodhead said. "And if what we are doing now doesn't work, then we have an obligation to ourselves, and to society, to explore what might."
After months of subtle recruiting, the Amethyst Initiative had planned to make a public announcement about their efforts in September. They have changed their future plans after news of the movement leaked to the media, Kronenberg said.