Rock bottom
Alcohol leads people to new depths
JIM VANCE is a senior physi
cal and health education
major and a Daily Nebraskan
columnist.
Being a health major, I took a health
class on alcohol and substance abuse. It
was a minicourse, which taught a lot
about alcohol, drugs and life. The teacher
was even a recovering alcoholic. He had
a speaker come in one time by the name
of Otto.
Otto told us about how he hit rock
bottom with alcohol. He said something
like, “I realized I hit rock bottom when
alcohol caused me to miss church.” He
looked around the room at puzzled stares
of those who had spent plenty of time
sobering up Sunday mornings at the
expense of church. He continued,
“Probably not such a big deal to all of
you, but it’s a little bit different when
you’re the minister.”
With the substance abuse problems in
my family growing up, I could relate.
Although I use alcohol on occasion, I
rarely ever desire a drink. I stay away
from it in times of high stress, and if I
have more than two drinks in two hours,
someone else drives me home. I am try
ing to be sure not to hit rock bottom.
I recently found another person who
has hit rock bottom like Otto - Jeffrey
Ireland. I do not know the man, nor could
I recognize him if he stood before me,
but he is an important person from which
to learn something.
Jeffrey Ireland knows about death.
Jeffrey had a young 17-month-old son
who died tragically and innocently in
February, when his girlfriend threw the
child into the couch across the room,
fracturing his skull.
This was the bottom for Ireland, but
he wasn’t done digging deep. On the
evening of Saturday, March 14, Ireland
turned his troubles to alcohol. Out drink
ing to forget and run away from his prob
lems, he got behind the wheel.
Jeffrey Ireland knows about death. He
killed Laura Cockson. I did not know her,
but she seemed to be a beautiful young
woman with a bright future, loving fami
ly and friends and a serious boyfriend.
Why, Jeffrey? Do you know why you
did this?
You did it because you are like most
of the college students cruising the
Lincoln bar scene. Naive enough to think
alcohol will relieve all your problems,
and just plain stupid and ignorant enough
to think you can drive after having some
drinks. Well, I hope it was worth it.
((
(Jeffrey,) IJiopeyou do
something positive with
your life. You know a lot
about death. Its time to
start learning about life.”
No, I don’t. As you know, Jeffrey, the
loss of a loved one is crippling. I hope it
hurts. I hope it hurts badly for a long
time. I hope you go to jail. But most of
all, I hope you turn your life around.
I hope you do something positive with
your life. You know a lot about death. It’s
time to start learning about life.
Tell people how you screwed up. Tell
them what to expect when they go to
Iggy’s with some friends and then drive
home after a few. Tell them how they will
have to live with the guilt. Tell them how it
will be when they have to come face to
face with the family of the person they kill.
Tell them how it feels to lose a loved one.
Tell them about death, Jeffrey. Teach
them about life. Save someone’s life.
Give me a break
Millions of students can’t be wrong
MARK ZMARZLY is a senior
English and speech communi
cations major and a Daily
Nebraskan columnist
In reading William Shakespeare’s
“Anthony and Cleopatra” I was rather con
cerned with the portrayal of Cleopatra in
Act 3. “Anthony closely watched as
Cleopatra strolled down the beach in a hot
pink thong.”
This is how one of my class assign
ments turned out this week. One moment I
was carefully reading Shakespeare for dra
matic plot sequences and character ques
tions, the next moment I was picturing
Cleopatra in a string bikini. That’s right
kiddies, spring break is only one day away.
A week off of school. Say those five
words over very slowly and bask in the
glory of that statement.
This week off may not be all that fun
for a lot of you students out there. Some of
you will be working a 60-hour week to save
some money for school. Some of you will
be working on that psychology paper you
put off all semester. Some of you will be
checking into a Harris Lab study and be fed
morphine and vodka. Some of us, will be
heading for Florida, Texas, Colorado or
Mexico.
On Friday I, along with 100,000 of my
closest friends, will assault Panama City,
Florida. I will leave the snow and com of
Nebraska for the sand and sun of a college
break oasis. Am I going to have a lot of
fun? Yes. Do I feel bad about the friends
I’m leaving behind? Hell no.
Ever since I figured out that Cinemax
plays dirty movies after midnight, I have
been well acquainted with the concept of
college spring break. I was 13, and I was
educated by a film called “Spring Break
Sex-a-thon ’89” or something to that effect.
I saw college kids having fun in the sand,
and I wanted to be there. Of course, I was
13 and wanted to be anywhere older
women were.
Earlier this semester I read an article in
the Daily Nebraskan regarding spring
break. The author didn’t seem to grasp the
concept of going on spring break to a place
like Florida. I also have heard a lot of nega
tive feelings expressed across this campus
about spring break trips and the people who
go on them. I would like to take this oppor
tunity to point out a couple of obvious
advantages that these people seem to have
overlooked.
■ Florida is warm. While Nebraska is
affectionately referred to as “Hell,” it’s not
quite as hot.
■ Leaving Nebraska for any period of
time is a good thing. It’s called expanding
your horizons, without drugs.
■ Road trips are a bonding experience.
Eat chicken-on-a-stick in Mississippi
together. Nothing says, “you’re my true
friend,” like a fried piece of poultry on a
popsicle stick.
■ At no other time in your life will you
be able to take a week off of reality and go
somewhere to party for seven straight days.
