Regarding the Feb. 29 editorial, “Alcohol policy infringes on student rights”

Quoting from Friday’s editorial, “Also, 76 percent of surveyed students said they believed students could be responsible with alcohol use.”

I wonder what percentage of DUI convicts would have said the same? I wonder how many drunk drivers have killed people using that same logic?

I consider myself to have somewhat inclusive Christian views on the subject of alcohol, and yet I am very disturbed by this editorial.

First of all, from a Christian perspective, you have proof-texted yourself right out of the argument. “Everything is permissible, not everything is beneficial” in regards to alcohol is just as much if not more of a call not to drink alcohol as it is to allow it. Just because you can does not mean you should.

Secondly, this policy is about setting a higher standard for Christians and making an impression on young minds.

Whether you choose to acknowledge this or not, as students you are by far at the most impressionable time of your lives. Students are away from their home influences and for the first time are given some freedom to make good choices. Part of the greatness of ACU is that it provides structure, a scaffolding if you will, for a safe environment to build Christian character. Allowing students over 21 the option to drink removes that scaffolding and sets a dangerous example to the student body and opens the doors wide to a world of abuse and pain on campus.

Also, your statistics about the infrequency of alcohol-related crimes on campus only reinforces that the administration’s policy is working just fine. Trust me, as someone who walks in “the real world,” I can tell you that you just don’t want to open that Pandora’s Box. There is simply too much pain inside to justify allowing the vast (let’s not kid ourselves here) minority of responsible drinkers their “right” to drink.

Dan Hoover
Class of 2002
jerleshannara79@yahoo.com