EDITORIAL: 'What alcohol problems?'

Administrators' solutions to student binge drinking won't work if students don't recognize there's an alcohol problem. Yet these same students don't think alcohol is an important part of their social lives. Sixty-six percent of students polled admitted to excessive drinking, but only 2 percent said alcohol was very important. But student behavior in the past month does not correspond to student perceptions concerning alcohol use. Students have been involved in several alcohol-related assaults, and three freshmen have been hospitalized due to alcohol poisoning this semester. Administrators need to acknowledge students' opinions on alcohol consumption before they start formulating proposals to curb student drinking. University officials are right that something needs to be done about student binge drinking. But suggesting the University should hold more alcohol-awareness workshops and sponsor more non-alcoholic events on weekends won't work since the students who want to binge drink will continue to act irresponsibly regardless. It's important for student leaders to be involved in discussion about alcohol, and the Undergraduate Assembly has already begun making suggestions. However, the UA and administrators cannot change student opinion. Until students see there is an alcohol problem and want to do something about it, the problem of binge drinking will remain.