Adam Capotorto
Contributing Writer
This fall semester, ESU decided to make the switch from a dry campus to the first-ever state-owned school that allows students to drink on university grounds.
Even so, what made ESU decide to make this move?
The way I see it, it is just a way to save face.
If you have ever taken a walk down Normal Street or just looked outward from your dorm room window either on a Friday or a Saturday night, then you might be familiar with seeing herds of students drunkenly stumbling back into their residence halls.
Otherwise, you might be [more] familiar with the Late-Night shuttle, affectionately named as the “Drunk Bus.”
If neither of these are familiar to you, the screams of your inebriated floor mates at 2 a.m. might be.
They often stagger around the halls in hopes of finding their dorm rooms.
Prior to this semester, these acts were only a weekly occurrence that happened on a dry campus.
Personally, I think weekly is too little. This is essentially a daily occurrence with all the day drinks we consume.
Oh, let’s not forget that Barstool Blackout, the world-wide alcoholic party, has ESU ranked as one of the top universities due to the parties thrown.
This ranking beats other universities such as Penn State, a university with a population over15 times that of ESU. With a reputation like this, could we really have ever called ESU a “dry” campus in the first place? Maybe on paper but certainly not in practice.
Another thing to consider: how exactly does that look?
To answer: not at all.
How can you attempt to market yourself as a “dry” campus when a portion of campus is intoxicated at any given time?
You can’t.
I believe that ESU recognized that.
The move to change the alcohol policy suddenly makes all the late-night shenanigans a lot more understandable.
Also, suddenly, the criticism for ESU disappears.
ESU claims this decision was made “in order to empower students to utilize appropriate measures, responsibility and thought concerning the use of alcoholic beverages.”
But how exactly does the decision to allow alcohol on campus do any of that?
All that the policy really does is allow students to drink away their inhibitions without having to stash their $5 vodka in the closet the moment they hear the RA at their door.
I’m in no way trying to say this new policy is a bad thing. I’m thrilled that I can finally walk into a residence hall with the 12-pack I can barely afford.
Yet, I’m just saying that ESU’s statements don’t make any sense.
Honestly, if ESU were to say that allowing alcohol on campus was a way to increase the number of incoming students, I would be satisfied with that explanation and probably applaud them for it.
To be blunt, that sounds more likely than what they originally stated.
Email Adam at:
acapotorto@live.esu.edu
