Your Voice | Letters
· February 1, 2008, 5:00 am
Students don't need alcohol to have fun
To the Editor:
With regard to last Friday's article "Building school spirit one brewski at a time" (Jan. 25, 2008), the column failed to mention that the state of Pennsylvania must grant a liquor license to any venue that intends to sell alcohol.
Due to extensive concerns about the national high-risk culture of college drinking, the PA Liquor Control Board is not likely to grant a license to sell alcohol on our campus in the near future.
Therefore, alcohol sales in our sports arenas are currently impossible (the author mentioned Columbia in the article, but NY has an entirely different set of state laws).
As for the University regularly providing free alcohol at events, this would likely present a financial cost and legal liability that would be untenable for any college.
More importantly, I encourage all students, faculty and staff to think critically about the role of alcohol in college culture.
While alcohol has a place in America, consider the perspective that it doesn't have to be the default mechanism through which college students socialize or engage in school spirit. While alcohol can be enjoyable in social situations, explore what it means to rely on alcohol as a primary social lubricant.
In the end, why shouldn't we be able to support our Quaker athletes for the purity of sport rather than as just another excuse to drink?
Stephanie Ives
The author is the Director of Strategic Initiatives at Penn's Division of University Life
Comments (5)
student
December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm
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ms. ives, how about trying to be proactive (i find it hard to believe that of all of the organizations in philly with liquor license, the university of pennsylvania couldn't receive one if they made an honest effort...) and please spare us the whole 'you don't need alcohol to have fun' spiel. we're not 16 years old, and i think we can make the decision to drink or not to drink for ourselves. get off of your soapbox and try to actually be less out of touch with the students who you represent
Student
December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm
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Until recently, there was a bar in the middle of campus (ask any alum). And I'd be very surprised if the Liquor Control Board would deny an alcohol license to a major sports venue like Franklin Field, which is the former home of the Eagles and Army-Navy game, in addition to our Division I Quakers.
Another Student
December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm
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Ms. Ives' letter is the epitome of what is wrong with marketing Penn Athletics: they don't care what the students want. Amen to the two students above. Why don't you all try discussing these issues with the student body? Perhaps then we will start coming to the football games. I'm sick and tired of Penn's attitude towards these types of issues.
Former Student
December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm
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Ms. Ives is correct. It would be foolish to sell alcohol at college events where the majority of attendees are underage and therefore only present a costly legal liability to students which would only force a raise in prices. Don't be dumb...come out and support your teams while there still free and or really cheap, if you got to drink, drink before and after
Penn's marketing in general isn't great....
December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm
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....but it's really bad when it comes to sports. Who can forget the "didn't know we had the option" of running a 60-sec spot during a nationally televised NCAA basketball tournament? I believe Penn has one of three games scheduled on the YES sports network this year. Any idea if they have looked into airing a testimonial spot to good old Penn? If so, then they should promote THAT too in order to get people to watch the game who might normally not......
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