Cable - The College of St. Scholastica
Cable - The College of St. Scholastica
Cable - The College of St. Scholastica
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THE<br />
Ca b l e<br />
Dances, Alcohol, Pregaming,<br />
beer Gardens, Detox <strong>St</strong>ays, Consumption Tickets:<br />
Equals fun?<br />
A Le t t e r f r o m <strong>St</strong> e v e Ly o n S<br />
Another year <strong>of</strong> Snowball. While 600 or so students dance the night away, others<br />
are unresponsive on the bathroom floor, and others still are cuffed in the backseat <strong>of</strong><br />
a squad car. In the apartments underage students drink with those <strong>of</strong> age, then both<br />
jump through screens, hide under beds, or get nasty and harass our RA’s or Security<br />
because we dared to intervene.<br />
When is enough is enough? When do college traditions and events that typically<br />
are anticipated with enthusiasm become problematic to the point that they aren’t<br />
worth continuing anymore? When do the smaller number <strong>of</strong> problem students ruin<br />
it for the rest? Are we there at CSS?<br />
This is not an isolated event particular to Snowball. <strong>The</strong>se issues can and have<br />
happened at any dance we have. Over the years, I have heard all the arguments<br />
about why it’s not worth it to try to control alcohol use and its negative behavioral effects.<br />
Suggesting changes to not allowing dances at CSS would no doubt bring these<br />
arguments up again, but this is not so much about stopping drinking associated with<br />
these events. It’s about the culture and atmosphere we want to have on campus. It’s<br />
about how we want to treat one another and care for ourselves and our neighbors.<br />
Really, it’s about how hard are we willing to fight for that culture? Should we minimize<br />
these incidents because the majority <strong>of</strong> students act responsibly? Should we<br />
have one set <strong>of</strong> rules for some students, and a separate set for others?<br />
I don’t know the answers to these questions, but I do know we aren’t doing our<br />
best. You should expect more from us and your fellow students. I know that there<br />
are many that have to tolerate and <strong>of</strong>ten care for students who are severely intoxicated,<br />
belligerent, rude and aggressive, physically and/or sexually harassing, and who<br />
lie and blame others. <strong>The</strong>se staff and other students who address these issues are<br />
strong examples <strong>of</strong> our values. But they shouldn’t have to do what they do.<br />
I am convinced that our strategy as a <strong>College</strong> related to dances needs to change.<br />
I have asked <strong>St</strong>udent Senate and all club and organization advisors to help me. I<br />
welcome any student’s feedback on this issue. Together, we should be able to provide<br />
new alternatives to these events that we can take pride in. I hope you help in that<br />
effort!<br />
Sincerely,<br />
<strong>St</strong>eve Lyons<br />
Dean <strong>of</strong> <strong>St</strong>udents<br />
Co m m u n iT y<br />
Emily Peterson<br />
<strong>The</strong><strong>Cable</strong> Variety Editor<br />
CSS student Roxanne Backowski<br />
and UMD student Lauren Lundberg<br />
spent last semester designing a civil war<br />
exhibit for an internship. “<strong>The</strong> 18” tells<br />
<strong>of</strong> the lives <strong>of</strong> 18 men from Duluth who<br />
volunteered to fight in the civil war.<br />
<strong>The</strong> exhibit displays panels which tell<br />
the lives <strong>of</strong> those brave men. Of those<br />
18 men, 4 never returned to Minnesota.<br />
Along with the panels, the exhibit shows<br />
“Th e 18”<br />
3<br />
artifacts from the civil war era, including<br />
a wooden cradle, surgical instruments,<br />
swords, and 156-year old hard tack.<br />
Also displayed is a section <strong>of</strong> tree from<br />
Gettysburg containing a bullet fragment.<br />
<strong>The</strong> exhibit, which is displayed at the<br />
Depot, is in Duluth for only a few months.<br />
Afterward, it will travel around the state<br />
to be displayed at other institutes. Don’t<br />
miss a chance to see this wonderful<br />
display <strong>of</strong> Minnesota history.<br />
Google it<br />
How to get there from here?<br />
Google’s Plan & Ride @ www.duluthtransit.com