Student Voices on Alcohol: December 2007

The last couple of weeks have been hectic. I've been back at school for a little over a week, and already I'm swamped with projects, tests, and homework. I mentioned in my last entry that whenever I get stressed, I drink a lot of tea. Well, that still holds true now. I've always known that other kids use drugs and alcohol as an outlet for stress, but I sort of forgot about it until today.

I was in class tonight when I overheard some of my fellow students talking. It didn't surprise me the least bit when I realized they were talking about alcohol. I mean, that's expected. It's normal for college kids to drink. But what I didn't expect to hear was that they were going to drink tonight. I mean, it's only Monday, how hectic could your week be already?

But then I guess that's the only thing I associate with alcohol: relaxation. But to most other people I suppose, it's social. This has never made any sense to me. I've never had any attraction to alcohol. Even if I did, I'd stay away from the stuff. It's not that I don't like the taste; to be honest some alcohol has a very nice flavor to me. Don't get me wrong though, there's no way I'd chug a large plastic cup of cheap beer. I used to think my reasons for abstaining were more about how I was raised and my family's history of alcoholism. Deep down I've realized, the number one reason I don't drink is the fact that I have no idea how I'd act once intoxicated.

Would I be a hyper drunk? Would I be depressed? Violent? Would I say things I don't mean or do something I'll always regret? These are the thoughts that keep me away from booze. I think the only thing that would result from me drinking would be regrets and embarrassment. I'm so afraid of hurting someone I care about that I can't even touch the stuff. I guess that's a good thing. Plus, my mom would probably have heart failure if she found out I'd been drinking, and that's not good.

So I guess I'll go on as I usually do: drinking tea, running, and listening to music to relieve the pressure of the day. Ah well, I've never really been normal anyway.

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December 10, 2007
James M. Dean

Today, I believe alcohol is a significant factor that decides the type of relationship formed between a Greek organization - predominantly a fraternity - and the surrounding local community. I don't think that we can blame bad community relations on the simple fact that most fraternities drink alcohol regularly - and I can safely assume that most fraternities do - but perhaps we can place the emphasis on the style or manner in which the Greek system handles its alcohol. I believe the physical appearance of any Greek house can have a major impact on outside impressions, especially for Greek communities within larger residential areas.

The physical appearance of a fraternity house can serve to sour relations in any neighborhood, especially when that appearance is associated with alcohol use. The Solo cups strewn on the lawn, the half-empty beer cans on the steps of the front porch, kegs left out in the front walkway - each leaves a distinct impression on the faces of passers-by.

I know the party last night was insane, but THEY DON'T CARE. Who are they? Parents and their children, maybe an elderly couple on a Sunday drive after church, even alumni that could very well have made past donations to the very house you are disrespecting.

Let's not forget about our place in the larger community. The respect of others is dependent upon our own respect of ourselves. I think our society places an incredible amount of emphasis on physical appearance and first impressions. So next time show some class, and don't let alcohol cramp your style.

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December 5, 2007
Owen O'Brien

The happiness sobriety brings me does not come without a cost. Although near-abstinence has helped me to revive a part of myself that I thought had drowned in vodka, my new wisdom brings isolation and confusion. When only last year, I gave into alcohol's seductive allure on a regular basis, now, I cannot even begin to understand why anyone yields to its temptations--especially my close friends. My freshman year, I stood right there alongside them shot-gunning keystones and taking pulls of whiskey; now, I watch from the background feeling entirely lost. I am a puzzled, lonely observer to the social rituals that had once consumed me.

Recently, my confusion with my best friend's drinking habits has gained a painful edge. Not only does my choice inevitably result in my exclusion from their liquefied social world, but also, seeing them drunk truly upsets me. With every new drink, they move farther away me and closer to a world where flirting is effortless, laughter is frequent, and meaningless tears come easily. A whole party full of my friends will depart for their weekly reality vacation, leaving me to sip my water alone. They return to me only to relate the occasional incoherent story about a cute boy or to tell me they're ready to be driven home.

This is the story of most of my Saturday nights. Every weekend, I face the same three choices: avoid hanging out with my friends when they choose to drink, go with them to parties and remain sober--which inevitably means as their designated driver-- or simply give up and get drunk with them. I am stuck. In my quest to make sense of their version of "fun," I try to channel my freshman year self, but it is in vain. I've done a complete 180 and can find no trace of my former beliefs. I'm beginning to think that my love for and my approval of drinking was never sincere; perhaps it was a mere justification for a behavior I despised in myself. My psychology professors call this the "human need to relieve cognitive dissonance." Realizing this -- giving my past actions a name -- provides me with insight about my life now.

Although I stay sober, I now realize that my war with alcohol is far from over. The love affair has ended but the break-up rages on. All I really want is to be at peace with alcohol. Hopefully, this speck of self-awareness -- however small -- will give me the strength to continue the struggle.

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