Thursday, October 30, 1986
Daily Nebraskan
Page 5
1
Letters
Alcohol policy denies students legal rights
Having followed the Daily Nebras
kan's one-sided coverage of the "alco
hol on campus" debate the last few
weeks, I have noted that one issue has
not been addressed: the right of the
individual over 2 1 to drink in his or her
place of residence.
The privilege to consume alcohol in
one's home should not be awarded
based on where an individual resides.
If where citizens live determines what
rights and privileges they are entitled
to, then it would be quite legitimate to
withdraw the privilege to drink in their
home from all residents of north Lin
coln. That doesn't seem the same?
Well, it comes down to your attitude or
prejudice against students on this issue.
Alcohol has no place in an educa
tional or classroom environment and "
therefore should not be allowed on the
campus at large. However, residence
halls and Greek residences are not, and
should not be, purely academic areas.
These places are homes for many adult
students, their private place of resi
dence. What they do behind their doors
is nobody's concern but their own so
long as they do not infringe upon the
rights of others.
The laws and attitudes concerning
alcohol in this country need some
serious re-evaluation. The problems
that result from alcohol misuse DWI,
personal abuse, and crime all stem
from too much legislation in the wrong
areas and not enough education and
enforcement. We have too many laws
that are useless and laughable, such as
the current drinking age. This law is
supposed to keep young adults from
driving while intoxicated. This type of
preventative lawmaking has no place
in our country. If a person is guilty of
DWI, they should be dealt with swiftly
and severely. If they are not guilty of an
offense, they should not be punished
because of a statistical analysis of their
age group.
Opening up young adult s' legal access
to alcohol, enforcing DWI laws, and
promoting "bus-trip" parties would seem
to be a logical and enforceable solu
tion. But concern for alcohol abuse and
safety on the road has been neglected
in the pursuit of a scapegoat.
A message of "Drink ... but do it
responsibly," ought to be conveyed to
young adults, rather than a command
of "Thou shalt not drink." One thing is
for sure: the current laws and univer
sity policies for dealing with alcohol
and its related problems are not work
ing. Students are driving drunk and
suffering from alcohol abuse as much
as they ever have.
Andrew Holycross
junior
life sciences
Nip keeps North on its (frozen) toes
ROYKOfrom Page 4
this time of year to get the paper and
feel that crisp, cold nip in the morning
air.
"Yes, and to feel the cold rivulets of
rain dribbling down our necks as we
huddle at the bus stop or commuter
stations. Now, that really wakes me up
in the morning."
And remember, soon we'll be seeing
that first, fresh layer of pure white
snow. '
"Sure, then we get another layer of
snow, and another. And soon we will
hear the familiar sound of tires spin
ning in the deep slush, transmissions
howling, and we'll see the hunched fig
ures of men and women heaving and
grunting as they try to push their vehi
cles from the curb."
Don't forget the wonderful winter
activities. Skating on a glistening, fro
zen lagoon. The vigor of cross-country
skiing. The thrill of a toboggan run. A
long hike across a snow-covered mea
dow. '
"Oh, yes, great fun. But don't you
forget many others, easily as popular.
Waiting for your brother-in-law to drive
over to your alley with jumper cables so
you can get your dead battery started.
The challenge of scraping away the
crud with numbed hands to find the
positive and minus terminals so you
don't blow yourself up. The thrill of
peering through the streaks of salt and
road glop on your windshield into the
blinding headlights of an oncoming
truck. The adrenaline pouring when
you swing around a corner, only to find
yourself on a broad patch of ice and
your vehicle begins doing figure eights.
No, you're right. They don't have this in
the warm climes."
I'm glad you recognize that. You
know, in our part of the country there
are distinct sounds of the winter sea
son. I'm sure you've been awakened by
the early morning sound of shovels
scraping pavement, as people perform
the neighborly ritual of cleaning their
walks of snow so that others may pass
unhindered. It's the sort of unselfish
act that brings people together. Another
blessing of our climate.
"Uh-huh. And then there is the wail
of the siren as the paramedics carry off
aging shovelers who popped an artery
or broke a hip bone. They really miss
those kicks in Miami."
"Yes, and in addition to the ruddy
complexions, there are the vividly
colored cold sores, the exotic touch of
blue-black on the ear lobes as frostbite
sets in, and the self-awareness that is
brought on by those stabbing chest
pains."
But let us not forget spring. Eventu
ally the snow melts and we undergo the
dramatic reawakening of nature. Birds
returning. The buds peeping through
the good earth. The first balmy breezes.
"Sure. The melting snow revealing
the hulks of abandoned cars, the
accumulated winter droppings of sev
eral million dogs, and here and there
the remains of an unmoumed wino."
Spring. Soon we will tiptoe through
the tulips, so to speak.
"More likely, we'll tiptoe through
the mud so we can get in our cars."
Well, we're at the airport. Where did
you say you were going?
"Hawaii."
Poor devils. They live with such
sameness, such monotony.
"I'll pass along your condolences to
the first orchid I meet."
'1986 By The Chicago Tribune
Distributed By
Tribune Media Services, Inc.
Royko is a Pulitzer prize-winning col
umnist for the Chicago Tribune.
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