March 2009
Page 3
BY JOSHUA ENRIQUEZ
Staff Writer
A “dry” campus to a parent
means there is absolutely no con-
sumption of alcohol allowed on
the campus. However, to a stu-
dent, his or her interpretation of it
~ may be totally different. Some stu-
dents even laugh or scoff at the
thought of a dry campus. It does-
n’t necessarily mean that there’s
no alcohol consumption occurring.
Students who are alcohol drinkers
will find a way to drink on their
campus and not get caught for it.
There have been young teen-
agers who start drinking early for
multiple reasons. People say that
it’s because they took one sip or
cup of alcohol that got them ad-
dicted, but to Michele Coletta, a
registered nurse for Penn State
Mont Alto, she “thinks it takes
more than one sip for someone to
become addicted to it.” Kimberly
Hoover, Interim Associate Direc-
tor for Student Affairs at Penn
State Mont Alto says that “it is
possible but addiction to alcohol
depends on multiple factors and
part of it is the environment, be-
havior, or if they were already pre-
disposed to it. It’s not necessarily
a given.” :
. One reason underage persons
drink could be that drinking alco-
hol allows them to be social. If for
some reason a teenager is unable
to make friends without drinking,
they may resort to that method just
to make friends, even if they have
to embarrass themselves while
they’re drunk. They may even
drink because they want to feel
they’re part of the crowd or feel
cool for going against the law.
Coletta says, “I think a lot of peo-
ple here on campus drink to be
accepted, make friends, and be
with friends because they fell that
there’s nothing to do on campus.
If they start drinking here on cam-
pus, it’s usually a social thing.”
The next reason may seem
strange but commercials that pro-
mote alcohol consumption that are
seen by young teenagers may ac-
tually entice them to drink alcohol.
Coletta says that she “thinks that
this can occur but it all comes
down to personal responsibility.
They see everyone having fun in
these commercials but I don’t
think it’s enough to go and look
for alcohol.” In contrast, Hoover
says, “Many of these commercials
show them this alternate reality. It
sets up unrealistic expectations
and it seems to be done in a way
that entices them to consume that
alcohol product.”
Parents who know that their
kids are drinking should assume
some responsibility because if
they don’t, there can be a number
of bad outcomes for those kids.
Hoover says that she “thinks it is
the parent’s responsibility to work
with their child or if they have to,
censor those types of things if they
feel they have to.”
University Park works with
local taverns and bars to work to
cut back down on their specials
and advertisements. Most bars
now have an ID scanner so you
will not be able to get in with a
fake ID.
have been approximately 21 inci-
dents of alcohol this year. Hoover
says, “It’s kind of an ebb and
flow. It’s not something that we
usually see every week or on a
regular basis although it is the
most frequent. It will peak and
We see more alcohol consumption |
breaks.”
time at the age of 15 and below is
21.8%. At the age of 16 to
19, the percentage of students who
have consumed alcohol for the
first time comes up to 61.4%.
Consumption of alcohol oc-
curs all around whether society
wants to believe it or not, and
there can be a number of reasons
concerning why. To tell you the
truth, it’s quite a long list as to
why they drink so early and so
YOURS. |
Opps! Box
n Yori s issue, the Great
American Race piece was cut off
atthe end. Here is the ending:
ne were to tune into
it American Race”
5 that person would
uto racing at its best.
thefourthwall. Mail can be sent to
The Fourth Wall, Campus Life
Mont Alto, PA 17237.
Alejandra Santamaria
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cits sr dr tgtss Tiffany Thomas
ri Br A Lauren Rodriquez
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Annyce Stone