MANKATO — High school kids wearing letter jackets, state troopers, college administrators, hospital employees, business leaders and college students made up some of the estimated 350 people gathered around tables to share their thoughts on how to solve a hot-button issue in Mankato.

And while those assembled at the community meeting Wednesday at Alltel Center may not have yet figured out the solution to high-risk drinking, they had enough input to at least point out the issue is complex and that not everyone agrees.

In October, one student, Amanda Jax, died directly as a result from high-risk drinking. A lawsuit in that case is expected to be filed today in Blue Earth County District Court against Sidelines Bar and the friends who were with Jax that night. The bar closed during the weekend.

Another student, Rissa Amen-Reif, died in November when she was struck and killed by a car. In that case police said alcohol was involved, although her blood-alcohol level was relatively low. And a few years ago, another young person died when he fell from the balcony of a campus area apartment unit.

All of this has prompted the community to act, drawing the attention of the Twin Cities media, which attended the summit.

The event’s keynote speaker was Susanne Williams of Minnesota State University-Moorhead. Williams was on the front lines of the crisis in Moorhead when two of their students died as a result of high-risk drinking. She described how MSU-Moorhead addressed the problem. She also offered tips to the Mankato community on how it might proceed with addressing the issue locally.

“In many ways, I know what your community is going through,” Williams said. “I don’t want to be known as the community that drinks too much. I don’t want to be known as the community that doesn’t do anything. We have so much to be proud of. So much more. Don’t let this be the defining issue for your community. Let the solutions be your defining issue.”

Williams’ perspective was unique: She’s from a university town that has already faced the issue and came up with ways of dealing with it.

All incoming freshmen must take an online class that addresses alcohol consumption. The daily newspaper in town, The Forum, publishes monthly the names of anyone arrested for DWI.

But not everyone was impressed.

Andrew Miller — a student, former editor of the university’s student newspaper and part of a panel of current and former college students — said the community should look to area students for answers instead of outsiders.

“Talk to us,” Miller said. “If it’s our problem, we want to have that dialogue. I don’t understand the importance of bringing in a keynote speaker from Moorhead or talking to university officials. Talk to the students. We want to talk about it.”

Local community leaders also had their say at the gathering, which was moderated by former 1st District Congressman Tim Penny.

Business leader Doug Belmore’s message to students was that they need to keep in mind how their actions impact their future.

“A DWI has lifetime consequences,” he said.

It may seem cool to post drunken pictures of yourself on your Facebook page, Belmore said, but such gestures of youthful rebellion can, and have, hurt those who do it. They become less employable than students who haven’t done so.

Another panelist, emergency room nurse Pam Wolters, told about the night a pretty blond girl was brought into the ER because of her high level of intoxication.

Wolters said she wishes a photograph could have been sent home with the girl the next day so that the next time she decides to become that drunk, she can look back and see how she appears with vomit in her hair, makeup smeared, and scratches and scrapes from falling down.

On the subject of rights and personal responsibility, Mankato Department of Public Safety Director Jerry Huettl said the right to drink is subject to forfeiture when someone engages in high-risk drinking.

“When your behavior imposes on other people,” he said, “or when you commit a crime, you no longer have that right.”

Huettl also said peers of high-risk drinkers need to do the right thing.

“You’ve got to do something,” he said. “You can’t just take them home and let them die.”

As a result of the summit, a coalition is to be formed that outlines action to be taken.