[17609] in APO-L
more alcohol discussion
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Bryan Royer- Alpha Gamma Xi)
Wed Nov 19 02:24:39 1997
Date: Wed, 19 Nov 1997 02:22:44 -0500
Reply-To: Sleepy477@AOL.COM
From: Bryan Royer- Alpha Gamma Xi <Sleepy477@AOL.COM>
To: Multiple recipients of list APO-L <APO-L@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU>
Hey everyone!
This is my take on this situation.
Anyone under 21 cannot consume alcohol under law, period. That is the
end of that discussion.
What we need to decide is whether or not those of age should be allowed
to consume. Although, it is illegal for anyone under to consume, they will
do it anyway. This will always happen. By allowing some people to drink, it
draws a line within the fraternity. Those that cannot drink but want to
drink will be left out. That is how we can create cliques easily if that is
our goal. I know that it isn't what we strive for. Now look at the "rights"
of those people who are opposed to the consumption of alcohol. We DO have
some people who don't like to drink and don't like the thought of alcohol.
You could say, "Well if they don't want to see people drinking then maybe
they shouldn't go." It makes perfect sense except for the whole generating a
clique and excluding brothers from activities thing.
We also need to address what would be considered an APO function and
what would be a non-APO function. I would avoid the word "unofficial"
because it it a term that carries nothing with it. Semantics does suck but
we have to deal with it anyway.
APO will not be a dictator in my life when it comes to my private life.
It should not govern private functions but if every brother from APO is
present at a party, the law will look at it as an APO function. This Risk
Management Policy needs to be put in place to protect the chapter just in
case something happens. We don't need to potentially deal with losing our
charter when we are confronted with losing a (some) friend(s) to an alcohol
related incident. I would feel terrible knowing that we could prevent
tragedy now and have something happen later.
For those of you that don't know, there have been some semi-formals
where person(s) were intoxicated. Rudeness in many instances will follow
intoxication where a sexual harrassment policy might have to be inforced.
Imagine one of these intoxicated people driving back to the hotel. In an
instant, lives could be shattered. Four people gone within seconds. Not only
would we have to work through that but who would be liable? Could an angry
family ruin another brother's life like maybe the president or just the whole
EC? I admit that anyone that was riding with such a person should speak up
but what if they do not. What if it were your big or little?
I know that there was many "what if"s in the previous paragraph. The
situation is possible though. Then what would we do. I just don't see
alcohol as being worth the risk.
Sorry to be so depressing.
In LF&S,
Bryan Royer
