In response to ‘We all fell short’

I was glad to see your editorial on Monday urging responsible party behavior and acknowledging a failure “to keep students informed” about the Lifeline Law and other matters.

Actually you did address irresponsible behavior, in the humorous demographic study (“You can’t sit with us. . . . ,” Monday issue p.5), in Sam Ostrowski’s advice to freshmen (Wednesday) and your disturbing but informative piece on “Black out, drop out,” urging IU to “refocus its priorities.” That’s right on target, because the party attitude is part of the institutional culture.

But I think you are letting yourself off the hook too easily.

You admitted the things you didn’t do last week to help the situation, but perhaps you don’t realize how much in recent years the IDS has been buying into, maybe even promoting, the attitudes and behavior you think need to change.

I remember how shocked I was years ago to read an Op-Ed piece in which the columnist said, “When I don’t remember what I did last night, I go on Facebook and find my friends’ pictures.”

This reveals the author blacked out from drinking at least once, probably more often, and he didn’t realize blacking out is a serious danger signal — there are those who say blacking out even once is a danger sign for alcoholism.

I’ve read the IDS for decades, but it’s really only in the last five or 10 years, let’s say, that your paper has made drinking way too much, multiple times a week, often to blackout, seem to be routine, acceptable behavior.

I’m not suggesting you should self-censor, because if your paper accurately reflects attitudes and behavior that are the norm on campus, it’s a good thing to be exposing that.

I have often wondered how accurate a portrait that is, and I say that with genuine curiosity.

What proportion of the student population drinks like that on a routine basis? Is it the majority? A sizeable minority? A minority, but a highly vocal and visible one?
If the IDS could do some investigative journalism on this, that would be a good public service.

Please, think about it.

­— Betty Rose Nagle,
Professor Emerita in Department of Classical Studies
nagle@indiana.edu