The administration seems to think that SIU is a party school. Ask any student if this is a party school, and you will hear a resounding no. I have been to other universities that have a more exciting nightlife and lower student attendance. For argument's sake, let's say SIUC is a party school. What contributes to this image?
1. Taking the Strip and partying in the street 'till 3 a.m.
2. Halloween riots, burning cars and damaging property.
3. The bar age.
4. Liquor stores.
Now, let's evaluate this.
Taking the Strip, one of the few, unique and fun things about this University, has been removed so that it is no longer an issue. Halloween riots were quelled last year by closing campus and bars on Halloween - even though the most damage was caused by students who attend other schools.
The bar age. This is what the University should focus on. Why do 19-year-olds need to be in a bar? A bar's main product is alcohol, and last time I checked the law said you must be 21 to drink. Do you honestly think these 19-year-olds are sitting around drinking water and soda while their friends get trashed? What other reason would a bar owner have for letting underage kids into bars than to sell them alcohol for a larger profit?
How about those liquor stores? After being busted for sales to minors four times, a business still operates. Every time a certain business has been monitored for sales to minors they have failed, but what is the punishment? A few hundred dollars? They make that up in their sales to minors.
Now these are all community-related events. How does the administration propose to solve this? Raise tuition. That's ridiculous. The simple solution is to raise the bar age and close the liquor stores in Carbondale. But this will never happen, so stop wasting my money on firms to investigate a problem that one: isn't there, and two: will never be solved.
Damion Campbell,
sophomore, political science
Published on 11/17/05; 12:24:44 PM
