Page 6 — LION'S EYE — Collegiate America: March, 1990 Dropping the Textbook and Reaching for the Bottle by Paul J. Kirkegaard, Jr. 1988 was a difficult year for New Jersey college administrators. In the midst of an epidemic of alcohol related incidents on campuses across the nation, two particularly tragic episodes took place at universities in that state. One involved the hospitalization of thirty- nine Princeton University students, all pledges of the Princeton Charter Club, following a ritual during which they had liquor poured down their throats by club members (‘“Campus’ 70). The other in- cluded the drink-related death of a Rutgers University student after a fraternity function at which pledges had been forced to consume large quantities of alcohol (‘“Campus’’ 70). Although the press has focused its attention primarily upon incidents involving social organizations at large institutions, alcohol abuse is a growing problem at schools nationwide and involves in- dividuals from nearly all affiliations of the collective student body. The fact of the matter is that college students today are drinking far more frequently and in greater quantities than ever before. Why? The answer, in simple terms, is that today’s college students are finding it increasingly difficult to handle the im- mense pressures placed upon them by society, their families, and themselves. Clearly, there are many sources of pressure producing stress for college students today. Some are unique to their generation; others are not. The fact re- mains, however, that alcohol abuse is running rampant on campuses around the country, with devastating effects. The most regrettable of these effects is death. College students have tradi- tionally risked their lives by mixing drinking with driving. The statistics associated with that issue speak for themselves. There is, however, an alarm- ing new choice of death on campus: drinking in excess. Overindulgence is particularly common among freshmen. At the University of New Hampshire, for instance, more than half of all students admitted to the university’s health facility for overconsumption of alcohol are freshmen (Gibbs 63). Many of the cases arise from the fact that students under the legal drinking age of Intramurals are alive and well at Delco campus, thanks to coordinator Barbara Rostick and a lively turn-out of students. Look for co-ed volleyball sign- ups next week and tennis sign-ups later this month in Room 134 in the gym of- fices area. Meanwhile, co-ed intramural basket- ball games continue through March with the Play-offs scheduled for early April. Competition among the eight teams has been lively, although the purpose of in- tramurals is relaxation and fun. Currently team 4, captained by Intramural Action at Delco Walter Bullock, leads the pack with a 9-2 record. Tied for second place are teams 3 and 7 each with a 7-3 record, led by Scott Scoffone and Dave Fisher respectively. Close behind are teams 5 (6-3-1) and 2 (5-4-1) headed by Jeff Dellafranco and Gary Jones. Fighting to get more points in the win column are Frank Berkheiner’s team 7 (4-7), Kurt Ruch’s team 8 (1-7), and Steve Curry’s team 6 (0-10). No trophies or titles to go after here, just lots of fun and good exercise! twenty-one, if they choose to drink, often do so in the seclusion of their own rooms. Consequently, more and more young students are experimenting with hard liquor, a bottle of which is much easier to sneak past dormitory security guards than, say, a case of beer. What they fail to realize, however, is that hard liquor is an extremely potent form of alcohol and is one with which they pro- bably did not have much experience in high school. The result is that these students are developing dangerous and potentially lethal drinking patterns which could affect the rest of their col- lege careers and even their lives. Another disturbing effect associated with alcohol abuse is the increase in violent crimes committed by college students. Most incidents of assault in the college environment are in some way related to alcohol. Stress levels in this environment are high and, under the in- fluence of a few drinks, many students relieve that stress through physical ag- gression. As a result, the number of students arrested each year for criminal offenses continues to grow. Take, for ex- ample, date rape, which has become a problem of epic proportion for college administrators and law enforcement of- ficials alike. Students, unsure of the legal and moral boundaries of sexual in- teraction to begin with, often find that their judgement is further impaired by alcohol and are transgressing those boundaries more and more frequently. Again, freshmen seem most vulnerable. The University of New Hampshire reports that between seventy and eighty percent of all cases of date rape are alcohol-related and that of those, the ma- jority involve freshmen (Gibbs 63). The message is strikingly clear: alcohol abuse is turning young students into young criminals. Finally, there is the issue of addiction. Although most college students have not been exposed to alcohol long enough to form any type of chemical dependence, they are