Visit the Penn State University website’s home page. The array of academic achievement will overwhelm you.

Currently you’ll see a feature about engineering students building bridges for villagers in remote Panama; research leading to the development of food crops that resist parasitic weeds; and students working with the State College municipal government to improve emergency response preparedness.

All of these and other lofty, inspiring projects are a tiny sampling of the goals and dreams to which college students aspire. Students, typically aged 18 to 22, possess an ideal blend of imagination, academic discipline, freedom, maturity and youthful energy that drives them to explore the world around them — and the human spirit within them.

Self-discovery and coming of age are the hallmarks of the college experience.

So it’s dismaying to learn that Penn State is taking away a portion of the coming-of-age experience because the administration considers it too risky for individual students to decide for themselves whether they’re mature enough to handle it responsibly.

The university has halted fraternity and sorority parties where alcohol is available. Officials cite a student’s recent death and what they call growing allegations of hazing, sexual assault and other misconduct.

Vice President for Student Affairs Damon Sims acted jointly with the Penn State Interfraternity Council to stop all alcohol-related social activities “until further notice.”

They had no alternative.

It is indeed unfortunate and tragic that 19-year-old Timothy Piazza of Lebanon, New Jersey, died after falling down a stairwell at the Beta Theta Pi fraternity on Feb. 4. It’s reprehensible that fraternity members didn’t call for help until about 12 hours after Piazza fell down the stairs.

It’s against the law to buy or consume alcohol in Pennsylvania if you’re younger than 21. Likewise, it’s a crime to serve anyone under 21. But once you reach that age, the Liquor Control Board can’t do enough to attract your business. Ongoing recent efforts to deregulate the state’s liquor monopoly have included expanded hours of service and more locations for the convenience of consumers. An LCB representative was even seen giving out free taste samples last Sunday inside the store at Moraine Pointe Plaza in Butler Township — free, as long as you’re 21.

In a convoluted way, the university and the state appear to be sending a mixed message:

n It’s legal for you to drink if you’re 21 or older, which accounts for about half of undergraduate college students.

n If serve alcohol at a frat party, it’s your responsibility to keep it out of the hands of underage guests, including fraternity members.

n It’s your responsibility to keep everyone safe at your party — no accidents, no violence, no binge drinking.

n If you can’t abide by these basic rules, then don’t serve alcohol at fraternity and sorority functions.

The university has not given any time line but said the moratorium will endure until new policies and practices can be put in place. “This is just a way to gain some time to take a look at the issues,” said university spokeswoman Lisa Powers.

Alcohol abuse on college campuses has been a chronic problem forever. Maybe it always will be. A ban won’t change that. A more realistic approach might be more stringent enforcement of existing state laws and age limits.

What a temporary ban might do is help focus attention on the need to educate college students and other young adults about the responsible consumption of alcohol.

This temporary administrative action is a reasonable, rational, mature and measured response to a legal activity that has gotten out of control because of the actions of a few. There’s a clearly marked path to resolution: update campus policies with input from students, the school and the community.

But it’s only temporary. You can’t realistically impose a permanent prohibition targeting college students while simultaneously portraying them as amazing, mature academicians — and all the while relaxing liquor sale restrictions for the general public.