Focus not too much
December 11, 1997
I am responding to Todd M. Buelow’s letter in the Daily on Dec. 8. Todd, you write that you are tired of reading so much about the “sudden social crisis” of binge drinking on college campuses.
You say, I think, that it is the individual who is responsible for his or her behavior, so why all the media hype? You say adults, who once took risks like you, are now dictating that you can’t drink. You say government, through laws for the masses, tries to control the individual. All these assertions may be true. But I don’t want to speak to them.
I do, however, want to talk about something else you said. You said, “I have been educated about the dangers of alcohol since fourth grade.” Despite your alcohol education, you seem to think it is all right to take on the risks of binge drinking.
In fact, you even say, “what makes America great is the ability to take such risks in order to live your life.” I disagree. I think what will make America really great is to help you survive risk taking and get you to the stage where you become a fully functional electrical engineer.
Some people call the recognition that behavior follows “education,” the beginning of maturity or maybe even the beginning of wisdom. As you note, regarding the behaviors of some adults, maturity can be a very lengthy process. I have great respect for you just because knowing you have survived the electrical engineering curriculum to the point where you are a senior! But I don’t agree with your contentions about risky behavior.
As a physician at the Student Health Service, one of my biggest concerns is risky behavior. Just in the past few months, I have watched a young woman lose fertility due to chlamydia acquired while drunk. Another young woman was date raped while drunk. Just recently, a student had to withdraw from Iowa State because of alcohol addiction.
Why did this happen? Risky behavior is the answer. I am totally committed to the idea that every student here at ISU should open as many doors to his or her future as possible. The three very real patients I mentioned had doors slammed in their face. Their lives will have been needlessly changed, some forever, because of alcohol.
All this is to say that if you come in to see me for a laceration you suffered with alcohol on board, I will respectfully be in your face for your risky behavior.
Incidentally, the same holds true if you have been driving your car (without your seatbelt) or running with scissors. And as obnoxious as all of these articles about alcohol are, I say let them continue. I know of no other good way to bring your attention to this very important risky behavior.
If you have any other suggestions to capture attention, please let me know. Until then, I agree with the publicity. In fact, I may even write a couple of articles myself.
Mark Blaedel, M.D.
Interim Director
Student Health Center