Alcohol policy absurd
Gary Lowell
Issue date: 3/18/10 Section: Opinion
Last semester I wrote an article titled "Advocating the use of alcohol." In it I showed how BSC's ban on postings that promote the use of alcohol and illegal substances is not related to the purported interest of lessening the amount of drinking on campus. The week before spring break, Dr. Dana Mohler-Faria was supposed to visit the Student Government Association, and I was going to ask him what the purpose of the policy is since it would not be able to further the given purpose. Dr. Mohler-Faria had to cancel the visit, however, and it will happen next week. After his visit, I will write an article relating to what he says.
Before that, however, I would like to simply comment on my perception of the school's alcohol policy; BSC has the policy that there is absolutely no alcohol allowed on campus. For residents, the first alcohol offense brings a disciplinary probation, educational assignment, and parental notification. The same is true for commuters, except they also get temporary suspension from the residence halls. For the second offense, residents get temporary suspension from the residence halls and parental notification. Commuters get permanent suspension from the residence halls and parental notification. For the third offense, both residents and commuters get college suspension.
The first thing I would like to comment on is the requirement for parental notification. I mean, hey, we are not adults right? We are not over 18 and legally considered adults right? Our parents still need to be notified of every misstep that we make because we are not mature enough to handle things on our own right? This policy flies completely in the face of the fact that the vast majority of students at BSC have reached the legal age of adulthood and are legally the only ones responsible for their actions. Once we reach eighteen, we should no longer have to notify our parents of our behavior. Granted it would be a good thing to tell our parents, but once we reach 18 it should be our decision, not the school's. The writers of this policy seem to be inferring that we still need to be babied and monitored by our parents.
Before that, however, I would like to simply comment on my perception of the school's alcohol policy; BSC has the policy that there is absolutely no alcohol allowed on campus. For residents, the first alcohol offense brings a disciplinary probation, educational assignment, and parental notification. The same is true for commuters, except they also get temporary suspension from the residence halls. For the second offense, residents get temporary suspension from the residence halls and parental notification. Commuters get permanent suspension from the residence halls and parental notification. For the third offense, both residents and commuters get college suspension.
The first thing I would like to comment on is the requirement for parental notification. I mean, hey, we are not adults right? We are not over 18 and legally considered adults right? Our parents still need to be notified of every misstep that we make because we are not mature enough to handle things on our own right? This policy flies completely in the face of the fact that the vast majority of students at BSC have reached the legal age of adulthood and are legally the only ones responsible for their actions. Once we reach eighteen, we should no longer have to notify our parents of our behavior. Granted it would be a good thing to tell our parents, but once we reach 18 it should be our decision, not the school's. The writers of this policy seem to be inferring that we still need to be babied and monitored by our parents.
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Dedham
Dedham
posted 3/18/10 @ 10:39 AM EST
To your first point about the college notifying students when they have done something wrong. I would agree with you if the student in question was paying 100% of their college tuition and expenses on their own with no assistance from Mom and Dad. (Continued…)
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