Editorial - Moms and beer pong
The Daily Barometer
Issue date: 5/8/07 Section: Forum
Everyone loves Mom's Weekend, right?
Right.
And judging from the amount of pictures on Facebook that show students playing, we're going out on a limb and suggesting that most students love beer pong, right?
Right.
So, that would lead us to assume when you put the two together it becomes something of spectacular proportions, right?
Wrong.
Why then? Shouldn't two plus two still equal four?
Well, it should. All things being equal. In this situation, however, things are anything but.
It's true that when parents come for these events, they come to realize that their students are more adult-like than when they first left home. But that doesn't mean that they are actually adults.
Nor does it mean that they are legally able to drink.
Actually, a majority of students at OSU are underage if you take into account that most students are 18 when they enter and 22 when they graduate.
And yet, after every Mom's or Dad's weekend we see a myriad of pictures pop up all over the internet boasting that students who just graduated from high school 10 months ago claiming they have the coolest parents alive because, that's right, they got drunk together while playing beer pong.
As college students we have to battle a stereotype that we are apathetic to all things besides alcohol and fun.
We are not really helping the argument when we coax our parents into being photographed while doing something that is, in most respects, illegal. Nor are our parents imparting any kind of example for us to follow. Not one that we should want to follow, anyway.
It's also irresponsible on the part of parents to condone their student to not only drink while underage, but to drink to the point of stupor.
And the real kicker is that they do it together.
It doesn't even make sense, when you actually think about it.
Who wants to see their mom drunk? Who wants to watch as she stumbles down the street to her hotel room?
Is that really fun? Because it shouldn't be, and it is down-right tacky.
There's nothing wrong with a parent getting a drink while at dinner. And there's nothing wrong with a student who is "of age" taking his or her parent to a bar for a few drinks with the rest of his or her friends.
When moms are slutting it up more than most, when parents are really pushing the limit of responsible behavior - that's when we have to ask: who's the parent here?
Parents set the standard. We believe it should be set high - being not-against the law is a good start for a high standard.
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Editorials serve as a platform for Barometer editors to offer commentary on issues both global and local, grand in scale and diminutive. The views expressed here are a reflection of the editorial boards majority.
Right.
And judging from the amount of pictures on Facebook that show students playing, we're going out on a limb and suggesting that most students love beer pong, right?
Right.
So, that would lead us to assume when you put the two together it becomes something of spectacular proportions, right?
Wrong.
Why then? Shouldn't two plus two still equal four?
Well, it should. All things being equal. In this situation, however, things are anything but.
It's true that when parents come for these events, they come to realize that their students are more adult-like than when they first left home. But that doesn't mean that they are actually adults.
Nor does it mean that they are legally able to drink.
Actually, a majority of students at OSU are underage if you take into account that most students are 18 when they enter and 22 when they graduate.
And yet, after every Mom's or Dad's weekend we see a myriad of pictures pop up all over the internet boasting that students who just graduated from high school 10 months ago claiming they have the coolest parents alive because, that's right, they got drunk together while playing beer pong.
As college students we have to battle a stereotype that we are apathetic to all things besides alcohol and fun.
We are not really helping the argument when we coax our parents into being photographed while doing something that is, in most respects, illegal. Nor are our parents imparting any kind of example for us to follow. Not one that we should want to follow, anyway.
It's also irresponsible on the part of parents to condone their student to not only drink while underage, but to drink to the point of stupor.
And the real kicker is that they do it together.
It doesn't even make sense, when you actually think about it.
Who wants to see their mom drunk? Who wants to watch as she stumbles down the street to her hotel room?
Is that really fun? Because it shouldn't be, and it is down-right tacky.
There's nothing wrong with a parent getting a drink while at dinner. And there's nothing wrong with a student who is "of age" taking his or her parent to a bar for a few drinks with the rest of his or her friends.
When moms are slutting it up more than most, when parents are really pushing the limit of responsible behavior - that's when we have to ask: who's the parent here?
Parents set the standard. We believe it should be set high - being not-against the law is a good start for a high standard.
Editorials serve as a platform for Barometer editors to offer commentary on issues both global and local, grand in scale and diminutive. The views expressed here are a reflection of the editorial boards majority.
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
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