subject to the maladies of social addiction. Students today have developed irresponsible drinking habits, which have been rein- forced by peers, family, and until recent- ly, the media. They feel that they need alcohol in large quantities in order to relieve their inhibitions and oten find that without it, they are uncomfortable in any kind of social atmosphere. The choice for these students becomes sim- ple: drink heavily under those cir- cumstances or forgo any semblance of a social life. As a result, many college students are developing social addic- tions to alcohol which can ultimately lead to chemical dependence and even death. Obviously, the effects associated with alcohol abuse by college students are detrimental not only to the students themselves, but to the society of which they are a part. Thus, we all have an in- herent responsibility to help remedy the situation. But what can we do? The solution to the problem, like its cause, is threefold. It consists of developing a higher level of awareness about alcohol abuse and its effects, modifying thought and behavioral pat- | terns, and maintaining open lines of communication. First, we must gain a broader insight into the implications associated with alcohol abuse, not only as they pertain to college students, but to society as a whole. Only then, in an atmosphere of knowledge and acceptance, can we begin to address the problem with any degree of hope. I should note here that when I say ‘we’, I include you. Maybe you neither have a drinking problem yourself, nor know anyone who does. Maybe you do. Regardless, this issue has reached proportions by which it affects all of our lives one way or another. Please, do not think for a moment that you are invulnerable to the hazards of alcohol abuse. It is this type of narrow thinking, particularly on the part of col- lege students, which has allowed the problem to continue to exist. The cur- rent odds are that at least once in you life, you will be faced with an alcohol related crisis, be it in college or not. So be informed; get the facts. At least then you will be prepared to handle any such crisis in a responsible, effective manner. Second, we must alter our thought and behavioral patterns to some extent. The pressures of everyday life have traditionally driven a certain percentage of the population to abuse alcohol. Un- fortunately, it now appears that these pressures are surfacing much earlier in life, specifically, in college. Pressure is inevitable; we all feel it. The problem is that many of us seem unable to handle it effectively, particularly at the collegiate level of maturity. There is, however, a simple method for reducing stress of which many college students are un- aware. It involves two steps. One, re- member that the sun will rise tomorrow. No matter what misfortune you may suffer today, tomorrow brings with it re- newed hope. Two, get plenty of exercise. Science has shown us that physical exer- cise plays an essential role in reducing stress levels. Perhaps by following this method we can, in fact, relieve some of ‘the pressure in our lives and, in reducing one of the primary causes of alcohol abuse among college students, alleviate to some degree the problem itself. Two simple steps: for coping with stress. I urge you to use them in good health. Finally, we must maintain open lines of communication. Alcohol abuse is a very personal problem, even though it has the potential to affect so many lives. Those who abuse alcohol often do not even realize, or refuse to admit, that they have a problem. The first step to its solution, as I mentioned earlier, is to be aware that the problem does exist, but . acceptance is only the beginning. Com- munication is the true cure for alcohol abuse, especially among college students, for it allows the individuals in question to table the events and emo- tions which are at the root of the pro- blem. We must, as human beings, make ourselves available to one another as counselors, listeners, or simply shoulders to cry on. Again, I must em- phasize that my message is personal; I mean you, the student, the parent, the friend, the faculty/staff member. We are all in this together, and until we accept this fact, the problem will not only perpetuate itself, but will in all likelihood continue to escalate. Alcohol abuse among college students is obviously an issue which demands our immediate attention. We cannot continue to close our eyes and’ pretend that the problem does not exist.’ It does exist. And chances are, it exists a lot closer to home than you would like to believe. Please, consider what I have said and act accordingly. Only through a united effort can we ever hope to defeat this growing social disease. Finally, orators at college graduations are often quoted as saying, “We look to you for the leaders of tomorrow, for you are the future.” I ask you, how long can we ex- pect to survive under a generation of leaders who drop the textbook and reach for the bottle? Sources Gibbs, Nancy R. ‘Hail and Beware, Freshmen.” Time 12 Sept. 1988: 62-64. “Campus Dryout.” Time 6 June 1988: 70-73.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers