Tulane's reputation preceded itself before we even set foot on campus.
A remarkably social university set smack-dab in the middle of a "cauldron of sin," it was assumed that, for many of us, the freshman experience would be a blur of the beer-goggle sort.
Never mind the art, the music, the architecture and some of the best French-inspired food in the United States; the mind celebrated the concept of never, or rarely, being carded.
As is the case for many other colleges, AlcoholEdu was required before arrival. Upon orientation, 17, 18 and 19-year-old freshmen were shuttled into McAlister Auditorium to learn that being drunk removes one's legal ability to consent to sexual activity. Night fell, and these same students promptly went out to get hammered.
During episodes of overindulgence, TEMS would be called, and a meeting with a counselor would be scheduled. Many students in these circumstances are under 21, yet Tulane, in the interest of safety, does not view legality as an issue. A slap on the wrist that is little more than a cumbersome coddling is the biggest consequence most students will face.
Pot is another story. It lacks alcohol's mainstream place in culture, and its legality does not change with the user's age. It is the most widely used illegal drug and one of the only drugs (legal or illegal) on which it is virtually impossible to experience an overdose. That means no one will ever get "TEMSed" for being high as a kite.
The Drug Free School Act of 1989 requires that schools comply with local, state and federal laws for the use and/or possession of illegal drugs. The consequence for possession of marijuana on campus is a night in one of the most dangerous prisons in the country.
Like with alcohol, legality should not be a part of the debate as a matter of safety. Furthermore, the administration has already admitted its willingness to be realistic when dealing with substance use. Tulane rightfully turns a blind eye to underage and excessive drinking because alcohol consumption in general is so ubiquitous in our culture.
2008 Woodie Awards
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