Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
SAMSUNG
SAMSUNG

Student uses new Twitter account to question need for dry campus designation

For the past two weekends, Otterbein partygoers have had their own personal Twitter feed to guide them around campus.

An account called Bein’s Brunettes, whose mission is described as “broadcasting the social life of the ’bein through the eyes of some beautiful brunettes,” has been visiting different houses and letting students know which houses are having people over or not.

And whether or not you agree with them, they’ve done a pretty good job at getting the word out.

But it makes me wonder what this says about Otterbein students’ ability to speak freely on a dry campus that often chooses to sweep drinking under the rug rather than address and regulate it.

Last year, the T&C ran an article about the blog pOtterbein, which was managed by an Otterbein student. It acted as a counterculture to the norms of Otterbein.

The blog created a lot of controversy but was a good example of what happens when students begin to feel isolated from their school. This new Twitter account marks a trend in students using the Internet to express their feelings and speak freely about Otterbein.

I don’t think that Otterbein is some Big Brother-like police state that wants to stomp out free speech, but if there is one aspect of our lives that creates distance between students and the school, that aspect is partying.

Obviously on a dry campus, you can’t expect the school to be endorsing activities in which drinking might be involved, but honestly, how long are the school and student body going to be at odds about the weekends?

When I came in as a freshman, undercover cops would roam the streets, trying to trick students into telling them if they were drunk and what house they were going to. They even created a fake Facebook account to monitor the weekends.

Then the administration wonders why we have a reduced retention rate and why the parking lots are empty on the weekends. The reason this Twitter account exists, which currently has 140 followers, is because we really can’t publicly broadcast our plans on the weekends.

As a fraternity member myself, we have always relied on word-of-mouth to get our plans out, which can limit who comes and how many people.

This account helps incoming students figure out where they can go to meet people on the weekends and which houses are safe, and does so without insulting anyone. So far, I haven’t read anything attacking anybody or any organization.

This isn’t about students trying to ruin Otterbein, it’s about people being social and organized. And this way, if something goes wrong at a party, you don’t have to find out the hard way.

It’s kind of like that game Whac-A-Mole. At some point, why not just accept that the moles are going to keep popping up, and instead of bashing them in the head with a mallet, why not just say, “OK, mole, I don’t agree with all of your life choices, but instead of trying to get you in legal and academic trouble, just be safe about your mole activities.”

Drinking and partying can be dangerous, which is why instead of trying to end it, we should be open about it. This could reduce incidents of sexual assault and alcohol poisoning because students wouldn’t be as nervous to report it to the proper authorities. I think many students are more likely to guzzle alcoholic evidence before they would ever turn it into an officer, which can be a big problem.

Prohibition was a catastrophic failure primarily because our country emphasizes punishment over education. We are in college. Our entire objective is to learn and prepare ourselves for the real world, and in the real world, many people use alcohol. Shocking, I know.

In my mind it would make much more sense to work with the students on this issue rather than wasting time and money on enforcing rules that are circumvented daily.

But until then, the Internet and social media will continue to be a big part in bringing us together. And as long as there are college students and alcohol, the two are going to find a way to get together.


More
Today's Lineup
12:00-6:30am Alternative
6:30-7:30am Money'$ Morning $how
7:30-10:00am Alternative
10:00-11:00am Money'$ Morning $how
11:00am-1:30pm Alternative
1:30-2:30pm The Everyday Alina Show
2:30-4:00pm Alternative
4:00-5:00pm Sophia's Sleepover
5:00pm-12:00am Alternative
Newscast
Weekly Where and When 3.25.wav Transcript
The Chirp
This field is required.
Powered by SNworks Solutions by The State News
All Content © 2024 T&CMedia