First, let me say I pray, like we all do, for the safety of Chad Sharon. Second, let me make clear that as a graduate student, I am not affected by the alcohol policy that began this year.

However, when I watched the crowds of undergrads stream down Bulla on the weekends last semester, I could tell something like this could happen and will happen again unless the University makes changes. Next time it will be a young woman getting assaulted or someone succumbing from exposure. Banning liquor in the dorms does not stop the alcohol abuse in the Notre Dame community; it merely tries to lower the University's legal liability.

There are people who suffer from alcohol abuse in the administration, faculty, alumni and the graduate school at Notre Dame. Ignoring this fact hurts everyone in the community, particularly those who suffer from this abuse. Moose Krause's struggles with alcohol after an accident that seriously injured him and his wife illustrate this as well as anything.

The administration cannot say as long as it's just beer in the dorms it doesn't matter the age. The administration can't ban liquor in the dorms and sell it to the students in the on-campus bar along with shot glasses in the Bookstore. The administration can't suspend the black football player for four games for breaking parietals and the white basketball All-American for five minutes for a minor in a tavern.

The administration must enforce the legal age everywhere for everything on campus. Get serious about fake IDs. Get serious about helping and educating those that suffer from alcohol abuse. The administration cannot make policy to simply try to reduce the school's liability.

Jim Hogan

graduate school

biology

Jan. 13

• Equality from grade one would make affirmative action irrelevant
  
• University strays from Church homosexuality stance
  
• Alcohol policy should focus on community, not liability