Read about campus couples- in Featur~s
Ifriday,oct.25, 1985.
cabrinicollege,radnor,pa. 190~7
vol.xxxii,no. 6 photo by Maria O'Brien
Underage ~rinkers abusealcohol laws study, not party," a resident assistant in Woodcrest said. She continued," I've never had to bust a party, the girls drink in consideration, not really moderation. They're learning from their experiences, I'm not going to stop them, but if I see it's effecting them, we'll talk. I don't want to be their mother,and most of them are pretty responsible."
by Bernadette Demski Almost every college student does it, it's a part of the American college scene. Some do it in moderation, some excessively, and a few, not at all. But nearly every college student, for whatever reason, consumes alcohol. The United States Brewers Association along with student and university associations are supporting National Awareness Week, which started October 21. The USBA has prepared the National On Campus Alcohol Education Manual which is a compilation of programs with the aim to curb alcohol abuse among college students. Statistics show that a large number of college age students in America are drinking heavily, for example consuming 56 or more drinks a month. On most college campuses alcohol abuse and underage drinking are key issues. Mary Ellen Lilly, director of resid~nt life said '½.!coho!has such an appeal, it's part of the 'rights of passage' for growing up. You're really not considered an adult until you drink. We're caught in a bind because the drinking age is 21. Underage drinking regulations must be in accord with state laws. (Which means anyone under 21 may not drink alcohol on campus.) But we have a concern over and above the legal aspects, if students are going to drink, we want them to learn to be responsible drinkers." 1.eemdi1igto
Steve Pascali, freshman, said, "Instead of drinking on weekends I work out and run, I think drinking too much is like walking around on crutches." "I drink occasionally, maybe once every other weekend," said a male freshman. He continued, I usually visit friends on the weekends. If they have somehting to drink I'll drink it. I can't afford to drink every weekend, especially now that they've raised the tax." "Not a weekend goes by when I don't drink," said one female junior, "I usually borrow some ones license to get served, I just need a break on the weekends." Sr. Christine Baltas, dean of students, said, "We are aware that many students are falsifying their identification cards so they are able to get into bars, next year we hope to have a tamper proof card. If you are caught with a fake card there is a heavy sentence. We are also aware that security is letting a lot of drunk students into the houses, and many students are going to classes with hangovers." As a result ofthe irresponsible consumption of alcohol, many students are developing drinking problems, by the students senior year, then their drinking habits begin to level off, and those habits stay with thetn for about the next five years, according to the University of Massachusettes study.
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sity of Massachusetts at Amhurst between 1975 and 1980, the drinking experience peaks in the sophomore year of college and begins to fall after the middle of the spring semester. The "Lifestyle Survey" was administered to the incoming freshman for the first time last year. When asked how often they drank, 42 percent said they drank most of the time, 37 percent said they drank most of the time, eight percent said they seldom did, and four percent said they never have. When asked how often they drank alcohol, 56 percent said they were light drinkers, 24 percent said they were moderate drinkers, and 18 percent said they abstained from alcohol. But when asked what type of beverage they preferred, 42 percent said soft drinks, 19 percent said mixed drinks and 12 percent said beer. "Students are drinking as a socializing process, Colleen DiRaddo, director of student activities said, "For many people shyness is a problem, and when they've been drinking socialization is easier. In the United States the big man on campus is the guy who is the biggest partier, where as in England and other European states the intellectual person who strives towards personal growth and enhancement through knowledge is much more reviered on campus." "We are stiving to create an atmosphere where people can feel relaxed. We want to provide the accomodations to generate conversation without the use of alcohol. This need may result in a pub on campus," DiRaddo continued. Lilly said, "Many students are pressured by peers to drink, and for some students it can be a horrible experience. I know of one incident in Woodcrest where a few girls were so drunk they could'nt even walk up the steps. For most 18 to 21 year olds this the most crucial part of their lives, they are really trying to find themselves and many times they use alcohol as their escape. They need to accepted, they want to be cool." "The girls in Woodcrest have calmed down considerably, in the beginning of the semester this whole place was completely bananas, every one just wanted to have a good time. Now that midterms are here, they're realizing why they are at college, to
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This was the scene Tuesday night as the gathering area was transformed into a club for students. The club, not yet named was an event for alcohol awareness week. (photo by Monica Palko)
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