The beach is an enticing social scene for many students at Fairfield University. There’s always somewhere to go to drink, party with your friends, and overall, have a good time. So what happens when the night wears down?
In recent years, Fairfield has provided a “safe rides” bus service to transfer students from the beach back to school. However, a couple of years ago, the university stopped the bus service after year-round Fairfield residents criticized the school for supporting the activity at the beach.
“The school was more than willing to do safe rides and considers the bus service very reasonable,” said Douglas Whiting, the associate vice president of public relations at Fairfield. “However, in conjunction with the Fairfield police and Fairfield beach residents, the university has agreed to discontinue safe rides because of resident and student disagreements.”
Many students think it is time for the university to reconsider its policy to keep students safe, avoid overuse of cabs and deter students from driving to and from the beach.
“No matter how people get down here, they’ll get down here,” said Kevin Estella ’02, a member of the Student Beach Resident Association. “Safe rides is one solution to the problem of drinking and driving.”
Many students feel the same way. “What’s more important, people being safe or happy?” said Matt Powers ’02. “Fairfield residents should recognize and understand this. You [have to] weigh the pros and cons.”
Taxi service companies benefit from the lack of a university-sponsored service.
“Cabs are expensive in Fairfield,” said Ryan Proulx ’02. “Fairfield students should have the advantage of having a discounted service offered to them. Fairfield University should collaborate with a cab company and make that possible,” said Proulx.
Not all students are sympathetic though. “People have access to cabs-use them,” said Michelle Tomec ’03.
Fairfield University, like any other college campus, has its fair share of drinking and driving incidents. In most cases, students found under the influence of alcohol will receive a D.U.I and a suspended driver’s license. Other students, who were not stopped early enough by a police officer, incur accidents, consequently hurting themselves, other people and the surrounding environment.
“The Fairfield police should set up mandatory checkpoints from the beach to school because if people know that they’re going to have to face a cop, they will be more inclined not to drink and drive”, said Justin Palamara ’02.
Other students disagree and feel that creating checkpoint stops probably wouldn’t change things.
“Mandatory checkpoints by Fairfield police would be pointless. People would figure out a way avoid them,” said Carla Bianchi ’02.
Nevertheless, drinking and driving is a problem that goes beyond our university. According to a recent survey by the US Department of Transportation’s Fatal Accident Reporting System in 1995, people aged 16 to 24 were involved in 28 percent of alcohol related driving accidents, although they make up only 14 percent of the US population.
Leave a Reply