Can I go to college parties?

[lovesummer]

Drinking is obviously prevalent across college campuses in America. Is it a sin to go to college parties and partake in the drinking and dancing that goes on there? I am a college student who is now feeling a bit confused about how I should be spending my time.

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

I am a college student who is now feeling a bit confused about how I should be spending my time.

Is it really that confusing that you should be spending your time at college studying and learning, and not drinking and partying?

While drinking in moderation – and, for that matter, partying in moderation – is not sinful, there are many problems with the typical parties you find on college campuses. Here are a few:

• The drinking age in the U.S. ordinarily is 21. That means that most students attending these parties are engaged in underage drinking.
• These parties are demonstrably unsafe. The number of women assaulted on college campuses every year is incredibly high, and these parties are usually prime hunting ground for sexual attackers.
• Even when there is not a danger of sexual assault, there is a danger of sexual unchastity. Drinking lowers inhibitions, and someone who would not otherwise engage in casual sex may do so after a few drinks (particularly if the drinks are spiked).
• There are other dangers at such parties. There are drugs, fights, public lewdness, and disturbance of the peace; all of which can bring cops to the door who will make arrests. An arrest on your record could result in suspension, expulsion, and/or the loss of a scholarship.

Believe me when I tell you that the best way to avoid trouble in college is to avoid those who make trouble. The public high school I attended was considered the Drug Capital of High Schools in my hometown. And yet, because I mostly managed to avoid those involved in drugs and areas of campus where such activities occurred, I can honestly tell you that I never once saw drugs during my high school years. The closest I came was once seeing a suspicious-smelling smoke coming out of the vents of a girls’ bathroom. I immediately turned away and found another restroom to use.

This doesn’t mean that you must be a recluse or not have fun during college. But it does mean that you will need to redefine your definition of “fun” to exclude the typical college parties in which drinking is allowed and encouraged.