If the rumors are true, approximately 30 freshmen have gone to the hospital with alcohol poisoning. Seven of them are rumored to have occurred within the last two weeks, since we returned for this semester. At the start of the semester, freshmen were given stricter guidelines to follow in regards to alcohol consumption than other years. In addition to not having alcohol in the dorms, under age students are also not allowed to be drunk on campus.

Freshmen come to college and it is their first time away from being under the thumb of a parent or guardian. This allows them to go out and do whatever they want, whenever they want, which is both good and bad. Some stay more grounded while others lash out and experience all the freedom they think they did not have prior to college, which can involve getting into alcohol and other mind-altering substances, which leads to the problem at hand.

What is overtaking the freshmen dorms is nothing short of an epidemic. As stated previously, a significant chunk of freshmen who have visited the hospital for alcohol poisoning have happened within the confines of the approximate two weeks of this semester. If it keeps going at this rate, what are the numbers of hospitalized freshmen going to look like in May?

While not suggesting the words of a famous Kansas prohibitionist be followed and all things fun be destroyed with a hatchet, measures do need to be taken. Although freshmen were required to do alcohol education classes online, it is apparent the lesson did not sink in. The matter at hand is that college is a new environment for freshmen. They’re experiencing more freedom than they have had before and it is a new experience for them.

While college is all about experiencing new things, it is also one of the priciest investments one will make in their lifetime and also one most will be paying off for a solid 30 or so years. Why would someone want to make such a big commitment to something, then go and mess around and possibly have their stomach pumped by either a doctor or nurse?

The abuse needs to stop. Livers, lungs and brains are pleading for mercy while running and screaming for their mommies. They are saying enough is enough. Bodies need to be listened to and not ignored. At the end of it all, while having a good time is important, having to be detoxified is not the best way to end a weekend.