Severely handicapped class arrives - The Lowell
Severely handicapped class arrives - The Lowell
Severely handicapped class arrives - The Lowell
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SCHOOL DANCES<br />
T<br />
not just for dancing<br />
l By Matthew HoUk and<br />
BobTravb<br />
o some, <strong>Lowell</strong> dances rcquiir more tlian just a<br />
Uckct and a clean shirt; they demand the use of alcohol<br />
and olhcr intoxicating substances.<br />
One student believes, "<strong>The</strong> only way to enjoy a<br />
<strong>Lowell</strong> dance is if you're drunk or stoned, because they<br />
ere so deathly boring!**<br />
"Ysah, I can't remember the List dance I went to<br />
person drive sober) because you're<br />
assured of a safe ride, and in a closeknit<br />
group, everyone keeps track of<br />
each other."<br />
Just Vwm the only thing the fatuity<br />
can do is to monitor drug use during<br />
the dance. However many<br />
studcra "slip by."<br />
In addition, many students openly<br />
smoke marijuana in the courtyard and<br />
bathrooms during dances wUh no<br />
consequences.<br />
sober, hut then again, I nevtr rank<br />
anyway." remember the added ones his 1 senior went to friend. drank<br />
"Maybe " if dd the dtnees i were more<br />
exciting I wouldn't feel obligated to<br />
idenuficrion, .the right place cr limply to buy up." knowing<br />
-One - example • • • -of<br />
Low.ll thriftiocu<br />
was described by a sophomore, who<br />
taid, 'T-or 10 buds 1-an get a cou-<br />
"I've smoked marijucsa at a couple<br />
of dances and have never been<br />
caught. Most of the teachers arj<br />
guaius think it's just a ctgamt-: or a<br />
take drugs." laughed one sophomore, Iktc of joints red a half-pint of vodka, track (dove dgarese) and just tell me<br />
"I mean —mm. wheae*?.-1 heir that schnapps, or whatever."<br />
to put it out. Some don't even go that<br />
a dance i* comist up, my fim<br />
thought U how I will get money for<br />
weed. Drop and Jaaces go hand in<br />
hind."<br />
<strong>The</strong> majority of rnidcnts who jet<br />
drork don't appear to be "...t»utrd<br />
menulitie* attempting to crape the<br />
pressure* of a wmlid home-life."<br />
M(W viy they do it to have a good<br />
time, to "enhance the dance." and<br />
to relieve school and social tension.<br />
Besides alcohol ltd marijuana,<br />
nitrous exile, halluciriogenic<br />
mushrooms ('shrooms), lytc-gic acid<br />
dtcthylaniidc (LSD. acid), aad the<br />
drug that's rapidly growing in<br />
pop-jlaritj-. coraine, are Uto uwd<br />
before dances, bit no; to the same<br />
dejjec.<br />
Where do students keep their<br />
paraphenalta for the dances?<br />
"BC'TTC dances 1 tutully buy up<br />
far." commented a senior.<br />
At <strong>Lowell</strong>'s recent Monte Carlo<br />
Night Dance, a guest from a private<br />
school in Maria remarked, "It's really<br />
libcrvl l«re. I guett since there arr<br />
so many people they just can't keep<br />
track of everybody, but I w*s kind of<br />
surprised at the number of s*udent*<br />
unoking."<br />
bonks ihe great population a*<br />
'' .;wes, another hindrance to tcTchm<br />
for social acceptance and go so far as<br />
to fake intoxication, hoping they will<br />
be respected and admired by their<br />
ftiends.<br />
Oce scphomore adnrnud. "I talc<br />
to say this, but I'tc acnially bought<br />
beer and thrown it all away saying<br />
that I drank it."<br />
<strong>The</strong> majority of •£> .!?nts*hodon'l<br />
uw drugs at dance tu\< various feel*<br />
ings afirut uvdeut wfcj ik>.<br />
One rodent confessed. "Even (purchase alcohol) during lunch -• -, and hapcronet on ihe pnr»| for "' don'l want tn incriminctc or<br />
though I've been here leu than a then stash H somewhere on campui . ttudmts i* the coun)ard itself. <strong>The</strong> iu>bte mysdf. but I Umtk it's itipid<br />
year. I fed subject to the intense or near my house."<br />
darkness provides a very secure to enmc lo * dirxc wwtd hecamg<br />
pressure to succeed at <strong>Lowell</strong>. 1 just When uking drugs, student* try » environment for ttudents who wish<br />
escape all that oo the weekends by obtain the longest lasting and mou to conceal their actions.<br />
