You don't have to be 21 to graduate
Editorial Board
Issue date: 5/8/09 Section: Ed-Op
Bon Voyage is a tradition that was revived last year by the Drexel Traditions Program. In the years following our University's founding, then-President James MacAlister would cancel classes to let students watch warships set sail - the present-day farewell celebration for graduating seniors pays homage to this ritual.
However, this year's event leaves out a measurable portion of the senior class. On the flyer for this event, it is explicitly written: "All attendees and guests must be 21 to enter and have proper identification."
The organizers of this event fail to see that there is a percentage of the 2009 class who are not yet 21. Students enrolled in the BS/MD program or other accelerated programs are likely to be under 21. Aside from that, it is possible that some international students (who attended high school at a different age than the American standard) are too young to attend. How can such a joyful event be made so ageist in nature? Students who graduate earlier in life than the traditional student body should not be punished for their success.
Additionally, each senior is invited to bring a guest. Students who wish to bring a significant other or friend who is under age will not be allowed to do so.
We contest the necessity of this 21 and older mandate. Why not just have students who are under the drinking age wear a wristband? If this is too meager of a measure for the administration, then why not have students individually carded at the bar area? Many official Drexel events that offer alcohol have taken place in our very school buildings, and this procedure has been effective for them. The minority of students under 21 should not be disregarded. These students have studied intensely and applied themselves enough to have earned a college degree from our institution. To then have the very institution granting them a degree turn around and ban them from a celebratory event is unjust.
College administrations turn a blind eye to underage drinking all the time. They do what they can to follow the law and set a good example, but like it or not - legal or not - alcohol and college life go hand-in-hand for many students. The law restricting alcohol consumption for those under the age of 21 is grossly outdated. Drexel can't pick and choose which instances they want to enforce regulation and which instances they want to ignore. The culture has moved beyond this archaic law. Movies and television shows that depict college life never think twice about showing students of all ages consuming alcohol - that's because this is a regular occurrence. Realistically, the entire idea of regulating alcohol consumption for college students is absurd. So why now has Drexel taken such a stand? This stand is less indicative of a moral maxim and instead reeks of discrimination and inequity. It's not too late to change the age ban on this event; we urge the administration to do so.
However, this year's event leaves out a measurable portion of the senior class. On the flyer for this event, it is explicitly written: "All attendees and guests must be 21 to enter and have proper identification."
The organizers of this event fail to see that there is a percentage of the 2009 class who are not yet 21. Students enrolled in the BS/MD program or other accelerated programs are likely to be under 21. Aside from that, it is possible that some international students (who attended high school at a different age than the American standard) are too young to attend. How can such a joyful event be made so ageist in nature? Students who graduate earlier in life than the traditional student body should not be punished for their success.
Additionally, each senior is invited to bring a guest. Students who wish to bring a significant other or friend who is under age will not be allowed to do so.
We contest the necessity of this 21 and older mandate. Why not just have students who are under the drinking age wear a wristband? If this is too meager of a measure for the administration, then why not have students individually carded at the bar area? Many official Drexel events that offer alcohol have taken place in our very school buildings, and this procedure has been effective for them. The minority of students under 21 should not be disregarded. These students have studied intensely and applied themselves enough to have earned a college degree from our institution. To then have the very institution granting them a degree turn around and ban them from a celebratory event is unjust.
College administrations turn a blind eye to underage drinking all the time. They do what they can to follow the law and set a good example, but like it or not - legal or not - alcohol and college life go hand-in-hand for many students. The law restricting alcohol consumption for those under the age of 21 is grossly outdated. Drexel can't pick and choose which instances they want to enforce regulation and which instances they want to ignore. The culture has moved beyond this archaic law. Movies and television shows that depict college life never think twice about showing students of all ages consuming alcohol - that's because this is a regular occurrence. Realistically, the entire idea of regulating alcohol consumption for college students is absurd. So why now has Drexel taken such a stand? This stand is less indicative of a moral maxim and instead reeks of discrimination and inequity. It's not too late to change the age ban on this event; we urge the administration to do so.
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