I agree with chinango wholeheartedly in the following aspect:

Think of those people who you've admired for this or that, who have been leaders and great contributors to society, etc. The great majority of those people, if non-LDS, and a decent chunk of the ones that are LDS, will have engaged in premarital sex and/or underage drinking. Most people do these things. Most "good" people do or at least have done these things. I don't know that these behaviors, particularly when utilized in relative moderation, undermine society or doom future generations to pain and heartache. Mormons annoy the holy heck out of people when we fail to recognize or acknowledge stuff like this.

That said, the author does entirely miss the irony pointed out in the OP. Had all the characters mentioned in the article embraced LDS tenants, Luke Neal and Jamaal may have avoided many of the most gut-wrenching tribulations that were described. I thought it a good catch to point out the contrast in the "wow, how lame was your college" tone of the article and the pain its protagonists endured when structure and values appeared to have been lacking.

For the record, I listened to Criddle's interview with the author, and he struck a much more-balanced tone when he discussed what he'd written. I do think the good that BYU has afforded Williams and others like him could have more emphasized in the written piece. I also think that while BYU's rules can be understandably perceived as waaay-over-the-top by many, there are also benefits to a be-smart-don't-start approach to things like alcohol and drugs in particular.

Anyhow--I appreciated both POV's today. Thanks for sharing.