Right to party?

Intent of USG Senate's legislation may be damaged by behavior

Break out the kegs. It's root beer time.

The Undergraduate Student Government Senate has recently passed legislation to distribute free key chains and plastic cups filled with root beer from the tap.

The purpose is two fold. One is to advertise USG. Both the cups and the key chains include the USG World Wide Web site in hopes that students will surf their way into researching what the group does.

The main focus is to hand out 30,000 wallet-sized cards that offer students advice about their rights if stopped by police.

We applaud the senate for attempting to familiarize students about their rights. Unfortunately, its methods may jeopardize the message it is trying to convey to students.

"We applaud the senate for attempting to familiarize students about their rights."

More than $1,200 has been allocated to fund this fine program.

The sponsor of the bill, Town Senator Brian Heller, said, "This is the coolest thing we are probably going to do all year."

We certainly hope not.

Passing beer (root), as it is conveyed in the legislation, to the student body does not promote responsible actions. The kegs of root beer seem to be a symbol of kegs containing real beer.

The attitudes of some of the senators concerning this legislation seemed to be a bit too lighthearted for legislation that is supposed to have such serious intent. The legislation was introduced with Heller singing one of the lines in the Beastie Boys' "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party!)"

Treating this legislation in such a manner may be giving students an excuse to abuse alcohol. Passing out information on how to deal with the consequences of drinking after the fact is not helping the student body.

As a representative group of the student body, the senate should be promoting caution and education when it comes to the consumption of alcohol.

Students do need to know their rights when it comes to law and responsible partying. Informing students of the correct procedures on dealing with law enforcement officials is a worthwhile cause.

We just hope the methods the senate has chosen to distribute its ideas have not clouded its original intentions, and we wish it would consider the potential ramifications of its actions.