The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 79, No. 9, Ed. 1 Friday, October 25, 1991 Page: 2 of 24
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2 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1991 THE RICE THRESHER
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Rice students still not
mindful of alcohol safety
despite awareness week
This year's National Alcohol Awareness week is particularity ill-
timed, falling on the week between two large alcohol-based parties,
"Shut Up and Drink" and "Night of Decadance."
While this seems to be a truly ironic way to begin and end a week
that encourages non-alcoholic beverages and activities, the real irony
is that intoxicated students at these large, college-sized parties are
usually safer and better cared for than many other "private parties."
As a result of the alcohol policy, colleges hosting parties are
required to provide bartenders and drunk-sitters to keep students
from drinking irresponsibly and to take care of those who do.
Such freeform occasions as NOD require even more attention,
particularly when the hosts consider events and problems of previous
years. The campus breathes a collective sigh of relief when NOD is
over and there is nothing left of it except a big, sticky mess outside the
Wiess commons.
But a private party has no restrictions by any official set of rules,
except that it not become public by leaving the host's room.
As a result, these parties are often some of the most dangerous
locations for drinking. In the last few weeks, events have reenforced
the fact that Wee students, as a whole, are not properly aware of
alcohol, its effects, or how to control it
This endangers the alcohol policy, certainly, but even more, it
demonstrates how students who disregard their tolerences can easily
drink dangerously.
There is no way, under the current rules, to enforce proper care at
private parties. Nevertheless, if you are a host, caring for the safety
and well-being of your guests is an implicit responsibility involved
with throwing a party. This includes keeping an eye on alcohol
consumption and being prepared to handle people who drink too
much.
Although an event like Alcohol Awareness Week spends most of
its time fostering ideas like non-alcoholic beer and root beer float
study breaks, that doesn't mean its intent is solely to eliminate student
drinking. That's missing the point The point is students need to be
aware about alcohol, its effects, and its dangers.
—Ann Zitterkopf and Harlan Howe
• The
Harlan Howe, Ann Zitterkopf
Editors-in-chief
Chad Carson
Managing Editor
NEWS
Amy Keener Editor
Jill Salomon Assistant Editor
Jonathan Briggs SA Correspondent
Mark Schoenhals, Henry David
Mahnke, Amit Mehta, Jennifer
Jackman, Eric Carmichael, Araceli
Graham, John Skelton, Jeff Duck,
Ann Chettle, Steve Jones
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
I>eezie Kim Editor
Shala Phillips Assistant Editor
Ross Grady Columnist
Brian Beeghly, Peter Sharoff, Eric
Garland, Jesse Jou, Dorry Segev, Jeff
Karen, DougTapley, Paul Holser,
Mimi Cho, Jill Salomon, Jonathan
Briggs, Jenna Christensen, Jeff
Karem
PRODUCTION
Josh Denk Production Manager
Tom Anderson, John McCoy, Eric
Ruhlin, Jeremy Hart, Kevin Mistry
FEATURES
Shaila Dewan Editor
Paula Wirth Illustrator
Jenna Christensen, I/>relle
I,amascus
David Mansfield
Business Manager
OPINION
Darrell Speck Editor
Mark Bennett Columnist
Mark David Schoenhals, Henry
Wiltshir Mahncke
PHOTOGRAPHY
Chris Sonneborn Editor
Eric Hah n/4«is/a*/ Editor
Barbara Solon, Leezie Kim
SPORTS
Peter Howley Editor
Randy Block, Chris Davidson, John
Percer, Tim Lam, Jason Ockerman,
James Young, Riva Ruhl, Jason
Martinez
BACKPAGE
Heidi Huettner Editor
M. Wasz Cartoonist
BUSINESS
Shane Speciale Ads Manager
Chris Cowles Assist. Bus. Manager
George Nickas Ads Production
John Schwartz Circulation
© COPYRIGHT 1991
Phone: 527-4801
The Rice Thresher, the official student newspaper at Rice University since
1916, is published each Friday during the school year, except during
examination periods and holidays, by the students of Rice University. Editorial
and business offices are located on the second floor of the Ley Student
Center, P.O. Box 1892, Houston, Texas, 77251. Advertising information
available on request. Mail subscription rate per semester: $15.00 domestic,
$30.00 international via first class mail. Non-subscription rate: first copy free,
second copy $1.00. Letters to the editor must be received by 5 p.m. on the
Monday prior to publication. Unsigned editorials represent the majority
opinion of the Thresher Editorial Staff. All other pieces represent the opinion
of the author. Obviously.
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Become truly aware about alcohol
To the editors,
We are currently living in the
midstof National AlcoholAwareness
Week. What that means to you de-
pends entirely upon the way in which
you have become aware of alcohol. It
has been my impression that the of-
ficial (i.e. correct) position on alcohol
is a biased and unfair forum advo-
cating strengthening the alcohol
policy and expressing subservience
to the federal government through
the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988
and the Drug-Free Schools and
Communities Act Amendment of
1989.
