| To drink, or not to drink |
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| Written by Frank Sauer | |
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As each St. Patrick’s Day rolls around the students of the University elate for the four day weekend, and the celebrations that proceed all around Rolla. Alumni return to join in the fray, and fraternities host meals and parties to top all the others. It is this time when the freshmen ask themselves the question: Do I want to drink during St Pat’s? The answer is never simple, but it is frequently given less thought than which line to stand in for lunch. Students have all ranges of alcoholic experience, and in spite of their background, students have chosen the opposite of better judgment frequently. Peers can encourage drinking, celebration can be an excuse, and exposure to the intoxicating can keep availability from limiting consumption. As a freshman, I remember being amazed at how many people were standing outside and giving away beer to the pedestrians on the sidewalk. It definitely had a factor in how much I drank during my time off classes. Students will travel across campus and out of their way to get free pizza. They will not turn down free things that don’t require effort at all. Drinking and alcohol is against Res Hall policy, and underage drinkers can be turned over to the police. The Residence Hall Association sponsors alcohol-free programs every night of the week from game nights to a comedy show. The people are no less entertaining, and might even be more coherent (if they didn’t spend all night playing World of Warcraft). Residential Assistants (RAs) are always up for something to do between their duty rounds and watching for slovenly drunks. Some students even leave town to visit all the other students who have spring break at this time. The appeal of seeing old friends is greater than the attraction of drinking for hours, and falling asleep with the porcelain lady. Their parents will provide home-cooked meals, and do their laundry. They get to drive farther than Wal-Mart, and the time out of Rolla is more than worth the gasoline. The question remains. Most people have the options of leaving, drinking, or not, but one option is not clearly superior. Financially, the smartest thing to do would be to soak up as much free liquid as you can. Biology and Psychology both favor leaving town and changing scenery. Socially there is no clear consensus, especially when you have approximately the same number and quality of friends in and out of Rolla. I am of a minority group, the Out-of-State collegians. We have only one sensible option: Stay in Rolla, and take advantage of inebriated generosity. The streets flow wet, and there are free or cheap pancake meals all around town. Most of the other students end up staying, Alumni who show up might be able to get you a job offer, and you won’t have to worry about staying at home long enough to appease your parents. All you short-distance travelers should take advantage of the time you can spend with your hometown friends. You can get as paralytic as you want over Spring Break with your peers in Rolla, but you won’t be able to make your other friends’ classes disappear. May your streets be green and your company be good. |
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