Pubdate: Mon, 22 Sep 2008 Source: Sidelines, The (Middle Tennessee State U, TN Edu) Copyright: 2008 The Sidelines Contact: http://www.mtsusidelines.com/main.cfm?include=submit Website: http://www.mtsusidelines.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2861 Author: Jessica Pace Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States) THE CONSEQUENES OF ALTERING THE MIND Students Try To Decide Whether Drugs And Alcohol Are Worth The Consequence In my senior year of high school, my English teacher, out of curiosity, asked our class of 30 students how many of us were planning to experiment with drugs and alcohol in college. All but one student's hand went up. With the freedom that awaits students at college, some come to school with the inclination and intention to experiment with mind-altering substances. With a few exceptions, this inclination fits naturally into many students' days. The question of if they are going to get drunk or high at some point is like asking if they are going to get dressed that day. Moreover, locating "the goods" is not a difficult feat. "If I wanted them right now, I know where I can get pot, I know where I can get coke, I know where I can get acid, I know where I can get 'shrooms," says a freshman journalism student who wishes to remain anonymous. According to Judicial Affairs, the office where students are sent for violating school policies, the number one problem on campus is alcohol-related cases that happen within residence halls and on Greek Row. Judicial Affairs keeps statistics on campus violations and releases them once a year. Last year, there were 371 alcohol-related incidents reported. Assistant Dean of Judicial Affairs and Mediation Services Laura Sosh-Lightsy says that punishment for students involved differs from case to case. "It depends on prior discipline on how serious the offense on the people affected," Sosh-Lightsy says. "For the first time, you get disciplinary probation and an alcohol education class. The second time, you get extended probation and counseling. The third time, you're suspended for a semester at minimum, and suspension length only increases from there." Tennessee state legislature has also made a new law requiring that an individual's parents are notified if he or she is caught drinking under 21 years of age. Campus police, who could not be reached for comment, have a separate legal process when dealing with students involved with drugs and alcohol on campus, though Judicial Affairs always receives a report. There are a multitude of reasons attributed to why students run the risk of getting caught but knowing that alcohol and narcotics are illegal on campus. "Some people just want to experiment to say they've done it," says one freshman English major who wishes to remain anonymous. "For others, the pressure of college is too much." "Students are away from home, so they're learning who they are and what they're about," Sosh-Lightsy says. "They have a newfound freedom. Also some have low self-esteem and use alcohol to mask the issue, thinking it makes them more socially apt." Many students simply see drugs and alcohol as a source of fun, according to an anonymous junior Spanish major. "The appeal of drugs and alcohol as a way to be cool is usually over after high school," the Spanish major says. "By the time you're in college, if you're doing drugs, it's because you enjoy them." Many of the students I talked to say that alcohol, whether an individual is 21-years-old or not, is a popular choice because some students find it a pleasant substance that goes hand-in-hand with activities such as tailgating and sex. There are dangers involved with alcohol consumption like drunken driving and alcohol poisoning, but the fact that MTSU is a dry campus may have a negative influence on students' use of alcohol. "A dry campus creates a stressful environment," the freshman journalism major jokingly says. Many students agree that there is some validity in his remark, saying that a wet campus could potentially reduce disasters like drinking and driving outside of school. They say that students would be more inclined to stay in their dorms and drink with friends rather than venture out to massive parties to drink and possibly drive back to campus while intoxicated. On Saturday, Sept. 13, one sophomore student went to an off-campus party, where he consumed upward of 10 drinks. His night ended with an overnight hospital visitation after he was assaulted by four others at the party. He was cited for underage consumption and must appear in court in November, but he expresses no concern that nothing is being done to penalize the people who attacked him. "What seemed at the time like an assault were really just drunk guys beating each other up," he says. Regardless of negative consequence, campus policies and police, it seems students are going to consume alcohol and narcotics. "It's a tricky subject, but I think discipline is administered appropriately," Sosh-Lightsy says. Realistically, most students are not going to avoid drugs and alcohol entirely. But whether it is through one's own good judgment or the threat of campus policy, individuals will hopefully learn how to budget their mind-altering substance use so their education won't suffer. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom