Oh, those freshies

First year and transfer students neglecting online alcohol education

In an attempt to shed the University’s party school image, the administration has toughened its policy on underage drinking, including a mandatory alcohol awareness program for freshman.

The online program consists of a pre-test, alcohol education readings and a post-test. Students must correctly answer at least 80 percent of the questions to pass.

The deadline to complete the module is Thursday, Oct.26, and students who do not meet the new requirement will not be able to register for spring semester classes.

We agree that the program is great in theory, but with questions like “You are at a party with two friends, a guy and a girl, who are about the same size and weight. They both have three beers over the course of two hours. Which of the following is most likely to happen?” the test reads more like a 6th grade health quiz than an attempt to curb underage drinking.

As if the level of difficulty wasn’t enough to deem the tests ineffective, one student reported that test-takers were simply searching for the answers online instead of reviewing the selected readings.

If the University wants to educate incoming students on the dangers of alcohol, it’s going to take more than a few mouse clicks.

Freshman seminars and UNIV credits are already required, so why not focus those classes on alcohol education?

The structure of a classroom and the motivation of a GPA boost stresses the importance of the issue to the point where it might actually have an impact. If the University’s actions can’t prove they take this issue seriously, then neither will the students.

Column campaign

Athens-Clarke County politicians reach out to Red & Black readers

If you’re a regular reader of The Red & Black opinions page, you may have noticed a slight change in today’s content.

Instead of dating advice or a Student Government Association rant, we’re having the three candidates running for the State House seat representing Athens-Clarke County speak to the students they hope to soon represent.

Students form a large population of this House District, and it is no one’s responsibility but our own to make sure we’re represented.

We hope that after reading the words of Regina Quick, Doug McKillip and E.H. Culpepper, you feel informed or inspired enough to vote.

The Red & Black serves as a forum for student opinion and open debate. If there is an item in one of these columns that you don’t agree with, then let us know.

We may even publish your rebuttal to their arguments about the Athens-Atlanta transit-line.

As part of the continuous efforts to keep our readers informed, we will be running a similar set of columns on Oct. 31 and Nov. 6 from the senatorial hopefuls running to represent ACC and the gubernational candidates. Keep on the lookout for your favorite politico.