As many students have read, been told and repeatedly reminded, the use of empty alcohol containers as room decoration by underage residents of UW-Madison Housing is no longer permitted. Although the campus staff may have had the best intentions in mind while devising this new policy, the only noticeable changes will be superficial at best. In most regards, the new policy is a questionable premise for punishment that is extremely difficult to enforce, and does nothing to change the drinking habits of underage residents.
The UW-Madison Housing staff appears to be flexing their muscle as they produce another vain effort to nip out student drinking on campus. This policy was developed, in part, to make it easier for house fellows to enforce the regulations, but it will instead make it more difficult for them to observe the happenings of their floor. By prohibiting residents from openly displaying their empty bottles, the campus staff has created a fresh breed of deviants who will no doubt uncover some creative new method of concealing both vacant and full alcohol containers. The difficulty of imposing this new policy is illustrated by the vast amount of alcohol already circulating in the dorms, and the energy needed for students to bypass the new rule is minimal. Students may even have to exert the unthinkable effort required to keep their doors shut, or perhaps, even dispose of their empty bottles after consumption in order to avoid this drastic new penalty. If the university applied this policy as an inspiration to recycle, this program is justified; however, acting as though it will have any influence on underage drinking is a foolish proposition.
There is something inherently problematic about treating disciplinary tactics based on the \where there's smoke, there's fire"" concept. To punish someone based upon the premise that they probably did something illegal has been generally frowned upon in this country.
Furthermore, the majority of what is now outlawed is simply decoration for dull dorm rooms rather than something repeatedly used for drinking, because most students continue to keep those items hidden away. The campus staff is demonstrating authority only for the sake of authority, as though they were personally insulted, even taunted, by the proud, (formerly) legal display of empty alcohol containers.
A major flaw in the new policy regarding empty bottles in rooms of underage residents is the fact that it has no effect on what it is attempting to achieve. Absolutely no change will occur in the drinking habits of underage students as a result of this new rule. As far as I know, very few students drank alcohol just so they could have some colorful decorations for their room. The primary result of this new regulation will be slightly drabber rooms for those of us living in the dorms, along with more shut doors.
The campus staff certainly understands that there is no way to completely prevent underage students from consuming alcohol, yet they feel it necessary to display this fa??ade that they are making every effort to put a halt on the problem. The campus staff developed a futile, self-serving policy that projects the impression that progress to slow the drinking issue on campus is being made. If they truly are interested in curbing underage drinking, then they will certainly have to apply a greater effort and devise functional, feasible strategies. Otherwise, all that will transpire is more of the same.
opinion@dailycardinal.com.
