Frostburg's Party School Reign Nearing Its End?
Katie Conroy
Issue date: 12/10/08 Section: News
Articles about underage and binge drinking in college towns are flowing through the media as freely as dime drafts on Thursday nights at the Diamond Lounge (A.K.A. Re-Pub). What's all the fuss about college kids trying to catch a buzz?
The USAToday reported that, "Nearly half of America's 5.4 million full-time college students abuse drugs or drink alcohol on binges at least once a month, according to a new study that portrays substance and alcohol abuse as an increasingly urgent problem on campuses across the nation."
Colleges around the nation are making changes to counteract the "problem" drinking they see on their campuses in the local bars. Some schools are choosing to provide responsible drinking classes instead of stricter rules on campus. In other cases, school presidents are signing onto the Amethyst Initiative which provides a forum for discussion about lowering the drinking age. Frostburg's President Gibralter chose not to sign onto the initiative and explained why to the Cumberland Times News. "I think that, most importantly, the Amethyst Initiative has its heart in the right place, and that's to affect college student drinking... I think everyone who has signed thinks it's about time we had a dialogue about student drinking," said Gibralter in an article published August 26th, 2008.
If you're a student here at Frostburg and also frequent the local bar scene, you may have noticed that things have tightened up around town. Mary, who checks I.D.'s at Re-Pub, will not hesitate to turn you away with a bad I.D.; before, it would not be uncommon for three girls to get into the bar using the same I.D. Across town, at Bowery Street Pub, underage kids are turned away even quicker than at Re-Pub.
FSU is making bigger efforts to control the alcohol abuse that occurs on campus and in town. This Thursday, at 11 a.m. Gibralter will meet with local bar owners, school representatives and members of the liquor board.
Students on Frostburg's campus may be unhappy about the recent push to curb binge drinking but some do not feel the need for any drastic action. Frostburg Junior and transfer from Towson, Courtney DiSimone, said "I don't really see a difference in the drinking patterns between here and Towson, off campus there was pretty much off limits to the school unless you were an athlete."
Frostburg's party school reputation may be on the line but Gibralter does not seem ready to back down. After Thursday's meetings students will have a better idea of what they can expect from local bars and liquor stores when it comes drinking in the town of Frostburg, especially for those under the legal limit.
Stay tuned for updates on Frostburg's battle of the binge drinkers…
The USAToday reported that, "Nearly half of America's 5.4 million full-time college students abuse drugs or drink alcohol on binges at least once a month, according to a new study that portrays substance and alcohol abuse as an increasingly urgent problem on campuses across the nation."
Colleges around the nation are making changes to counteract the "problem" drinking they see on their campuses in the local bars. Some schools are choosing to provide responsible drinking classes instead of stricter rules on campus. In other cases, school presidents are signing onto the Amethyst Initiative which provides a forum for discussion about lowering the drinking age. Frostburg's President Gibralter chose not to sign onto the initiative and explained why to the Cumberland Times News. "I think that, most importantly, the Amethyst Initiative has its heart in the right place, and that's to affect college student drinking... I think everyone who has signed thinks it's about time we had a dialogue about student drinking," said Gibralter in an article published August 26th, 2008.
If you're a student here at Frostburg and also frequent the local bar scene, you may have noticed that things have tightened up around town. Mary, who checks I.D.'s at Re-Pub, will not hesitate to turn you away with a bad I.D.; before, it would not be uncommon for three girls to get into the bar using the same I.D. Across town, at Bowery Street Pub, underage kids are turned away even quicker than at Re-Pub.
FSU is making bigger efforts to control the alcohol abuse that occurs on campus and in town. This Thursday, at 11 a.m. Gibralter will meet with local bar owners, school representatives and members of the liquor board.
Students on Frostburg's campus may be unhappy about the recent push to curb binge drinking but some do not feel the need for any drastic action. Frostburg Junior and transfer from Towson, Courtney DiSimone, said "I don't really see a difference in the drinking patterns between here and Towson, off campus there was pretty much off limits to the school unless you were an athlete."
Frostburg's party school reputation may be on the line but Gibralter does not seem ready to back down. After Thursday's meetings students will have a better idea of what they can expect from local bars and liquor stores when it comes drinking in the town of Frostburg, especially for those under the legal limit.
Stay tuned for updates on Frostburg's battle of the binge drinkers…
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