tuM
November 13.1996
2
Campus Opinion
College drinking not cool
From Ihe
Editor
The front page of this edition carries a story on college drinking
which talks about area universities’ crackdown on students drinking. A
story CD the same subject appeared in the News and Observer a few
weeks ago and the responses I heard about that one were not positive. I
heard things like: Everybody drinks, making more rules isn’t going to
stop it, it’s not that big of a deal, it's just what students do.
If that's just what students do, then let me tell you what alcohol does to students. Five students
died last year in the Phi Gamma Delta fire; maybe they could have gotten out iii time had diey not
been intoxicated. A letter from the same fraternity to prospective pledges promised almost certain
sex with drunk, semi-conscious girls. A drunk UNC student fell to her deatli while climbing up the
side of a building a few y^ars ago. Students are involved in countless drunk driving incidents and
gang r^s/date rapes at fraternity parties. Should 1 go on?
Id light of all the horrid things than can and recently have come about as a result of alcohol, I
Just want to know why getting drunk is such a great thing.
What would ha[^n if students went out on a Thursday night aud didn 't get drunk? They would
probably siiU go get something to eat, go visit friends and maybe Ml end up hanging out at
someone’s apartmeut. Would they still have fun? Of course, and they would even be able to
remember that fun in the rooming.
The problem is that people don’tknow how to haveagood time withoutalcc^l anymore. Tliey
may not be alcoholics, but they are still addicted to it. and they love it enough to pour their money
into it They have partied so much that they can't have fun without being drunk. And that' sjust plain
sad.
I’ve bad friends tell me some of their great drunk stories: one peed on herself, one almost killed
herself driving home, one made a fool of himself by professing his feelings fw a girl, one threw up
non-stop for 12 hours, one got so dehydrated she had to go to the emergency room, one had sex with
some chick he had never met before and didn’t even like the next morning.
Are these events supposed to sound glamorous, fuu and evoke green envy in those of us who
missed out? Too bad, because tliey don’t. They sound stupid and self-destructive.
Having a few drinks socially is not a problem. Celebrating your 21 birthday at a bar is not a
problem, llie problem comes when you hit the point of losing self-control and having no desire to
get it back. And all too often tliat is becoming the norm.
Peopteread those horrorstories about drunken accidents in the newspaper and they sigh and turn
the page, positive it will never happen to them.
Yeah. Right. That’s exactly what the girl who fell off the building thought the night she died.
Letter to the editor...
Rebuttal to "Meredith students are stereotyped"
Dear Editor,
As senior class officers it is our job to help the senior class in their selection of graduation
speakers. We have been working diligently since last November collecting suggestions and
chasingdownleads. Back in May our first speakerchoice was DixieCarter.She is extremely
expensive, and we quickly found she would not be an option. Tlie class then decided to try for
Barbara Bush with the understanding that a backup speaker was necessary because Bush
cannot commit before April. She unfortunately had a previous engagement. Our speaker ou
liold graciously declined so we could try for another “big name” speaker. Joima Anderson,
sfflior class president. Dr. Cindy Edwards, convocation chair, Dr. Jo Gugliemi, senior class
adviser, and Dr. Weems had ameeting to explore other options. Hiey decided theclass should
look into inviting an astronaut, as suggested by one of our class members. NASA wrote us
back and was unable ^ even consider our invitation until we sent specific information about
(be engagement. During this time, we tbuud out there was a slim chance that we could invite
Tq>per Gore. Since it is so important that theclass get a say in tl)e graduation speaker, the
officers tookthe infonnationlromNASAand Gore back to the class. Themajority of theclass
racedopursueinviiingGore with (he understanding that this would be tlie saineanaugement
as with Barbara Bush with a speaker on hok}.
Hie class of 1997 has had a critical role in all decisions made about thecomineucemeiu
speat^. Since we s(arted this process 12 months ago, we have given (he class many
o^rtunities to nominate and vote on a speaker. We have bad many suggestions at class
meetings, which have been crucial to the information process. Class meeting attendance is
important to ensure the students are receiving all infonnation ilrstiiand. We realize that
it is not always possible to be at class meetings, and we have uied to filter this information
through newsletters, the Herald and the availability of ourselves. We have taken EVERY
suggestion into consideration. Time has been an important part of the selection process and
wearehaj^y tijai ourclass has been so involved.Weare here to serve andaddress allquestions
and issues. If anyone has further questions or concerns about the commencement speaker for
May, please feel free to contact Jonna Anderson at x7891 or any of tlie other class officers.
Sincerely,
the Senior Class Officers
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Meredith By
Tory Hoke
Up and at 'em, Luna!
Rise and shine!
ant
Does your mama know
how you act in the morning?
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Hom poian
WITH H*LfAfAuf
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JOBBVFO
Preparing for Job Search
Leam skills and techniques ro make the most of this important aspca of you job
search. Plan to attend! How to Soil Yourself in the Job Interview, Thursday,
November 14, 4:00-5:00pm, Career Center,
Gradxiate Study Event
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn. .Wou' to Write Winning Graduate School
Applications, Friday, November 15,10:00am, Career Center. Presented by Dr.
Jean Jackson, vice-president for Student Development.
Jobs!
Don't forget to check out the job listings and coop/inteniship opportunities
listed in the Career Center, 2nd floor Paik Center.