Alternatives to thirsty Thursday nights

Thursday nights seem to be the busy social night on Cabrini's campus. Why Thursday nights, you might ask?? Well, that's an easy answer, because it's thirsty Thursday!

There are bumping and loud parties going on in a majority of the apartments as well as parties happening all over campus. My main question and concern is, why do people feel that they have to consume alcohol in order to have a good time? I'm not talking about small amounts of alcohol either; I'm talking about large quantities of alcohol that eventually will make those drinking sick or hungover the following morning.

I understand that if you are 21, you have the right to drink, but I feel that alcohol is not necessary in order to enjoy a Thursday night party, or any other party for that matter. I feel that the emphasis on parties should be spending time with good friends or family and enjoying each others company. Maybe you could play a game or just watch a movie, who's to say that isn't fun?

One of my friends who didn't drink at all felt a lot of pressure once she joined college to drink. She would go to parties and hold the same beer in her hand the entire night, just so people wouldn't ask her, "why don't you have a drink?" I think it's sad when young people have to hide behind alcohol, even when they don't drink.

Doing random things like calling a bunch of your friends and taking a trip downtown to get cheesesteaks at Pat's or just hanging in someone's room, I think is a good time.

I feel that many college students drink because they think it is the "cool" thing to do and that everyone is doing it. We came here to Cabrini for one main purpose, to obtain an education. How are students supposed to concentrate on classes if they are keeping up with the "image" they want everyone to think is them?

I have friends back home as well as at Cabrini who drink pretty much every night. If they don't have a drink, then their day is totally ruined. I think that is just pure irresponsibility and I hate to see their drinking patterns when they actually turn 21.

Peer pressure plays such a large role in a majority of college student's lives, especially the freshmen. They see people their age consuming a lot of alcohol in social settings in movies and TV shows, therefore they drink when they get to parties in order to fit in with everyone else. I think it is the upperclassmen's responsibility to make sure that when freshmen arrive that they give them guidance in making good decisions when it comes to alcohol. Maybe this would help reduce the amount of senseless behavior that occurs on thirsty Thursdays.

Tolerate the construction workers on campus

JOHN HOLLOWAY STAFF WRITER JMH725@ CABRINI.EDU

"So I pay like $20,000, or no like $30,000 to come to this place a year and they can't afford to have the construction done in the summer? That's ridiculous!"

These are the true words of a second year student here at Cabrini College. It sounds to me like someone hasn't worked many jobs in her life. Oh, and I wonder who is paying her tuition? Seeing how she doesn't even know the right amount. Imagine working manual labor your entire life, only to have to wake up every morning and have 18 -25 year olds cursing you off as you try to do your job, then speeding away in their Mitsubishi Eclipse or black tinted Jetta. Cabrini College is a rising institution growing larger every year. In order to keep up with this growth, we need to expand. In order for everything to go smoothly and comfortably, why don't we try having sympathy for the laborers who arrive earlier than any student, and usually leave later as well. These men work everyday, sometimes Saturday, only to make our campus BETTER. Why are we complaining about this?

"We have to deal with parking which is hard enough, now I have to avoid big ugly trucks as well!"

Another lovely comment from the "heavy-burdened" sophomore girl who lives on campus, and usually isn't even in the face of the construction. She was specifically speaking about the subcontractors hired for the Jazzman's Cafe. Hey, don't you think it may be wise to treat the men with dignity and respect, seeing how they are in charge of where we EAT! Making rude comments may not be the smartest idea. When the parking became a problem, they made room for their construction vehicles behind Founders Hall. Now students are taking these spots because they feel they deserve it. Well the next time you park in a "construction vehicle only" zone, don't go whining when you see a truck in a student spot. Here is my plan of action. We are all adults here. Let's learn to compromise. When you arrive to school in the morning, STOP at the stop signs. Wave or smile at the construction workers they are nice guys and will wave back. We are all facing similar issues they have to deal with no parking, and some areas are restricted to them. They work in the rain or shine, and their lunch trucks are much worse than our cafeteria food, trust me, I know. Most of all these people are creating an environment for us that will help us avoid manual labor the rest of our lives. You have to work and build to get to the top, these guys are making it easy for us, don't get in their way.