By James Riswick
Staff Writer
An idiot is defined as someone with an IQ below 25. I find this strange, because you would think it would take a higher score to get into Pepperdine. Yet somehow, 41 percent of the student body qualifies as complete and certifiable idiots.
According to a Harvard study done from 1993 to 2001, that same number of students admitted to drinking and driving within 30 days of being questioned. That’s 13.6 percent higher than the national average.
Now, allow me to play Kreskin for a moment and predict what the reaction of the administration will be. First, they will “investigate” the situation and ultimately decide that they must clamp down harder on students drinking on campus. Perhaps room checks will increase or maybe white Ford Escapes will start roaming the Ralphs parking lot at night.
Quite frankly, that would be the dumbest thing they could do. This horrible situation falls on both students and the university regardless of the fact that it’s the students who are actually carrying out the idiocy.
The reason students drive after drinking is because they have to leave campus and usually Malibu to drink. Since the Santa Monica Mountain Monorail hasn’t exactly come to fruition at this time, students must drive through the canyon and down Pacific Coast Highway to drink. That means a designated driver is necessary, and as a person who has served in that capacity many times in college, I can say it isn’t much fun. But I do it because someone has to drive and I care for the safety of my friends. Sadly, and not to sound too holier-than-thou, 41 percent of Pepperdine doesn’t share my resolve.
So, students are forced off campus to drink, but why not just stop them from drinking altogether? Good idea, but that’s not going to happen. Why? Let’s examine the numbers for a second. If the Harvard study is correct, and it makes complete sense, 41 percent of students drink and drive. That’s a high number, but what about all those students who just drank without driving? That percentage would be a whole heap higher.
It’s about time Pepperdine realized that denial is not just a river in Egypt.
Apparently, an overwhelming majority of students drink and there isn’t much the administration can do about it.
But that’s OK. If students weren’t so afraid of being busted on campus for alcohol, then maybe they wouldn’t be forced to drive off campus.
Now I’m not saying that the entire fault is on the administration because that would be ridiculous. Let’s face it, as much as it would be nice, realistic and a good idea, Pepperdine is not going to ease up on its alcohol policy or make the Sandbar live up to its name anytime soon.
Until it does, 41 percent of you must smarten up because your IQs are dropping fast. Regardless of the logical reasons that cause students to drink and drive, there is absolutely no excuse for it.
— Do you need a designated driver? E -mail James Riswick at jriz29@hotmail.com.
April 03, 2003