Journal #5 by Zhang Hao

I approve most of suggestions gave by Wechsler that colleges could react to binge-drinking behavior on campus.

Binge drinking on campus, without doubt, is a serious problem for colleges, for drinking excessively could not only have a negative effect on student’s health, but also disrupt the order of campus. According to research findings, the author mentions, “Among more than 14,500 students surveyed at 116 institutions, 43 percent reported that they had binged at least once in the preceding two weeks, compared with 44 percent in the earlier study” (Wechsler 20). The binge goes on and cannot be ignored.

One of approach to react is “doing research into actual behavior and then informing students about how many students actually binge” (21). Some of students think that it’s normal to binge drinking on campus of colleges because they have already been adults. The result of research could help them to realize the majority of students who don’t binge can also have fun in other way. If the research can be done monthly and the population of binge declines, it will encourage more and more people, who still keep drinking excessively, to give it up.

In Wechsler’s article, he claims that “Another approach to changing student norms is to focus on the disruptive behavior of binge drinkers” (21). Students who binge drinking should response for the consequence of their behavior, as well as behavior of other drinkers. It could help them to think about themselves and realize the trouble they had brought to others.

It’s true that low-grade students tend to believe high-grade students, rather than their teachers. As a result, the author suggests that “Let future freshmen get their first view from college life from these volunteers, rather than from attending fraternity parties or tailgate events” (23). The volunteers can leave freshman a good impression about college life and help them to get correct understanding of drinking.

I do think alcohol at an appropriate amount necessary when people need an atmosphere of joy, but binge drinking is a kind of mental evasion of problems in one’s life. After waking up, he or she has to face the music and problems remain unsolved.