PUBLISHED EVERY ROSH HODESH

Adar I 5763

Feb. 2, 2003

Theme: Alcohol Editor Audrey Shore is getting tired of people bragging at how wasted they are. Interesting… there are kosher wines named after Rashi, Alfasi, and Abravanel, all Jewish Torah and Talmud commentators! Learn about moderation and Judaism from KOACH Mid-Atlantic Fieldworker Harry Pell. Israel is on our minds, but what exactly are we thinking about and how are we processing it? Yonit Schiller of York University delves into this issue. KOC Assistant Editor Sarah Bier tells us about the newest Israel trip on the market, which she helped to create. Ivrielle Simons from Binghamton University tells us about the magic of Purim! YOUR OPINIONS READ: Seen "Animal House?" Oh wait, are you living it? Booze and Jews! Check out the answers to our Five Questions, Five Minutes. READ responses from non-Jewish students. WRITE: Visit 5 Questions/ 5 Minutes and give your opinions about war with Iraq.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

COMPLETE ARTICLE INDEX

Link to responses from non-Jewish students

(Adar I 5763/February 2003)

Compiled by Audrey Shore
KOC Editor

OUR QUESTIONS:

1. What is your name?

2. Which school do you attend?

3. Do you drink? (If not, do you have a reason (health, moral, otherwise) opposition to it, or do you just not do it? If so, how much / how frequently?)

4. Do you think alcohol affects the GENERAL college experience overall in a good way / bad way / doesn't?

5. Do you think alcohol affects YOUR college experience overall in a good way / bad way / doesn't?

YOUR ANSWERS:

1. <anonymous>

2. University of Rochester (Rochester, New York)

3. No. I drive to school a lot, so that's a big reason. But even if I didn't, I don't feel as though I need to drink to have a good time.

4. It DEFINITELY affects the college experience, and I believe that sometimes that is good and sometimes that is bad. When alcohol interferes with relationships and schoolwork, or when it makes a rooming situation uncomfortable for any student then that is a BIG problem. However, college is a time for freedom and personal choice, and learning how to drink responsibly is just one of the challenges of the environment

5. Yes, it does. Sometimes I feel as though I'm left out of social events because of my choice to refrain, but honestly...I've found many friends who also don't drink. Besides, I don't mind hanging out where there's alcohol. I don't make a big deal about me not drinking, why should others?

1. <anonymous>

2. Art Institute (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida)

3. I drink roughly twice a week, three times if I go out on the weekend.

4. Good way. It brings the non-social status of some out. It's the first thing most college students think about for parties, so it helps them attract others to parties, helping their social status rise.

5. Affected my college experience in a positive way. I think it has stages of effects, based on age. Pre-21, justify being cooler if you drink, being away from home with no rules. Post-21, a social, casual, easy going social time when out. it allows you to go out and have a carefree time, knowing you are over 21 and can drink.

1. <anonymous>

2. Brandeis University (Waltham, Massachusetts)

3. Yes, on a regular basis. Europeans (like me) are much less uptight about drinking alcohol than Americans!

4. I think that with better policies and attitudes regarding alcohol use, the college experience can be great regardless of alcohol use: Some people like to drink, some do not.

5. I wrote most of my thesis in pubs; alcohol is not an issue, but it definitely was and is a part of my experiences in university.

1. Shira Futterman

2. University of Maryland, College Park, MD

3. Yes I drink, pretty much twice a weekend and sometimes more. Depending on the plans for the evening I might have something between 3 to 8 drinks (don't tell my mom).

4. I think alcohol affects everyone's college experience whether they drink or not. As bad as it may sound everyone knows alcohol allows people to indulge more than they normally would. It decreases people's inhibitions and some people, unfortunately, can only have a good time if they are intoxicated. Drinking and driving affects everyone at a university, that in a negative way. I don't know if drinking "positively" affects people's college experiences, although some may say it does, but in moderation I don't think it hurts or negatively affects experiences at college.

5. Alcohol has helped add to certain aspects of my college experience but my experiences at school have been amazing either way. It has never hurt my experience though!

1. Ilana Clay

2. Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

3. I do not consider myself to be a "drinker" but every once in a while I enjoy cocktails with friends or a good bottle of wine on Shabbos.

4. Alcohol can affect the college experience. It greatly depends on the individual and their self-control.

5. In Israel alcohol did factor into the "college experience" however I have not found a need for it in my life the same way since.

1. Joey Shapiro

2. Princeton University. Princeton, NJ

3. Only occasionally. I don't enjoy it all that much and I get drunk very easily. I have a beer or two every once in a while.

4. Here at Princeton? It seems to be the foundation of the social scene and, at times, the currency in which transactions/connections are purchased.

5. Only in terms of other people being really stupid, rude, and intolerable when they are drunk.

[Posted 1/29/03]