Spring break is not a free-for-all orgy,
unless they’ve changed the theme this year
and haven’t informed me yet. It is not a
bunch of “frat boys” and sorority girls
drinking ’till they throw up and having
unprotected sex on the beach. Yes, spring
break is a big party that lasts a week, but it
is not what others would like to portray it
as.
To avoid a long debate, let’s assume all
of the rumors about spring break are true.
Everyone down there will be drunk from
the moment they wake up ’till the moment
they go to bed (pass out). Most of the peo
ple down there have no morals, so casual
sex will be more readily available than at a
Bill Clinton fund-raiser. Students _
down there will act like total
idiots and probably hurt them
selves.
If this were true why would
college students, our future lead
ers, engage in this tradition?
Wouldn’t this environment attract a
different element of people?
Panama City would be the
high school dropout
spring break destination
of choice.
Spring break is a true c
lege tradition that you just
have to experience to truly
know. It’s waking up at 9 a
and watching the sun rise <
the ocean from your balco
It’s meeting the guys from
Georgia in Room 309 and
the gals from Ohio in 311.
It’s hitching a ride up the
main street from other
college kids. It’s seeing
some really bizarre things
that you never thought
possible; decorum pro
hibits me listing them. It’s
being able to cut loose and
have fun with your friends.
Spring break is controlled insanity. The
cops in Panama City, as well as in other tra
ditional destinations, are very observant
and are there to “protect and serve.” The
bar owners are not determined to make
money by serving every minor on the
premises. The students seem to have some
sense of control, judging from the fact that
these cities continue to invite us down
there.
I love stereotypes. As a “ffat boy,” I’ve
heard my fair share. I wouldn’t stoop so
low as to tell those students who harbor ill
feelings toward spring breakers that they
need to stop watching reruns of “Saved by
the Bell” and get a life. That is something
that I wouldn’t do. I would invite all stu
dents to experience spring break before
they form a judgment about it.
You may think that I am the poster boy
for everything that is wrong with spring
break, the college experience and society in
general. I happen to think that I am every
♦h;ng that is right about
pring break, the col- „
;e experience and
society in general.
Guest
VIEW
Keeping
the faith
Proud to be at UNL
BILL MCLAUGHLIN is a chemistry
instructor at UNL.
A good friend once advised me that life is an
interesting journey. Perhaps my recent journey is
similar to Alice in Wonderland (Bill in
Universityland?) - it gets “curiouser and curiouser.” I
am also reminded of the words sung by the great rock
philosopher Mick Jagger, “You can’t always get what
you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might
find... you get what you need.”
The past two weeks on campus have pointed out
so many things to all of us who have been listening.
Does anyone still think that students on this campus
• fit under the typical Generation X profile of being
apathetic or uninterested in a quality education?
I have been so personally rewarded and touched
by the sincere efforts that students in my chemistry
classes have undertaken. They came to die University
of Nebraska-Lincoln because it could be part of their
journey. They were convinced that it would be a way
of achieving part of their dreams. I am humbled to
think thev feel I could share in their nlan
How did they react when they heard they may
lose part of their important goals? They organized
and sought wise council from interested people. They
were polite, even respectful, of the university
processes available to them. They contacted then
elected student government. The Association of
Students of the University of Nebraska listened and
took immediate action, within the means available to
it. Again, polite and sincere people acting on then
beliefs. The issue did not go away.
Some wonder why it was even an issue. Letters
and e-mail to university officials were other avenues
open to students. As supported interest began to
grow, the public media became interested in the
“news.” What was this news?
Students on the campus beyond chemistry class
es realized that the real issue was quality education
for undergraduates. Not one of tfi£ students
tioned the importance of discov^rihglii^l^v^^e '*!
within the research agendas of various departments .
In fact, the chemistry department has achieved some
outstanding results with the research it does. It is to
be commended for that.
The question that would not go away was why
can’t Nebraska have both high quality education for
undergraduates and be a place where new knowledge
is discovered? My gratitude, and I hope the gratitude
of all faculty members and administration, goes to
those dedicated students who saw an injustice and
refused to just let it happen.
We should be proud that our students have
learned to determine which issues are important and
that they have learned how to express their beliefs in
acceptable methods. They rallied and organized a
petition drive sponsored by the Residence Hall
Association and ASUN. The honors college took on
the challenge.
A unity across campus developed that kept the
focus on ways to achieve the best education while at
UNL. The issue has never really been me. It has been
honestly seeking the means to put an emphasis on
giving this university the reputation it is publicly
seeking.
My compliments initially go to the Daily
Nebraskan. Our national popular press has been criti
cized for clouding serious issues with sensationalism
and shoddy reporting. Our campus newspaper has
been fair and has reported the issues with clarity and
a balance of all opinions. It has stayed with this
important issue because it listened to what students
were saying.
The Lincoln print media, television and radio
reports also have reported this issue with the impor
tance it deserves and has placed UNL students in a
very positive light
Parents all over the state should be proud that
their sons and daughters are learning how to organize ,
and how to be involved in positive change and are
still getting a quality education. They have learned
that a good university, which UNL is, is more than a
place where you learn. It is a WAY that you learn.
I have been fortunate to teach here. I hope a way
to continue can be found. A common theme in teach
ing is that when you teach you learn. I have been for
tunate to have learned much from my students.
I want to add that to learn is to grow. To all who
have been involved, from students, to faculty col
leagues, to friends, to parents, to the general public, I
want to express my sineerest THANK YOU. You have
encouraged me to continue to be a true believer of
tire power, importance and personal rewards available
to the partnership between teachers and learners.
Matt Haney/DN
