In an Aug. 29 memo to chancellors of the 16 UNC-system campuses, Bowles said there is evidence the age-21 law saves lives and reduces alcohol-related injuries and deaths among young people. He cited data from UNC-Chapel Hill's Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, which was named for his father, Skipper Bowles, and created with family money.

"Furthermore, I've seen no scientific evidence that supports the contention that lowering the legal drinking age would reduce binge-drinking or lessen other alcohol-related problems on our college campuses or in society at large," Bowles wrote.

Recently, a group of 128 university and college presidents issued a public statement calling for a new debate on the federal law that sets the minimum legal drinking age. The presidents say the legal limit creates a "culture of dangerous, clandestine 'binge-drinking.' "

Duke University President Richard Brodhead signed the statement.

Nonfamily affair

Bowles promised to stay out of partisan politics when he became president of UNC.

But that doesn't hold true for his wife, former textile executive Crandall Bowles.

The Bowles residence on Old Providence Road in Charlotte will be the site of a fundraiser to keep Democrats in control of the state House.

For $100, $250, $500 or $1,000, one can hear House Speaker Joe Hackney and Majority Leader Hugh Holliman speak tonight.

The site for the event is listed as the home of Crandall Bowles, although one presumes that Erskine Bowles also hangs his hat there.

National GOP aids Dole

A national Republican group is airing ads on behalf of U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole.

The ad by the National Republican Senatorial Committee attacks Democratic rival Kay Hagan, playing off the Olympics to show Hagan winning gold medals for "financial irresponsibility."

Hagan spokeswoman Colleen Flanagan said the ad belies Dole's statements that she wants to run a positive campaign and her appeal to Hagan to avoid third-party ads.

"We just felt from the very beginning that this pledge was completely disingenuous," Flanagan said.

Dole spokesman Hogan Gidley said that Hagan's "shady, ultra-liberal friends" have spent $2.3 million on ads attacking Dole to date.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, a 527 group called Majority Action and MoveOn.org are airing ads attacking Dole. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is running ads for Dole.

Payback by Dellinger

Hampton Dellinger has repaid his parents -- a little.

Dellinger, an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, received $535,000 in loans from his parents, Anne and Walter Dellinger of Chapel Hill.

The senior Dellinger is a noted lawyer and former solicitor general in the Clinton administration.

According to his most recent campaign finance report, Hampton Dellinger repaid his parents $20,000 of the loans June 19, a little over a month after the primary.

Dellinger, meanwhile, has joined the recently established law office of Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson in Chapel Hill.

Dellinger, who previously worked as legal counsel to Gov. Mike Easley, will handle commercial litigation and regulatory issues.

Dole gets endorsement

The National Federation of Independent Businesses has endorsed Republican U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole for re-election.

The group, which acts on behalf of small businesses, cited Dole's work on health insurance and against organized labor.

Perdue wins backing

The Conservation Council of North Carolina has endorsed Democratic Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue for governor.

The environmentalist group's political action committee cited Perdue's plan to develop renewable energy and her "responsible, reasoned approach" to offshore drilling.

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