Draw together
Caroline Reams
sophmore
Born and bred a Notre Dame legacy, I've heard plenty of crazy alcohol-induced stories and the good old days at Notre Dame. I'm sure you can relate. But regardless, whether the administration would like to face it or not, drinking is a tradition at this University.
Neither the University administration nor the student body benefits from the current alcohol conflict. There are the obvious problems students face: tailgate paranoia, missing Thursday night Boat Club or even loss of privileges such as studying abroad. Yet the University administration faces large problems as well. Notre Dame is one of the few campuses in the nation with such a large percentage of students living on campus. Stricter alcohol enforcement does nothing but give students reason to move, party and even eat off campus. Does the University want to lose the "community" it's tried so long to secure? No, and more importantly, although we must enter the scary real world someday, is it really safe for the majority of the student body to fend for themselves and their alcohol habits on St. Pete's or Washington Street?
Although the simplest solution is the University administration turning a blind eye to underage alcohol consumption, they need to have reason not to turn around in fear, with jaws dropped. Dances are not a reason to be shipped off in an ambulance, desecrate public or private property or throw up on buses (oops); tailgates are not ample excuse to find yourself asleep on the cold concrete. Our recent actions seem idiotic, and almost barbaric. I know, we're college students, but we're practically asking for trouble, behaving as if we were never potty-trained.
The solution? It's not an easy question, but I suggest a meeting open to the student body and administration. We've seen a fair amount of advertisements concerning the University's policies, as well as police action, but a meeting with verbal communication would be most effective; let's draw together the equally frustrated Notre Dame administration and dry-mouthed student body.
Caroline Reams
sophmore
Lyons Hall
Nov. 20, 2001
All Viewpoint Stories for Tuesday, November 27, 2001
