Alcohol has been around for a long time; the Mesopotamians drank it 10,000 years ago, and it is still a very commonly used — and abused — substance. The popularity of alcohol consumption is exceptionally strong around college campuses, especially larger universities; a perfect example of such a school would be our one and only University of Wisconsin.
While many students take pride in being part of a university with quite the “party school” reputation, some concerned parents and several other groups on campus have different, inconsistent views. In fact, there are enough concerned people out there to form an association called Policy Alternatives Community Education.
The PACE organization created a drink-special proposal and has been making efforts to reduce binge-drinking on campus. In September of 2002, 24 of the 52 bars in the downtown area agreed voluntarily to put a ban on drink specials on weekend nights. This was put into effect as a result of the threats given by city official Tom Bruer, who at the time headed the Alcohol License Review Committee and who holds a seat on the City Council. He believed that this ban would help curb underage drinking and alcohol-related violence.
In March of 2004, a class-action lawsuit was filed in federal court against the University of Wisconsin regarding in part PACE’s recommendation for the banning of weekend drink specials. The lawsuit is also aimed at the approximately 24 bars that have participated in the ban.
Lawyers believe that this case could generate tens of millions of dollars in damages, which would be given to the students who have purchased alcohol on a Friday and Saturday night after 8 p.m. since Sept. 12, 2002.
As for PACE’s view on the lawsuit, coordinator Susan Crowley said the lawsuit won’t impact the program. According to her, the university will keep its stand on the support of weekend drink specials, and the program still will run until 2006. One would think that PACE and the university would recognize their completely lost cause, and realize drink specials are not the cause of alcoholism.
First of all, a miracle would have to occur if an organization could stop college students from drinking. It’s a fact — people drink, and, yes, sometimes they have a few more than their bodies can handle. No matter what PACE does, students here in Madison will not stop drinking.
PACE is fighting a hopeless battle, and its focus is misguided — drink specials are not the problem, it’s the individuals and, of course, the culture.
As for the class-action lawsuit, students have a truthful argument — stingy college students are on a constant search for cheap beer or free food — and who would blame them? However, can they really calculate what the bars owe them? How can people prove they were at the bars when they most likely weren’t even able to piece together a lot of their nights?
The bars students love so much and the university they pay big bucks to attend claim to want to help the student population with its drinking problems. Their intentions are good, but all they are really doing as they focus on drink specials is taking more money out of the students’ pocket.
The bottom line is that people in Madison are going to drink — they don’t call it Mad-town for nothing. The people who are out at the bars are not going to stop going just because the won’t get to call a heads or tails on flip night at brats on Tuesday or get a free shot for every beer they buy at the KK on Wednesday.
Indeed, they will drag themselves out to FAC at Madhatter’s for $2 pitchers at four in the afternoon after a stressful week of classes.
Alcohol is tradition not only in this city, but also in many cultures — ancient and present — and people do need to watch themselves and their limits. College is a learning time; in Madison the student learns to find time to schedule party time in between the books and the library — and does so perfectly.
Kate Gerding ([email protected]) is a freshman intending to major in journalism.
