Stat: The phrase "alternative social space" has been featured in 208 articles in The Dartmouth to date 209 if you count this column.
How's that for a statistic? Seriously, 208 times, and the best "alternative social space" the administration can toss at us is second floor seating in 1953 Commons and a proposed coffee bar in the Baker-Berry corridor. Are you kidding me? What am I supposed to do, play intergalactic Star Wars with my mozz sticks on a Friday night and then go get hyphy from a cup of quality joe? I hate to break it to you, but chances are, after a long week of staying up hours on end, the last thing anyone wants to do is drink massive quantities of caffeine. Unless we're talking about Four Loko.
And that's because most people at Dartmouth drink. Or I should say, most college-aged kids drink. (Believe it or not, drinking is not unique to Dartmouth culture). College-aged kids across most campuses nationwide drink, even if they do commit sacrilege playing Beirut. Why we continue to debate this, acting shocked when we witness underage minors consuming alcohol, is beyond me. Furthermore, why is it that at this school, we choose to label those who do not identify with the mainstream drinking culture at Dartmouth aka Greek life as "alternative" (code for "a non-drinker bingo-lover who never misses a Programming Board event in their life)? Since when did choosing not to spend your time in a fraternity or a sorority mean you were a social recluse?
Not that bingo is for losers that's not what I'm trying to say. The last thing I'm trying to do in this article is ostracize those who don't drink. I just don't think that everyone who chooses not to be a part of the Greek scene is a complete teetotaler. Maybe they don't drink as frequently or as excessively, but chances are they still drink to some extent.
Take me for instance. I haven't stepped foot in a Greek house all term. And you know what? It's not because I was trying to make a socio-political statement about Dartmouth Greek life. Gimme a break. Just because I haven't been a basement regular this term doesn't mean I think the Greek system should come to a crumbling halt.
Rather, the reason I haven't been in a fraternity this term, or even my sorority for that matter, is because I'm 21. Which means that, at long last, I can finally choose how I want to spend my money regarding my alcohol consumption. Not to mention, I can now drink with whomever I please, whenever I please, wherever I please (within reason) and however much I please (provided I can afford it). It really is liberating to be 21. Except for the whole thing about Hanover turning back into a pumpkin at midnight on the weekends and 10 p.m. on weeknights. Really Hanover?
But what about those who aren't yet 21 (i.e. more than half of campus)? What about me a year ago? What do those students do if they want alcohol? They go to a frat, that's what.
And yes, I know it is possible to circumvent the Greek system by attending all those really hip house parties and invite-only events and all sorts of other exclusive non-Greek alternatives, but please keep in mind that these are the types of things you generally enjoy as an upperclassman, once you have a set group of friends you feel comfortable with. So what do you do until then? Seems to me the only alternative you're left with is to frequent the frats in pursuit of lukewarm Keystone, as they're the only places on campus that'll serve you.
Don't go fooling yourself. There is no other outlet, no "alternative social space," capable of providing free alcohol to all of campus on the same scale as the Greek system. After all, that's what makes the Greek system such a powerful force at the College it controls the supply of alcohol. And as long as there continues to be such an overwhelming demand, rest assured there will never exist an "alternative social space" that comes remotely close to challenging the Greek system's monopoly on underage drinking. I don't care how may espresso machines you buy.
