Spring Break
A letter to the Class of 2013
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: Opinion
To the SMU Class of 2013,
As seniors who have been in your shoes and your dorms, we would like to impart some experiences we have shared during our years at SMU.
Drinking happens on college campuses. We are not going to tell you not to drink or that drinking is bad; for people of age, it is legal and many people enjoy it.
But the level of consumption by you, as incoming first-years, has gotten way out of hand. The risks to yourselves, your families, your friends, and this university are far too great for constant and incautious alcohol consumption to continue the way that it has for the past two months.
This semester alone, over 20 students have been taken to the hospital for alcohol-related instances--a frightening statistic given that only 13 students went to the hospital during the entire '08-'09 academic year. That shocking number does not account for those students who made it back to their dorms safely and were lucky enough to have a friend take care of them, or the numerous new Mustangs who simply crashed and luckily awoke with just a hangover.
These statistics are a cause for concern and embarrassment; this isn't acceptable behavior for an SMU student. You came to SMU to learn, have fun, make new friends, and create memories that last a lifetime. How is waking up "the morning after" not remembering the night before helping you accomplish your goals?
Is it cool to act like you are John Belushi in "Animal House?" Belushi died from his abuse of drugs; he is famous and loved but very, very dead.
There are both short and long term consequences to alcohol abuse. Campus organizations, from honor societies to governing councils to Greek life, are about much more than drinking; the students that these organizations accept understand this and make responsible decisions.
The three of us hold numerous positions on campus and are in a multitude of diverse organizations; we do not want you if you are a liability to our organizations. We have all put in too much work to accept someone who does not learn from their mistakes and grow.
As seniors who have been in your shoes and your dorms, we would like to impart some experiences we have shared during our years at SMU.
Drinking happens on college campuses. We are not going to tell you not to drink or that drinking is bad; for people of age, it is legal and many people enjoy it.
But the level of consumption by you, as incoming first-years, has gotten way out of hand. The risks to yourselves, your families, your friends, and this university are far too great for constant and incautious alcohol consumption to continue the way that it has for the past two months.
This semester alone, over 20 students have been taken to the hospital for alcohol-related instances--a frightening statistic given that only 13 students went to the hospital during the entire '08-'09 academic year. That shocking number does not account for those students who made it back to their dorms safely and were lucky enough to have a friend take care of them, or the numerous new Mustangs who simply crashed and luckily awoke with just a hangover.
These statistics are a cause for concern and embarrassment; this isn't acceptable behavior for an SMU student. You came to SMU to learn, have fun, make new friends, and create memories that last a lifetime. How is waking up "the morning after" not remembering the night before helping you accomplish your goals?
Is it cool to act like you are John Belushi in "Animal House?" Belushi died from his abuse of drugs; he is famous and loved but very, very dead.
There are both short and long term consequences to alcohol abuse. Campus organizations, from honor societies to governing councils to Greek life, are about much more than drinking; the students that these organizations accept understand this and make responsible decisions.
The three of us hold numerous positions on campus and are in a multitude of diverse organizations; we do not want you if you are a liability to our organizations. We have all put in too much work to accept someone who does not learn from their mistakes and grow.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
SpellingGuru
posted 10/29/09 @ 1:24 PM CST
" after all of their sacrifice to put you were you are, your life was ruined by one misguided action? "
I agree with the article, I would love a spell check every once in a while. (Continued…)
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