THE CONSEQUENES OF ALTERING THE MIND

Students Try To Decide Whether Drugs And Alcohol Are Worth The Consequence

In my senior year of high school, my English teacher, out of
curiosity, asked our class of 30 students how many of us were
planning to experiment with drugs and alcohol in college. All but one
student's hand went up.

With the freedom that awaits students at college, some come to school
with the inclination and intention to experiment with mind-altering
substances. With a few exceptions, this inclination fits naturally
into many students' days. The question of if they are going to get
drunk or high at some point is like asking if they are going to get
dressed that day.

Moreover, locating "the goods" is not a difficult feat.

"If I wanted them right now, I know where I can get pot, I know where
I can get coke, I know where I can get acid, I know where I can get
'shrooms," says a freshman journalism student who wishes to remain anonymous.

According to Judicial Affairs, the office where students are sent for
violating school policies, the number one problem on campus is
alcohol-related cases that happen within residence halls and on Greek Row.

Judicial Affairs keeps statistics on campus violations and releases
them once a year. Last year, there were 371 alcohol-related incidents reported.

Assistant Dean of Judicial Affairs and Mediation Services Laura
Sosh-Lightsy says that punishment for students involved differs from
case to case.

"It depends on prior discipline on how serious the offense on the
people affected," Sosh-Lightsy says. "For the first time, you get
disciplinary probation and an alcohol education class. The second
time, you get extended probation and counseling. The third time,
you're suspended for a semester at minimum, and suspension length
only increases from there."

Tennessee state legislature has also made a new law requiring that an
individual's parents are notified if he or she is caught drinking
under 21 years of age.

Campus police, who could not be reached for comment, have a separate
legal process when dealing with students involved with drugs and
alcohol on campus, though Judicial Affairs always receives a report.

There are a multitude of reasons attributed to why students run the
risk of getting caught but knowing that alcohol and narcotics are
illegal on campus.

"Some people just want to experiment to say they've done it," says
one freshman English major who wishes to remain anonymous. "For
others, the pressure of college is too much."

"Students are away from home, so they're learning who they are and
what they're about," Sosh-Lightsy says. "They have a newfound
freedom. Also some have low self-esteem and use alcohol to mask the
issue, thinking it makes them more socially apt."

Many students simply see drugs and alcohol as a source of fun,
according to an anonymous junior Spanish major.

"The appeal of drugs and alcohol as a way to be cool is usually over
after high school," the Spanish major says. "By the time you're in
college, if you're doing drugs, it's because you enjoy them."

Many of the students I talked to say that alcohol, whether an
individual is 21-years-old or not, is a popular choice because some
students find it a pleasant substance that goes hand-in-hand with
activities such as tailgating and sex.

There are dangers involved with alcohol consumption like drunken
driving and alcohol poisoning, but the fact that MTSU is a dry campus
may have a negative influence on students' use of alcohol.

"A dry campus creates a stressful environment," the freshman
journalism major jokingly says.

Many students agree that there is some validity in his remark, saying
that a wet campus could potentially reduce disasters like drinking
and driving outside of school. They say that students would be more
inclined to stay in their dorms and drink with friends rather than
venture out to massive parties to drink and possibly drive back to
campus while intoxicated.

On Saturday, Sept. 13, one sophomore student went to an off-campus
party, where he consumed upward of 10 drinks. His night ended with an
overnight hospital visitation after he was assaulted by four others
at the party.

He was cited for underage consumption and must appear in court in
November, but he expresses no concern that nothing is being done to
penalize the people who attacked him.

"What seemed at the time like an assault were really just drunk guys
beating each other up," he says.

Regardless of negative consequence, campus policies and police, it
seems students are going to consume alcohol and narcotics.

"It's a tricky subject, but I think discipline is administered
appropriately," Sosh-Lightsy says.

Realistically, most students are not going to avoid drugs and alcohol
entirely. But whether it is through one's own good judgment or the
threat of campus policy, individuals will hopefully learn how to
budget their mind-altering substance use so their education won't suffer.