In the wake of a series of issues that have arisen over the past few years regarding the culture of student drinking here at Penn State, LAUC President, Geoff Halberstadt, and I began a conversation about how we as a community could best respond. We both recognize that there are productive roles for students and administrators to play in addressing the issue. But we also felt that these roles can only emerge from a genuine and open dialogue between students and administrators.
So, what began as a face to face conversation, grew through social media as we tweeted ideas and links to one another. We hope the conversation will begin to blossom here on the LAUS blog as we invite others to participate. So please join us in a Dialogue on Drinking over the next few months.
LAUS Dean Long: I really appreciate the manner in which you responded to my tweet in September about alcohol education on campus. It reminded me of the conversation your predecessor as LAUC President, Sam Loewner and I had last spring in the wake of the State Patty’s Day controversy. That discussion and your responses to my questions about alcohol awareness remind me of how insightful students are about the drinking culture on campus.
Geoff Halberstadt: Thanks for giving me the opportunity to become part of the conversation. It certainly was an interesting way for you and I to fall into this topic, but I’m grateful that we have. I recall the conversation that you and Sam generated last spring and I enjoyed following it. All too often, I feel like the conversation is dominated by the extremes, and student insight is overlooked.
Dean Long: I agree. My experience with students both in as a Philosophy professor and as Associate Dean tells me that there are many thoughtful, responsible and creative students at Penn State who have a lot to contribute about how to address the drinking culture here. Haven’t leaders from the UPUA and other organizations been included in thinking through solutions?
Geoff: Yes, student leaders from University Park Undergraduate Association, Interfraternity Council, and others are brought into the conversation, but I am left feeling like many students do not enter into the conversation. For this reason, I’m thankful for the conversation you and I had, and the idea that we developed from that meeting. I believe that starting an online discussion is an excellent way for us to broach this topic with a large audience, especially students. I hope that the conversation we cultivate focuses on the issues and the community impacts. I don’t want it to become banal. Hopefully, the discussion we had via Twitter can grow and be entered into by other people.
Dean Long: Me too. So, what are the issues, exactly? Maybe we can identify a number here and address them individually in posts to come. I really hope others will join this dialogue on drinking here on the blog and on twitter under the hashtag: #psuDD. What are the main issues concerning the drinking culture at Penn State that we should discuss?
Here are some possibilities Geoff and I thought of:
- How should we, as a community, respond to dangerous drinking habits? Examples: Four Loko or a student who was found sleeping on State College resident’s couch.
- The new Penn State initiative to address the Drinking Culture – what is working, what are its limitations?
- What are the responsibilities of students, faculty, administrators?