the Informer

This column isn’t about bashing Spring Fling at all; in the last few years that’s been my task.

If anything, this column isn’t about Spring Fling either. Rather, it’s a message about being safe no matter where or when someone decides to drink.

Tuesday, University President Walter Harrison wrote in an email to students,”Don’t be a knucklehead.”

I was that knucklehead last year.To fully explain the message of safety, I have to tell a personal story. Last year, I had a memorable Spring Fling for all of the wrong reasons. It started on the Saturday day of Spring Fling when I began drinking at around 11:30 a.m. Simply put, I didn’t stop drinking until I vomited at a party and had to be carried back home by friends.

From there, I was so sick that my roommate decided to call a Resident Assistant who decided to call an ambulance. I don’t remember the last few hours of my Saturday night, but I was filled in by friends. I do remember coming to in the ambulance when an emergency worker asked me a few questions. I drifted in and out of consciousness.

When I finally got to the emergency room I was treated for my intoxication. Shortly after–about three hours after arriving–I was released.

Nothing about this experience was fun, at all. One, the attention I got: a lot of my friends knew about my ordeal (not just because they heard through my friends, but I posted about it on Twitter the next day). I went ahead and embarrassed myself more than I really needed to.

Even as I was reassured that “everyone’s been there,” I couldn’t help but feel that sentiment was disingenuous at best: not everyone who overdoes it goes to the hospital.

Second, it cost me a lot of grief and money: ambulance rides aren’t free, as it turns out. I paid a pretty penny in the long run for my trip to the hospital. Hospital bills are not what I intended my summer job to help finance.

I’ve learned a lot through this experience, however. Some of them are simple, no-brainer sorts of ones like to know that at a limit and to pace myself. Before this I had thought I was invincible to this sort of event, but I was obviously wrong.

There are some easy tips to follow for Spring Fling and being safe. First, don’t make irresponsible choices. If you’re going to drink, pace yourself. Have a cup of water between drinks.

This university has been fortunate to have no serious violence during Spring Fling in the last two years, but it’s worth noting that this event, despite its “tradition,” could go away if one of the thousands of people who will descend on the Village Lawn makes a poor decision this weekend.

Still, it should be a fun weekend if people make smart decisions and don’t do anything stupid.

One thing is for sure, I’ve learned my lesson.