Survey shows students pressured to drink

The Drug and Alcohol Resource Team poll indicated that alcohol is a major feature of Penn's social scene. and Randi Rothberg A recent poll by the University's Drug and Alcohol Resource Team indicated that alcohol figures prominently in the University's social scene and that students feel pressured to drink in social situations. According to the informal survey -- which interviewed 158 undergraduates on College Green -- seven out of 10 students said social life on campus revolves around drugs and alcohol. But eight out of 10 students said getting drunk or high is not necessary to have a good time. And although nine out of 10 students agree that excess drinking is unacceptable, six out of 10 of the same students drink to get drunk. Health educator and DART advisor Kate Ward-Gaus said a huge discrepancy exists between how students think about alcohol and how they act. "Students seem to feel that they don't need to abuse alcohol to have a good time," Ward-Gaus said. "But at the same time, they believe that having a social life at Penn means engaging in excessive drinking." Several undergraduates were treated at HUP this year for alcohol poisoning, and the number of freshmen treated in the first few weeks of school was high in comparison to previous years, according to Ward-Gaus. She added that the University has been trying to address the problems of excessive drinking and peer pressure in a realistic fashion. She cited programs such as "Just Say No" as having an unrealistic approach towards coping with peer pressure. "We've been extremely busy this year giving drug and alcohol education workshops for various groups," she said. "We conducted 14 workshops in the fall alone, and eight workshops this past February for various pledge education programs." But Panhellenic Council President Jessica Lennon, a College junior and Delta Delta Delta sister, said she was skeptical about the effectiveness of these programs, noting that drinking "is very much a personal issue." DART advisor Holly Prescott, a College freshman, said many students feel compelled to drink and do drugs because they are afraid to go against actions they perceive as the norm. "If people think other people are doing more drugs or alcohol, then they will be prone to do more," she added. And InterFraternity Council President Matt Baker, a College junior, said students also turn to drugs and alcohol because they feel at a loss for things to do. The Alpha Chi Rho brother explained that the campus social scene revolves around alcohol because there are "not a lot of mindless fun things" to do -- such as bowling and miniature golf --Ein Philadelphia. Prescott echoed the concern that students settle for illegal substance abuse in order to avoid boredom. "There's definitely a lack of activities that don't encourage drinking, [so] a lot of people think that they're supposed to drink to have fun," she said. But Lennon said that "people who can't find anything to do are looking in the wrong places." Spring Fling Co-Chairperson Chris Rieger, an Engineering senior, said his committee has been working hard to organize non-alcohol events for the upcoming Fling weekend. Rieger noted that too much emphasis is placed on whether the Liquor Control Board will put a damper on Fling activities. "Most of the people I know make their own decisions about drinking," Rieger said. "Fling is about fun activities during spring weather -- people who drink on the weekends will do so regardless of the event."

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