Of all the people who asked me about life at Cal, not one asked me about the party scene here. Perhaps it's because people who know me are well aware that I am not one to party. But perhaps it's because there's a squeaky-clean image of Berkeley students who study all day long and never get wasted on the weekends.
Dear prospective and current college students around the world, this is not so.
It is absolutely true that we have amazing academic progams at this university (Go Bears!) and that most of the students here were top students at their respective high schools who were hard-working and over-achieving. This doesn't mean that we aren't young adults who like to have fun, blow off steam, and occasionally get in a little bit of trouble.
What contributes to this image of Cal as "not" a party school?
Maybe you know someone who goes/went to Cal, and maybe your perception of Cal is influenced by what you think of that person. Maybe you've heard of the Vietnam War protests that occurred here in 1970's, and maybe you think Cal is full of hippies and student activists who are more concerned with causes than kegs. Maybe you heard about the recent riots and protests over budget cuts in public education, and maybe you think we spend our nights smashing store windows and setting dumpsters on fire instead of getting drunk.
Sure, these might sound silly, but I think even the smallest jokes can carry truth in us, subconciously. They shape the way we perceive a certain school, often more than we know.
"But why does this matter?" you might say. "Isn't it a good thing not to be labeled as a party school?"
I suppose it is nice not to be labeled in such a manner. But at the same time, the Cal campus suffers from alcohol problems just like any other college campus does. There are dangerous practices being conducted off campus at a party, alcohol poisonings occuring, health problems silently but surely developing, and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities traded away for a night of jello shots. The intentional lack of a "party school" label does promote commitment to academic excellence, but it also masks the alcohol issues Cal faces and keeps them in the dark. Does this mean we should start branding Cal as a party school? Certainly not. But we should definitely recognize this school needs help - it is no more sober, no cleaner, no better than any other school.
I am not one to judge the decisions my fellow students make, because I will surely make the same mistakes if put in a similar situation. However, when the livelihood and health of our classmates are suffering because of misinformation and ignorance, how can we stay silent?
- Clare
