Karma Christine Salvato
Drinking alcohol isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
But, if you are living in this country you had better be at least 21 years old. And at Pepperdine, you had better do it off campus.
Unfortunately, it appears that intoxication has surpassed the legal limit at several college campuses. Alcohol consumption is becoming a national pastime.
“As four college students die each day in alcohol-related fatalities, binge drinking has become a serious concern across the nation’s campuses,” JJ Bowman wrote in last week’s issue of the Graphic.
Some campuses have more lenient policies concerning this issue — ours does not.
Pepperdine is a dry campus, but that doesn’t stop people from doing what they want. According to the Graphic, there were 31 judicial reviews last semester for alcohol violations. This year there have been 12.
Knowing that some students blatantly disrespect the rules that the university has set is very disappointing. Anywhere else, drinking may be considered a personal choice. But here at Pepperdine the decision has been made for us.
The selfish actions of each individual who chooses to disregard the standards will, if they haven’t already, taint the prestigious image that Pepperdine has worked so hard to establish and tarnish the reputation it has spent years building.
It may be hard to accept, but many of those who are at fault are the fraternities and sororities on campus. They aren’t the only ones who are guilty, of course, but they certainly contribute to the problem. They are not only affecting the image of Pepperdine, but of the Greek system as well.
It is important to remember that each of us positively or negatively affects how our university is viewed. Remember that the next time you are about to take a drink.
Are abiding by the rules and regulations of the university really that difficult?
The individuals who created these policies aren’t trying to eliminate fun from college life, but instead are attempting to protect students as best they can.
It’s time to grow up and stop acting like little children. This is college — not kindergarten.
When rules are broken, strict action must be taken. Perhaps a no-tolerance rule would be ineffective, but laws need to be devised and enforced regarding this ongoing issue. Too many times Pepperdine rules are created with the best of intentions, but no one ends up carrying them out.
What then is the point of having them in the first place?
Things need to change if the university wants to continue being taken seriously. Sometimes rules may seem inconvenient, but they are there for a reason.
Students were aware of the rules concerning alcohol when their Pepperdine education began, so no one should be upset when they have to suffer the consequences of their actions.
So if you want to go off campus and party ‘til dawn, fine. Just don’t come back until you have sobered up.
October 03, 2002