Severely handicapped class arrives - The Lowell

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