With all the debate over Veishea, stories of students across the nation dying from alcohol poisoning and statistics showing that alcohol use among college students is on the rise, most, if not all, Iowa State students are aware of alcohol.

But the question is: To what degree are you aware of alcohol?

Whether you enjoy drinking a little bit or a lot, you probably know how much a case costs, what your favorite beverage is, when buck night, ladies night and F.A.C. are and which drinking establishment you prefer, among other things.

If you don’t enjoy drinking, you know the above are things with which you’d rather not associate. The typical stereotype of college is hoards of students partying their nights, and sometimes days, away as they embellish in the student life.

But our awareness of alcohol must go beyond this.

This week is Alcohol Awareness Week, appropriately matched with Homecoming and the announcement of Jischke’s decision concerning the future of Veishea. How fitting.

But not only that, it is a week in which students should learn that the “luxurious” life of partying is something that isn’t always fun. Eventually, drinking can cause addiction, dependency, broken families, lost friends, societal problems, death and much more.

It’s easy to say “it won’t happen” to you and that you are “sick of hearing about all of this alcohol stuff.” Alcohol awareness is more than knowing where the drinking deals are; it’s more than knowing you don’t like alcohol.

It’s being aware and recognizing dangers that may reach you, whether you drink or not. It’s recognizing that when you leave college, continuing that party attitude won’t get you through professional life.

It’s realizing the problems alcohol causes not only for yourself, but also for others, and trying to do something about it.