The nation has been glued to the news all week as Christine Blasey Ford and Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh testify about sexual assault allegations that have recently come to light. I’m not here to get political, so don’t worry. I do that enough already. I’m actually here because I have had a completely different takeaway.
I noticed one common theme in each allegation of Kavanaugh: Alcohol was involved each time. He was always drunk when he was alleged to have done these horrendous acts, which in no way makes them excusable. Three of the accolades on his yearbook page referenced alcohol: “Keg City Club (Treasurer),” “100 Kegs or Bust” and “Beach Week Ralph Club.” He could not have been more than 18 years old at the time of that yearbook’s publication, which shows how early drinking can start. The fact that Kavanaugh’s drunken youth is wreaking havoc on his professional career prospects should be a wake-up call for high school and college-aged youths today.
These current events have compelled me to finally address something that has bothered me since I started high school over five years ago: There is a severe drinking problem among high school and college students nationwide. Alcohol is a household staple in dormitories across campus. Greek life not only accepts but promotes drinking. Game days are just excuses for students to get wasted on free booze. Clubbing is a 24/7 occurrence. Students “drink to cope” after a bad grade, which is, by the way, one of the first signs of alcoholism. Twitter accounts, such as Young Alcoholics, which both condone and encourage underage drinking, have amassed thousands of followers. It seems as though students do not realize that there isn’t an age limit for alcoholism. Alcoholism is often acquired during college, and it isn’t something to be taken lightly.
Greek life is especially notorious for its alcohol problem. In fact, these organizations cultivate an environment of drinking, allowing members of all ages to participate and ostracize those who do not. In 2017, fraternities at both Louisiana State University and Florida State University were suspended after the alcohol-caused death of two students. Already this year, UF suspended Delta Chi Fraternity for the near-fatal hazing incident of a pledge. After rushing last year, my roommate would tell me stories of the rampant drinking that occurred in her sorority. Date functions were ruined because too many girls got sick with alcohol poisoning. The sorority was given warnings and even put on probation more than once. My roommate, who did not partake in the alcoholic activities, finally left her sorority. Greek life is a major cause of most on campus alcohol-related issues, but again, that is a whole different story.
How can we address this issue and change the attitudes surrounding drinking culture on campuses? Begin by banning fraternities and sororities that do not adhere to the codes and bylaws regarding drinking. Not suspending. Banning. It has been shown time and time again that suspension has no effect on the actions of these groups. Disbanding the organizations that do not comply at least prevents them from congregating in such large numbers. Enforce the rules concerning hazing more strictly. Stop normalizing underage drinking. Indulge in activities that do not involve getting drunk. My friends and I prefer to spend our weekends going to local concerts, which do not require drinking in order to have a decent time. UF also has plenty of on campus activities to get involved with.
Don’t drink away your youth. Only poor judgment occurs when under the influence. Judgment terrible enough that it causes someone to destroy the life of a young woman with a bright future. Hopefully, the tragedy of what happened to Ford some thirty years ago can influence the culture of today’s youth. With time, the stigma around drinking culture can be changed, but it starts with us.
Hannah Whitaker is a UF English sophomore. Her column appears on Mondays.
