A Challenge to Santa Clara Students
January 4, 2007
For the past couple of days, the numbers 243 and 17 have resonated through my head, like the screams of those yelling “Wake Up Swig!” outside my window.
No, these numbers don’t represent the amount of money I owe my friends for the Nintendo Wii. Nor do they represent textbook costs or course numbers here at Santa Clara.
These my friends, are the number of students who have been cited for underage alcohol usage and students sent to the hospital since the end of the fall quarter at Santa Clara. As we await the beginning of the winter quarter, we can only assume that this number will grow, despite new university sanctions.
As Santa Clara University students, we are well aware that this school is like any other campus, riddled with the rigors of a college education in addition to a taste for the likes of alcoholic beverages. In fact, we set aside not only the traditional times of Fridays, Saturdays but Wednesday evenings as well to quench our irresistible thirst for fermented fruit, yeast, hops and barley with the occasional burst of punch thrown in for good measure. We enjoy a great night out at one of the houses, or even in the comforts of our own residence hall. Everyone knows someone who has gotten wasted at some time during their college career. But I ask, why? And to what extent?
Here at Santa Clara University, we are a thriving undergraduate body of 4,600 plus students. We pride ourselves on the Jesuit tradition of conscience, compassion and competence. We unify over our own RLCs, partaking in weekly events and unifying over a common cause — us. We retain over 90 percent of our freshmen each year, and graduate over 80 percent through four years. We have great professor accessibility as well as class sizes, something that cannot be rivaled by the nearby universities. Students go on to be leaders of the modern world, whether they graduate from the school of Arts and Sciences, Engineering or Leavey School of Business. Faith is a giant part of campus life, both at the MissioN Church, as well as campus student religious groups. In fact, as part of the Jesuit tradition, students are required to take 3 quarters of a religious courses. We also have the Multicultural Center (MCC), located in the Shapell Lounge, where those of color and minority ethnic backgrounds can flock to associate with individuals of their race. Likewise, we also have the Santa Clara Community Action Program (SCCAP), which exists so people can help other less fortunate individuals. The list goes on and on…
It is for these reasons, why I chose this university over the likes of UC Irvine, my other choice.
We have great athletics too — our soccer teams are consistently ranked in the top-20 in the nation. Our women’s volleyball team and men’s water polo team too, are ranked highly and our school has sent many individuals onto the olympics as well as professional sports, none greater than 2-time MVP Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns, who came and spoke at convocation. Ruff Riders, our school’s sports booster team, run by students and supported by Associated Students, boasts over 1,500 members who proudly cheer on the Broncos, whether it be against our crosstown rivals in San Jose State, our or fellow West Coast Conference rivals the Gonzaga Bulldogs.
So why, despite all these great attributes that this university boasts, why must we sit down and crack open a bottle of alcohol? The characteristics of this university point to much bigger things — even alcohol could be put to shame with the amount of work and service that Santa Clarans do each year, whether it be as big volunteering as an Orientation Leader during the summer or just sorting files in the Drahman Center.
So as we enter the new year, the year 2007 — I challenge all undergraduate Santa Clarans to take a stand that next Wednesday, Friday or Saturday night. I challenge undergraduate Santa Clarans to put down their bottles of Heineken, cans of Bud Light and shots of Vodka, and to rejoice in what Santa Clara truly is — a campus that reflects the hard work, academic excellence and jesuit tradition that was founded over 150 years ago.
