Miami University to sell beer during the football games at Yager stadium has recently been the discussed topic around Oxford campus. The official plan calls for some varied students reactions. While most of the lower classmen students remain unaware of the discussion, senior students are indifferent towards it.
Not just the Students but the faculty also looks unaware of the initiative. “I haven’t heard anything about it,” says Trisha Zeiser, the library technician.
Sophomore, Carly Hansen and freshman, August Heigaman and Matt Bailey does not recall hearing about the topic. “We don’t know anything about it, unfortunately,” says Hansen.
Although students are faculty are least aware of the beer sales in Yager, the recent article in The Miami Student publicizes the action and tells the details of the story from the administration point of view.
The article discusses approval of the liquor license at sport event and refers to a letter from former President Hodge that talks about the initiative as an alternative way to resolve the alcohol issues on campus through proper control that would facilitate responsible drinking.
The faculty possesses neutral views as they would want to experiment with it to see the student response to it and then decide whether it should be continued or not. “I think I can see good and bad in it. It could go either way. I would consider what other schools do at their schools, test it at Miami and then see what happens,” says Zeiser.
Contrary to this, students have differing reactions. Most of the students feel that selling beer at football games is not good enough reason to cure the alcohol situation. It could at most benefit the team from the encouragement that will come from the slightly increased attendance rates for the games. However, the student mark other reasons for the poor attendance which are prominent over beer sales.
“I can see an issue with it but it’s okay if it is being monitored,” says Hansen. “I would say there are enough bars to go, they don’t need a sporting event to sell beer. If the students want to drink, they’ll go uptown. No speculation there,” she added.
Heigaman has similar opinions but also feels that it’s not a justified action at a university level to be considered a solution or alternative for the seriousness of alcohol issues on campus. “I think it’s kind of a cheap move honestly. It’s like let’s give beer to them and they’ll come. Yea they will, but does that necessarily mean it’s a smart move, I don’t think so,” says Heigaman.
Bailey does not object the beer sales. According to him, it happens anyway and if it is regulated then ‘why not’. “it’s not affective way of curbing drinking in general but to curb the anything crazy happening anywhere else, I guess, it does centralize any drinking otherwise,” says Bailey.
Rasika Rane 