After students saw paramedics on scene at St. Thomas’ Rumble in the Jungle social, some have begun to question the effectiveness of the Welcome Week’s ban on alcohol.
According to the the director of student services and residence life, the dry welcome week has many benefits since initiated in1999.
“Having a dry week provides a safer space and a smoother transition for students as they enter the university,” said Shannon Clarke. “It also relieves the pressure of choosing to drink instead of attending important events such as Academic Transition Day.”
But first-year student Kristen Bulman said many students found ways to circumvent the alcohol ban simply by attending parties off campus.
Bulman also said she partied a bit too much at the social and made some decisions she wouldn’t have otherwise.
“I went hard and made out with a guy I don’t know,” said Bulman.
First-year Paige Grace, who saw the paramedics, described herself as a moderate drinker. She attributed her attitude towards drinking to her parents.
Paige said the ban created a sense of anticipation for 8 on Saturday night.
“If anything, it made people more excited,” said Grace.
Natalie Carrier, another first-year student, was ambivalent towards the dry week policy, feeling that it neither encouraged nor discouraged students from the consumption of alcohol.
“Anyone who wasn’t drunk felt kind of awkward”
Book Sadprasid, Rigby Hall house committee president, emphasized the importance of the having a non-alcoholic Welcome Week. She mentioned how the dry events gave students a chance to meet each other and establish relationships without the influence of alcohol.
“When you’re 100 per cent sober, you can be 100 per cent you,” said Sadprasid.
Sadprasid said Welcome Week is a critical time, allowing first-year students to get to know their RA’s and house committee members.
During Welcome Week, RAs and House Committees provide alcohol education.
On the day of the social, the itinerary for St. Thomas’ Welcome Week included mandatory meetings for each house to go over house rules, campus rules, and safe drinking tips.
Sadprasid believes the alcohol ban should continue. She also commented on how well the drinking ban was respected by first-year students.
“As a whole we did pretty well, up until the last few hours.”
