2008 Woodie Awards
Editorial: School Needs to Control Parties Even More
Issue date: 4/14/06 Section: Opinion
The past year has seen the test run of the provisional alcohol policy introduced by last year's Alcohol Policy Review Committee. Students have found new freedoms when it comes to campus events, and organizations have discovered new ways to host parties with a draw many college students jump at. And now that Senate and the Student Life Committee have approved changes to the old rules, the amendments are slated to go before the faculty for final approval to change the handbook. But while some students are celebrating their chance to take advantage of their adult privileges, it's worth taking a look at the consequences that aren't being considered as a new age of alcohol-friendly parties is ushered in.
At any alcohol-friendly event, the rule is that legal drinkers can bring alcohol into the party if they can prove their age; no one else can carry any drinks in at all. Thus, the old unwritten "cup policy" is out the window at all sanctioned parties. The result: more binge drinking on campus and more instances of alcohol poisoning accompanying these events by students who choose to get plenty drunk before they go out for the night instead of spending several hours throwing back a few.
But at least these students have the aid of their R.A.'s when they need help at 2:00 a.m. The scarier consequence of all this has been the trend toward moving parties off campus, completely out of Hendrix supervision. Here you can count on drunk driving between the party and the warm bed to pass out in at school, as well as an environment free of trained, responsible people who will look out for students who get sick or hurt.
It's certainly unreasonable to expect the school to provide an environment where students are free to break the law, but it's worth paying attention to the dangers that, even though they can't be said to be the fault of anyone other than the irresponsible party, seem to directly follow the implementation of the alcohol policy and guidelines for social events. The school should be looking out for its students and focusing on their safety. The new policy may or may not be a positive change, but there are several issues that still need to be addressed, and new solutions considered.
At any alcohol-friendly event, the rule is that legal drinkers can bring alcohol into the party if they can prove their age; no one else can carry any drinks in at all. Thus, the old unwritten "cup policy" is out the window at all sanctioned parties. The result: more binge drinking on campus and more instances of alcohol poisoning accompanying these events by students who choose to get plenty drunk before they go out for the night instead of spending several hours throwing back a few.
But at least these students have the aid of their R.A.'s when they need help at 2:00 a.m. The scarier consequence of all this has been the trend toward moving parties off campus, completely out of Hendrix supervision. Here you can count on drunk driving between the party and the warm bed to pass out in at school, as well as an environment free of trained, responsible people who will look out for students who get sick or hurt.
It's certainly unreasonable to expect the school to provide an environment where students are free to break the law, but it's worth paying attention to the dangers that, even though they can't be said to be the fault of anyone other than the irresponsible party, seem to directly follow the implementation of the alcohol policy and guidelines for social events. The school should be looking out for its students and focusing on their safety. The new policy may or may not be a positive change, but there are several issues that still need to be addressed, and new solutions considered.