Alcohol – everyone knows that it’s present on and off campus. It is this presence that brings an incredible hypocrisy to our University. Through the policies and regulations that are in place regarding the consumption and distribution of alcohol during student events, the administration has allowed inconsistencies to enter the picture. Students who are of legal drinking age should be able to consume alcohol at events. Additionally, students should be able to serve alcohol at their events if they take place where other University functions have or serve alcohol. Much like the slogan “21 means 21” that is printed on the side of beer cans, the University should adhere to this policy instead of one that divides people based on their status on campus.
Under the current policy, the administration has created two distinct worlds when it comes to the consumption and distribution of alcohol: the privileged and nonprivileged. In the privileged world there are administrators, faculty and donors of the University. They are the ones that are fortunate enough to be able to show up at events on campus or at sporting events and have the opportunity to consume alcohol whenever they wish.
Unfortunately, students live in the world of the nonprivileged. We are subjected to University policies that regulate when a student of legal age can consume or serve alcohol. Venues such as Vaughn Towers and the Park Alumni Center are places where this hypocrisy shines the most. Those who have enough money to purchase tickets to Vaughn Towers, guests included, have the privilege of drinking well before and after the four hours that students can drink at football games; additionally, Vaughn Towers patrons can continue to drink throughout the entire game, while students have to remain in the stands, sobering up. While the policies that govern Vaughn Towers are hypocritical in the time allotment for drinking, the center of the overall hypocrisy lies at the doorsteps of the Park Alumni Center.
Those who are privileged have the opportunity to consume and be served alcohol in the alumni center.
The Alumni Association held a gala last month at its facility where if you were of legal drinking age it was acceptable to have an alcoholic drink. However, the Senior Class Council, a group composed of a majority of students 21 or older, was not privileged to serve alcohol at an event that took place at the Park Alumni Center. This event was designed for graduating seniors, most of whom were of legal drinking age. The University has previously allowed students to consume alcohol in common areas of campus, and still does allow drinking to take place in some residence halls. At one point in time the Wolves’ Den in Talley Student Center was the prime place to drink beer while watching Wolfpack sports. The consumption and distribution of alcohol on University property should either be permitted or banned completely.
The University should follow the example of the laws that ban smoking in public schools, and come up with policies that affect everyone on campus equally – a law that doesn’t discriminate if you are a student or not. Chancellor James L. Oblinger and the Board of Trustees must eliminate the current two-world system of those who are privileged and those who are not. It would be enough to have the law dictate policy on the consumption and distribution of alcohol; accordingly, the last thing that this University needs is more red tape and policies.
E-mail Matt your thoughts on the University alcohol policy at [email protected].
