We have a fantastic Dean of Students, we really do. I know people are always giving her hassles and ripping her off, but in the end at least she does try to reach us on "our level". She may be slightly off-centre with regards to what "our level" is, but at least she does try.
Except with the DoS Challenge (I think it might now be called the Live Smart Challenge?). For the non-Rhodents out there, the DoS Challenge is where each hall on campus is challenged to produce some form of alcohol-free event for the rest of campus. Naturally it's a competition and last year Courtenay-Latimer (my hall) managed to scoop second or third prize with our fashion show. (This confused me because the turn out was dismal and the show itself a total flop, but hey, I won't argue with the judges). Some events include the environmental fashion show, the high on life exhibition (at least, I think that's part of the DoS Challenge) and the talent show. So far, all of them have been relatively successful.
However, I have two major problems with this concept.
First, the obvious 'no alcohol' idea. Sure I understand that they're trying to make sure first years don't start believing that they have to be drunk in order to have a good time. We all know this. I have one friend who never touched alcohol in first year and was still the last one jamming on Friars dance floor at 4am every Saturday morning. But I have a problem with the NO alcohol part. Shouldn't we be taught moderation instead of abstinence? There's nothing wrong with drinking, it's when you start reaching that falling-over-and-slurring-every-word phase every Friday night that it becomes a problem. What's wrong with having a beer or a glass of wine while watching a fashion show? Rather than being taught that drinking is wrong, maybe we should be taught that drinking is OK when we do it because we like the taste rather than because we want to get drunk.
Secondly, what's with the focus on drinking anyway? I know that this university has apparently acquired a reputation for drunk and disorderly behaviour, but surely shoving this kind of thing down our throats isn't going to help? Example: in one episode of South Park, the kids in the town get involved in a new Pokemon-like fad. To get them out of it, the parents start agreeing that this new fad is "cool", because nothing puts kids off something faster than their parents saying it's cool. In the same way, the fact that the Dean of Students is pushing the idea that it's "cool" not to drink is most likely encouraging more students to drink because hey, how could the Dean of Students be cool? The only way to make it worse would be if the SRC also started anti-drinking campaigns. Then the whole of Rhodes would be dead of alcohol poisoning within a weekend.
I won't deny that I had great fun taking part in and helping to organise my hall's DoS Challenge event this year, but I do think that the concept itself could use a little reworking. Abstinence is ridiculous; we're meant to be growing up and becoming responsible adults. Teach us moderation rather than implying that we're far too immature to handle things like drinking. But at the same time...remember we're young. And this is our last chance to act like immature idiots before we take on the working world. So rather than constantly telling us that we're wrong, let us learn from our mistakes. Because nothing will put a student off drinking faster than a truly crappy night out and a worse hangover. Believe me.
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