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Alcohol programs may be a good thing for schools
by brian peltier
statesman staff writer
statesman archive
Being a freshman is great. Finally, you’re on your own and have lots of opportunities to go out, meet people and drink. With games like P & A and beer pong, and a college full of students looking for a good time just like you, you can’t go wrong. But wait—some of the colleges are trying to suppress your fun.
According to a CNN article titled “Before School Starts; freshmen quizzed on alcohol” by April Daley, more than 1,000 campuses nationwide asked students to complete an online alcohol course before beginning classes.
If you’re attending a campus that requires one of these courses, they’re not optional; you need to complete the course before you can register for classes.
The new trend of bringing alcohol awareness classes into campuses for incoming students utilizes third party companies, such as AlcoholEdu, that design these awareness courses.
An article from the UDAILY, the student newspaper at the University of Delaware (which also requires students to complete the alcohol awareness course) states that “the course is aimed at creating a learning experience that motivates behavior change, resets unrealistic expectations about the effects of alcohol.”
Although the goal of these required courses is to enlighten incoming students about alcohol and its potential problems, who’s to say it will work? The benefit of a course such as this is that it lets students know that their campus is conscious of student drinking and wishes to look out for their best interests.
Unfortunately, while the students are required to complete the course, it doesn’t mean they will learn anything or retain the information derived from it. Incorporating more experienced students into the picture and allowing them to give advice may be more encouraging to incoming students. After all, it would allow them to inquire about certain situations and problems associated with alcohol and student life in a neutral and comfortable setting.
When students arrive at college and are finally on their own as “individuals,” alcohol is one of those “forbidden fruits.” Having been under Mom and Dad’s supervision all our lives, I’m sure we can all see how this is practically a match made in heaven. Programs that inform students and allow them to seek advice about alcohol at campuses nationwide, including UMD, would be a step in the right direction. Although we’re not a large state college in comparison to others, we, like other campuses, do have our share of alcohol-related issues. Addressing these issues and informing students of alcohol before they enter college life would benefit many.
Not knowing some of the consequences related to alcohol use while attending college may be catastrophic to many students’ endeavors in academia. Expecting to rid campuses of alcohol completely would be naive, but informing students about the consequences, responsibilities and precautions associated with alcohol is a wise and respectable decision. All things in moderation.
Cheers.
