YOU DON'T NEED DRUGS TO HAVE FUN

It came as somewhat of a surprise to me to find out last year as a sophomore
that Vanderbilt is known as a coke-using school. No, I don't mean that Rand
only serves drinks sold by the Coca-Cola Company. I am talking about the
fact that I learned, through conversations with Vanderbilt students and
alumni, that Vanderbilt students are known for using cocaine. Now, unlike
some people, who are brought up in sheltered environments, I would have to
say that with all the jokes floating about Washington, D.C.'s former Mayor
and current Councilman Marion Barry, people in the District like me are a
little less shocked by local use of coke.

For the sake of this article, drugs will be limited to anything which alter
a person's state of mind and are not naturally made in the human body by
that individual. Also, for convenience, I am going to exclude people on
anti-psychotic medications which keep them sane and rational. I ask myself
- -- and you -- the question: what makes us want to be on these drugs even
when most of us know the deleterious effects they cause in the long run?

Depending on whom you ask on campus, most people seem to say a given weekend
was more fun if they did do one of these drugs. If you asked why, most
people would say because drugs makes them happier, more out going, or help
them get over the stressful week. Principally, most people would say that
any kind of catharsis and stress relief is good for the soul; however, on a
deeper level, what does this outlet say about you?

People try to build the argument against usage based on perceptions of need
that lead to psychological addiction; in other words, you need to drink to
be able to be outgoing or have fun. For example, go to any frat and watch
the outcomes of people's interactions; people you know to be outgoing and
friendly take even more chances and meet even more people at these parties.
And on the receiving end, are we all not more likely to talk to someone who
walks over to us smiling?

But would we have opened up as quickly to a person who comes over with a
straight face and makes small talk? Would we have been as willing to
approach the person who doesn't look like they're having a good time?

If these are fair questions, then what we have all just told everyone around
us is that in addition to our predisposition for happy people, we also do
not want to be around anyone who might bring us down. This makes for the
impression of a very superficial social atmosphere. Through this need to
have fun, people create a positive feedback system where the happy get
happier and the not-happy (meaning anyone who does not show that they are
happy) get a negative feedback system in which they get excluded from most
interactions.

Ask yourself: is this acceptable behavior from and toward me? If you say
"No" to either question, then it is your moral imperative to do your part.
Whether you said "No" or not, I encourage everyone on this campus to take
one step outside of your comfort zone each day this week and take that extra
effort to get to know someone to whom you've never spoken before. You don't
need drugs to enhance your friend-making abilities.