In order to prevent misinformation
and ignorance to be spread
throughout campus, I would like to
mention some facts that you are
probably not aware of, and therefore
would be excellent things to be aware
of during Alcohol Awareness Week.
1) Alcoholisgoodforyou.Arecent
study of 51,000 men has determined
that drinking can be a major means
of preventing heart disease. Having
up to two drinks per day reduces
one's risk of heart disease by at least
26%, and having more than two drinks
per day reduces one's risks by more
than 47%. Drinking hard liquor is
shown to have better effects than
drinking beer. Their advice — un-
less there is a specified medical rea-
son which prevents you from drink-
ing (i.e. alcoholism, medication, hy-
pertension), you should drink every-
day. Other research has shown that
moderate daily doses of alcohol by
women reduces their risk or heart
disease by at least 40%.
2) The alcohol policy is danger-
ous. In order to satisfy the federal
government, much pressure has
been exerted to make the alcohol
policy more accurately reflect state
and US statutes on underage drink-
ing. Laws which prevent minors from
consuming alcohol does not prevent
underage drinking; they simply in-
crease the dangers which youngsters
to attend an off-campus party, one
which is not subject to the alcohol
policy. He goes to the party, drinks,
and drives home (instead of stum-
bling across campus, a relatively safer
means of travel). Bob gets [arrested,
killed].
The reason why I write this letter
is that I fear the extent to which the
Federal government will go to sup-
press the individual freedoms of
Americans. Through the establish-
... interfere with and endanger the lives of your
students, or we will revoke your funding.
face.
Imagine Bob, a typical sophomore
at Rice. He understands that the use
of alcohol is a major factor in Ameri-
can social life and a perceived entree
into adulthood. While attending a
sponsored college party, he is not
allowed to participate socially at a
level equal to those persons above
the legal age. As a result, he pro-
ceeds to a "private" party which is
held behind closed doors. At the same
time, other underage students crowd
into the party, creating an obvious
fire hazard. Or instead, Bob decides
ment of the Drug-Free Workplace
Act of 1988 the United States has
found a way to infringe upon our
rights in an indirect manner. Through
the threat of revoking federal funds,
the government has given Rice Uni-
versity a choice—interfere with and
endanger the lives of your students,
or we will revoke your funding. I
though Rice was a private institution.
What happens next is up to you.
What is the proper response to the
fact that our own government ac-
tively promotes a position which is
detrimental to the health of younger
Americans. This week, in addition to
becoming more aware about alco-
hol, I do hope that you have become
more aware of the present state of
freedom in our nation.
Chris Thomas
Sid Richardson *94
Be responsible and be safe at NOD
To the editors,
A committee was formed two
years ago to address and correct the
problems being associated with
Wiess College's annual party, Night
of Decadence. The first problem,
safety, was addressed through cre-
ation of a student security force, in-
creasing the number of campus po-
lice and increasing lighting around
the outside of the college. Last year,
the key problem was obtaining an
alcohol license so that Wiess could
charge admission to NOD and still
serve the infamous NOD punch.
Wiess went outside the university to
obtain an alcohol license from
Fitzgerald's. Even with the new
changes in the VW corporation's
policy concerning their use by col-
leges, Wiess will again use the li-
cense from Fitzgerald's.
After last year's party we feel that
these problems and other concerns
have been addressed and there is no
need to go over them again. How-
ever, in light of recent events on cam-
pus, we, the NOD committee, feel
that it is necessary to restate how
critical it is that the alcohol policy not
by violated. ^£ven though NOD will
operate under an outside liquor li-
cense, the party still functions under
Rice's alcohol policy. This policy is in
a precarious position and any further
violation could have drastic results.
All, that Wiess College asks of the
Rice community is that you act re-
sponsibly at NOD. Texas ID's will be
checked at the door and also at the
bar every time you get a drink.
Fitzgerald's provides it's own bar-
tenders so please don't attempt to be
served if you are underage. It is also
illegal for a legal individual to give a
drink to an underage person. When
it's time to leave the party, please use
common sense. Don't leave alone or
with someone you don't know. Es-
cort services will be running again
this year to help see that everyone
makes it home safely.
One last thing to remember Be
sure not to miss the party! Come to
NOD tonight — the biggest party of
the year. This year's theme is "Seuss
is Loose" in memory of the late Dr.
Seuss. Once again, Erza Charles and
the Works will be performing. Ad-
mission is $4 for Rice students and
$10 for non-Rice guests. See you
there!
David Roberts
Wiess Social '93
Catriona MacPhail
Wiess '92
Margie Mcintosh
Wiess '92
and the NOD committee
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Zitterkopf, Ann & Howe, Harlan. The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 79, No. 9, Ed. 1 Friday, October 25, 1991, newspaper, October 25, 1991; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth245794/m1/2/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.