We've heard it all at least once before, be it from a reposted Yik Yak or a reassuring, friendly reminder on a Saturday at about 1:00 in the afternoon:
"It's not alcoholism if you're in college."
There's definitely some sarcasm tied to this, and at the core of this phrase, it's most assuredly meant to be taken as a joke with an entire shaker of salt.
That being said, this lighthearted "mantra" sheds light on an aspect of the college culture that tends to remain in the dark - and that is, alcoholism does (largely) exist on college campuses, whether it's recognized/acknowledged or not.
Before I continue on, let me state that I am in no way shaming drinkers or alcohol in general on college campuses (or at all, for that matter). I am a huge supporter and no stranger to dollar pitchers of Natty or shots of bottom self tequila - imagine how much greater in debt we would all be without it…
On second thought, don't do that. At all.
One of the biggest issues with alcoholism on college campuses is that a lot of people don't consider binge drinking to be a symptom or form of alcoholism. We all tend to think that since we don't need a double Jack and Coke to start our day, everything is good.
My realization that binge drinking is, at the very least a precursor to alcoholism, comes from personal experience, and though I wasn't basting my liver in a steady stream of Kamchatka throughout the day, there was still a problem that needed to be recognized.
Starting the summer before my senior year of high school, I was allowed to drink with my family on occasions they deemed appropriate. Surprisingly enough, my 40-something year old parents' first choice is not Natty Light, so I was exposed to slightly higher quality alcohol that was actually enjoyable to consume.
One day after rushing and struggling to get my life together before Saturday's day drinking festivities, I asked myself "Why exactly am I rushing so hard to get ready for another Beat that I am actually sweating?"
An hour or so later while trying to down a pitcher on an already unhappy stomach, I asked myself a very important question, one that I think it would do everyone well to ask themselves: why am I drinking this? It's definitely not because it's good.
I realized that it was because I really just wanted to be drunk. Everyone else either was or was on the way there, and social interactions with a bunch of sweaty, drunk sacks of hormones is easy when your own sack of hormones is also sweaty and drunk.
I wanted to be drunk because it's easier. The biggest problem with this (other than what is more or less obvious) is the fact that a lot of people don't think this is a problem; a lot of people are probably scratching their heads trying to figure out what the obvious problem is.
The college culture is definitely one that teaches us this behavior is normal and okay, and to a certain extent healthy in a cathartic sense - getting all the crazy out in four short years so you can jump into the real world and be ready to go.
Though the "Alcohol Task Force" is hilarious, the fact that it's necessary, both on Miami's campus and just about every other college campus, is not.
Binge drinking in excess is a problem and needs to be at least recognized as a problem.
Our brain chemicals and functions, livers and grades do not give us a free pass because we're pseudo-adults and pay too much money for textbooks and sub-par living spaces.
Carly Berndt
berndtcn@miamioh.edu