Letters to the Editor

3/10/11 6:00pm

Online Comment of the Week In response to "Alcohol: Probation Announced" Feb. 25:

While statistics would probably be enlightening about the changes over the last 10 years, this is a noticeable change that has happened this year specifically. As a senior, I have noticed a HUGE change in the amount of times I see EMS roaming around, getting calls, etc. The drinking in the last month has spiralled out of control.

A good sign is the fact that Dean Hutchinson has entrusted each college with coming up with its own plan. This is not some top-down mandated ban on alcohol. No one wants to see campus go dry; that would be even more dangerous (because it would increase drunk driving) and everyone in the administration knows that. What no one wants to happen is for a student to die because they were drinking irresponsibly.

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Honestly, as a Rice student, I am embarrassed that we can't get our act together and keep it sane. Want to drink? Fine. Get drunk? Fine. Wasted off your ass? Whatever, that's your choice, you have to deal with the hangover in the morning. But for there to need to be five ambulances on a campus our size at once is ridiculous.

From what I've seen of the student reaction, people realize that the situation is clearly and undeniably out of control. There are a lot of plans for the future, regarding education, etc. But for now, something had to be done. Campus isn't dry. We're just trying to curb the problem before someone dies. This solution is much better than if we just let the problem get worse until someone does die; then, campus would most certainly immediately go dry. No question about that.

Rice students, please get your act together. I'm out of here in less than 100 days, so it's not my problem; it IS yours. Take care of each other. Don't be stupid. Don't ruin it for everyone else.

Current Student

As both a former student and a Rice parent, I have been stunned to see the university take on the liability of maintaining an atmosphere where increasingly both underage drinking and alcohol abuse are tolerated and where fees are spent and assets are being provided to facilitate both dangerous and illegal behavior.

I think students and staff, as they seek to face this challenge, need to remember that the city and larger government authorities are largely trusting Rice to govern itself, with its own admin, police, EMS, et al. With this authority also comes responsibility and liability. If Rice can effectively address this before (another) tragic or fatal event, it is something for which we can all be grateful.

In actual practice, this is not a single crisis, but rather a catalyzing event in what has been an ongoing tension between individual freedom and community governance. Therefore an effective outcome will not be found in addressing or minimizing the catalyzing event, but rather addressing this ongoing and growing tension that threatens effective community governance in the name of individual freedom to do harm and violate law.

Well, enough said, you probably already figured out whether you agree with me or not, but if you've read this far, thanks for considering my perspective.

Steve Spinella Lovett '78

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