getting ripped."<br />
pleasurable "high" by doing it in & " I bet at any given time after about<br />
8:30 p.m. )ou could find at lean one<br />
"I honestly used to think that taking<br />
drugs and staff was really lame,<br />
but so many people do it, I feel like<br />
it's okay and that it's really the only<br />
way to go. "<br />
person boasting (smoking marijuana)<br />
tn the courtyard," atturcd a<br />
<strong>Lowell</strong>ite.<br />
Of UK students interviewed lor ihia<br />
article, there would appexr to be no<br />
«crjorjpc among drug men. <strong>Lowell</strong><br />
i* a whoo) of *ocial cliques, and<br />
students simply tend to follow the example<br />
uf the other clique members<br />
"I really KOt into H (marijuana),<br />
when you go to a dance you're uippmed<br />
to \< 'meracing whb others in<br />
a relaxed, respectful — acid I gueu,<br />
benevolent maune*. Drunk people are<br />
rarely respectful r**l usually don'l<br />
Know tlvir limit. It*« not very flanering<br />
to have soms fey gel sick or paw<br />
out on ycu." confessed a junior.<br />
became all of my friends were doing "Even though 1 don't drink<br />
"t personally fed awkward around<br />
girls UttkjJ 1 have a mellow buzz (a<br />
cooUoliaUe state of intoxication)."<br />
commemrd one junior. "When<br />
you're drutk. whatever you do or say<br />
doesn't realty scent so matter. If you<br />
do something rapid, you can always<br />
say that you cxvldn't help it because<br />
you were drunk."<br />
Ohm condone drug use in a different<br />
manner: "I honesUy used to<br />
think that taking drugs and stuff was<br />
really tame, but so nuny people do<br />
it, t fed like h'» okay anJ that it's<br />
neatly the only way to go."<br />
Most srudcus wno use dru^s Kni •<br />
alcohol doo't think of themselves as<br />
failures or "stoncrt"; they just see<br />
lntn»y«n»« ii i means of entertainment<br />
and relaxation.<br />
car right before or during the dance.<br />
"Dances arc root because you get<br />
drunk beforehand and let it burn off<br />
while you're dancing. You're soocr<br />
by the time you get home "<br />
Some smdents with enough<br />
courage may even attempt to tTiuggle<br />
drugs through ihe entrance with<br />
the intention of using them later on<br />
during the dance.<br />
A» a last tesert they may have<br />
drugs hidden in buthes in Ihe cour*<br />
tyjid «>r in.an actxuible locker.<br />
' 'Drugs and<br />
dances go hand in<br />
hand."<br />
U. to naturally it rubbed off pretty<br />
bit." admitted a junior.<br />
To many it's exactly this: a way to<br />
Tit in and be a pan of something.<br />
Often, after a dance, friends share<br />
their stories of eluding the authorities<br />
and virious mishaps Jong the »ay.<br />
"It's so funny to think of how<br />
much we got away with and bow litlie<br />
they suspect." chuckled a<br />
i^ohomore reflecting on the recent<br />
'•tlontc Carlo Dance.<br />
Some students, hovrvrr. do get<br />
cjujht. According to one on-camrus<br />
*curiry guard, Ron Hodges, if a «rudcia<br />
is cither intoxicated or found<br />
with drags- his parents arc notified<br />
and the ^iincipal decides an appropriate<br />
punishment.<br />
One individual who has been apprehcrfcJcd<br />
at three <strong>Lowell</strong> d&nccs fur<br />
anymore. I realize that some people<br />
enjoy it and ihu'i okay a* !oi*f a\<br />
they don'l bo.hcr me with it or hurt<br />
anyone. I juu hope vMneday we<br />
won't need all (lit* junk (drugs and<br />
alcurml) tn help ts commurucate and<br />
feel goud." com ncnied one wi«h(ul<br />
UlkJciM.<br />
THE LOOK IS HOT<br />
FROM MIAMI VICE<br />
<strong>The</strong> prom's around the corner<br />
aid ftrulins brings you the newest, hottest<br />
look In town Mum. inspired Not<br />
your thing? <strong>The</strong>n check out the Dynasty<br />
Colcction or styi.<br />
'I really see no problem with it<br />
being drunk or trying to smuggle in<br />
Hi', art Lord West. Whatever you choose<br />
(the use of drags) getting out of hind<br />
as lorg as moderation is observed,<br />
because I get good grades, and I've<br />
went so far as 10 purchase t six-?ack<br />
of Lwiy Lee soft drinks (