TOLEDO, Ohio – As Tom Wendland, a 24 year old graduate student at the University of Toledo, goes to a concert, he brings along his ID so he can save a few dollars off the cover charge.
Like most people over 21 at this show, Wendland wears a wristband to show he is of age to drink.
However, Wendland is different in that he has made a life-long commitment to not drink.
Tom Wendland is straight edge.
People who become straight edge choose to abstain from drinking, smoking, doing drugs and engaging in promiscuous sex.
Wendland said that he made a conscious decision at age 15 to become straight edge.
He said that the decision was easy.
“For all of my goals, there was simply no room for drugs or alcohol,” he said.
Wendland said that being straight edge separated him from people and things that he didn’t like.
He said it was also a form of rebellion.
“In a way, yes, it was a form of rebellion; the bands I was listening to were kind of anti-society, it helped me distance myself from frat boys,” he said.
The term ‘straight edge’ comes from the song of the same name, written by Ian MacKaye of the Washington, D.C., punk hardcore band, Minor Threat.
The song “Straight Edge” came off their album “Out of Step.”
Straight edge people use different symbols to mark themselves, the most common symbol being an X on their hands (such as to show that a person is underage to drink), they also use three X’s (XXX) and the symbol sXe (for straight edge).
Many people choose the straight-edge lifestyle after seeing what alcohol have done to their loved ones.
Wendland’s girlfriend, Beth Wullschlager’s father, stepfather and grandfather all struggled with alcoholism.
She says that was a huge factor in why she decided to go straight edge.
Will Armstrong, who has been straight edge for 15 years, said that his family also had a long cycle of drug and alcohol abuse.
“I started drinking at age 12,” he said. “I could tell that I was going down that path, so I stopped drinking at age 16 and became straight edge.”
For others, like Scott Sheridan, 1997 UT alumni, straight edge just made sense.
“It was a combination of things that made me go straight edge,” he said. “I was really focused on skateboarding and music. I also grew up around alcohol and I never really saw a point to it.”
While the decision to go straight edge is a serious commitment, it was an easy choice for both Sheridan and Armstrong.
“I saw people close to me go down the road to addiction,” Sheridan said. “I don’t necessarily think that drinking is a bad thing, but it has the potential to be.”
“Yes, it was an easy decision because I’ve seen what abuse is like, I’ve seen the consequences,” Armstrong said.
Wendland said that no age is too early to make a decision whether to go straight edge or not.
“It’s really easy to say that I’m not going to do something pointless,” he said. “Only positive things can come of it. You’ll never have regrets after a night of drinking.”
However, there are some negative things to being straight edge, Wullschlager said.
“It’s different hanging around people who drink,” she said. “There’s no pressure with straight edge kids, you aren’t holding them back from having fun. But sometimes it can be kind of a bummer, it may be easier to drink and forget about your problems. It’s kind of off-putting to other girls. New relationships are a little superficial without the socialization of drinking.”
Even Wendland admits that as a grad student, he doesn’t have many escapes from studying, seeing as he can’t hit the bars after a hard night.
However people who choose to be straight edge still have fun.
“We go to concerts, movies, out to eat,” Wullschlager said. “We still have parties, we just don’t drink. Of course I’m a grad student, and I don’t have much free time.”
Sheridan exercises and used to play in a band, while Armstrong has a wife and children that he spends time with for fun.
Sometimes someone who has chosen to become straight edge may decide that it isn’t needed in their life anymore. J.C. Griffin is no longer straight edge.
“I decided to become straight edge because I needed that in my life,” he said. “I needed a check, something to keep me under control.”
Griffin said that being straight edge was a completely positive experience and kept him from making really bad decisions.
However, he felt that he outgrew his need for it. “I didn’t feel like I needed it any more. I was going to be able to control myself. It served its purpose.”
Griffin was adamant that his friends felt no resentment over his choice.
“No, my friends love me. Period. Straight edge or not, doesn’t matter. We grew past our common bond. We still have hardcore music in common as well. I’ve never felt like I was on the outside. You were always okay as long as you were a good person,” he said.
Still, most people who choose straight-edge are certain that they made the right choice.
“I’ll never outgrow the title ‘straight edge’,” Wendland said. “The title implies a lot. It says that not only do you not drink or smoke, but you have a strong dislike for those things, plus you label yourself outside of society.”
Count Armstrong among those who wear the straight edge label with pride.
“I will never be anything but straight edge,” he said.
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