The tragic story of an alcohol poisoning death of a college student from Dallas will hit home this weekend as part of the documentary, "Haze," which will make its debut at the AFI Dallas International Film Festival.

In addition to examining the circumstances around the 2004 death of Gordie Bailey while attending the University of Colorado, "Haze" focuses on the growing problem of binge drinking and alcohol fueled hazing rituals on college campuses.

"It is an epidemic that I think many are unaware of, from parents to students. Yet this campus culture this has been going on for years -- this is nothing new." Robin Wright Penn said in an @ The Movies interview Wednesday. The film star, who's married to actor Sean Penn, was recently named the honorary chair of the Gordie Foundation -- a Dallas-based organization named for Bailey.

"Haze" begins with an introduction by Penn, who met Bailey's mother, Leslie Lanahan, through a mutual friend. Penn told Lanahan that she was willing to help out in any way she could after screening a rough cut of the film.

"I'll do whatever Leslie feels is beneficial," said Penn, 42. "I'm passionate about it because I'm a mother of two teens. It struck a chord."

With Bailey's story as its centerpiece, "Haze" examines the epidemic of binge drinking in depth utilizing graphic stills and video images of real campus incidents. Featuring interviews from several people including Bailey's family members and friends, college officials, medical authorities and actors, examines cultural factors, the pressure put on college students to drink and fit in as part of fraternal hazing rituals, and the devastating results alcohol binging on the young human body.

"I read this quote the other day from George Bernard Shaw that is so classic. He said, 'Alcohol is the anesthesia by which we endure the operation of life.' We understand that drinking is a given," Penn said. "But we have to educate the kids that physiologically, your body is not developed yet -- you brain is not developed. That, to me is critical to instill in these young kids. These are the dangers involved. This is why young kids die from alcohol poisoning. Your body can't take it. This is like a drug – it's not made for masses. It's just mind boggling, how little we know."

In a move to reach the masses, the complete "Haze" film is already available to view online for free. The film demonstrates the foolish behavior that goes along with excessive alcohol consumption, which Penn believes is part of a deeper problem with college students' coming-of-age that needs to be resolved.

"I believe the core of the problem is the identity crisis at that age, (where they think) 'I do not know who I am,'" Penn observed. "Are they cognitively aware? No they are not. But because of that, I don't think that they can grasp that concept. They are still evolving and haven't gone through that metamorphosis yet, to be able step outside themselves and reflect the way we are and to say, 'Do you see how stupid you are?'"

And because of that identity crisis, Penn said, the susceptibility of a victim taking part in a hazing ritual escalates.

"It's about approval at the end of the day from the leader," Penn said. "Look at how many followers there are. This is about the power of coercion versus the making a choice to not do it. That's an identity issue. How many kids are strong enough to know who they are? How many have that self-worth at that age? Not many I guess."

While Bailey's mom in the film describes how she feels guilt about the death of her son, in how she may not have said enough to him to prevent the tragedy, Penn believes the responsibility of his tragedy or any similar tragedy shouldn't fall back on the parents. The responsibility could be doled to many different individuals and institutions, including colleges.

"First of all, I don't deny that Gordie was loved and cherished, and taught responsibility by his parents," Penn said. "There are many different factors involved. You have to enforce more. Some people say you have to enforce laws and boundaries in the schools. It has to be done. That's why we have a police force."

And while greater enforcement seems to make sense, Penn is aware that there will critics of that approach.

"People say, 'There's going to be backlash and it's going to ricochet. If you put cuffs on you'll have a whole other institution of rebellion.' Well, to a certain degree you will," Penn said. "But there are certain things you must put cuffs on so that this doesn't continue to happen. We can't know how responsible a kid is going to be. I don't think that's to blame anyone -- a parent or otherwise -- we just need more law enforcement on campus and in our system."