To the editor:

The Iowa House has passed a bill to allow Iowa’s universities to inform parents upon discovering that their child possesses drugs or alcohol. This bill is now off to the Senate.

The plain fact is that parents of a child over the age of 18 should be granted no more legal interference with that child than they have with any other independent adult.

There are many concerns that this law attempts to address with the best of intentions, such as parents’ very real concerns for their children, or the poor judgment exercised by some young adults. Also, some parents have a financial stake in their child’s education.

But consider the young adults who moved out of their parents’ houses, went to work, and now support themselves and their own families. The law applies to them as well, even if they have no remaining ties with their parents. At some point, a child becomes an adult and gains the same privacy rights as their parents, grandparents, university officials, and legislators.

Now suppose that parents and child wish to agree that the young adult gives the university permission to notify the parents under certain circumstances. Great! Voluntary safety nets are super.

But beware if this bill becomes law. Next, lawmakers will decide that parents must be notified about other indiscretions committed by their child, like jaywalking, shop-lifting, or bouncing a check, because it’s “for their own good.” Soon we’ll have a new class of citizen: semi-adults.

We must stop waffling about the rights of young adults. Either raise the age of majority to 21, or treat young adults like adults.

Tim Borchardt

Libertarian candidate for Board of Supervisors

Iowa City