Have you ever needed a safe ride home from a party? Maybe your driver ended up drinking, or even left without you. Personally this has happened to me, and I am sure other students on campus. With our campus being a “dry” campus students are faced with the decision of drinking and driving pretty much every weekend. If a student were to be caught with alcohol on campus, they face some serious sanctions, such as being kicked out of the dorms; and for those students who live hours away from home, this is unfathomable. Students that are 21 and over should not have to worry about sneaking alcohol into the dorms, or being kicked off campus for something they legally can do.
This past December FSU lost a student, Ashley Donahue. Ashley was a junior here at FSU, and was killed in a drunk driving accident while coming home from an off campus party. Along with Ashley, two other FSU students were sent to the hospital with serious injuries. With Framingham State having such a strict alcohol policy, forcing students who want to have a drink off campus, we should be thankful something like this has not happened before.
Following this tragedy, many students came up with the idea to have a student run, “safe ride home” group. For those students who want to attend parties, they need to venture off campus-some of which are a five to ten minute drive away. Students will drive to these parties, some rising their lives as well as their friends drinking and driving. If students pull together, and are willing to take turns staying sober on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, then this could be a reliable and safe source for a ride home.
Campus police say they are willing to come get anyone who calls them, however students are reluctant to do so in fear they will get “written up”, placed in holding over night, or potentially face harsher sanctions for being intoxicated. Let’s be realistic, if you are drunk, and under age, what are the odds you would call the police to come get you. This anonymous free ride home service would be ideal to our growing campus, keeping its students safe.
I have to admit that I haven't heard of this "Safe Ride Home" group yet. I agree with you that it sounds like a great idea. Unfortunately, being a college student raises lots of questions in regards to drinking. Let's face it, most, if not all, college students drink at one point or another. Although the legal drinking age is 21, it is expected that lots of adolescents break this law. However, driving under the influence is something that should never be done, no matter what the circumstances. This not only puts a drunk driver's life in danger, but also innocent people. A group like the one proposed sounds like a really good idea, but who knows how reliable it would be. Designated drivers are always iffy, it seems. If something doesn't come up to occupy the DD's time, they may end up having a few drinks themselves. I truly wish that more students would feel comfortable calling Campus Police when they are in this situation because getting written up is a slap on the wrist in comparison to endangering yourself and/or others.
ReplyDeleteWhen a student over 21 signs a contract to live in a dorm, they agree to abide by the campus alcohol policy. If they don't wish to abide by the terms, they should not live on campus. FSU is "dry" because after a lengthy and sustained debate, a decision was made that campus life would improve.
ReplyDeleteA similar debate is now taking place over whether to make FSU tobacco-free; make sure to voice your opinion if you feel strongly one way or the other on this subject.