drunk driving on the weekends

Plenty of students go out on the weekends, plenty of students think their weekend starts every Thursday night and plenty of students are driving to their desired destinations.

Whether it be a party or a local bar, too many Quinnipiac students are choosing to drive to and from off campus events because they're often left with little choice otherwise.

According to Sgt. Riehl of the Hamden Police Department the amount of arrests due to drunk driving has decreased among Quinnipiac students since the administration hired the local police to work both on and off campus monitoring students.

"Deaths five years ago used to average 3.4 students a year," said Sgt. Riehl.

Riehl believes the school does as much as they can to prevent student deaths caused by drunk driving, but just because students aren't dying each year doesn't mean they aren't getting behind the wheel after having too much to drink.

The problem starts with seniors being unable to park on campus or have the same access to the shuttle system as underage students living on campus do, although the Assitant Chief for Parking and Transportation, Ronald Colavolpe disagrees.

"We are trying to curb students from leaving cars on campus all weekend because of all the activities that are occurring during the weekend," said Colavolpe.

Let's be honest here - what's more important, giving students the opportunity to use the shuttle system and leave their cars on campus instead of driving drunk or making sure visitors have room to park for the cheerleading competition this coming weekend? Doesn't sound like a tough choice, but apparently it is for Quinnipiac administration.

It seems like if students want to go Aunt Chiladas or Toad's they shouldn't have to hope that someone in the group doesn't drink as much so that they'll be "okay" to drive home. Students shouldn't have to worry about their cars getting towed from North Lot during the weekend because they decided to be responsible and take a cab back to their apartment that they had to live in because Quinnipiac decided it was in their best interest to force the senior class off campus.

A cab ride one way from Hamden to New Haven can cost upwards of 30 dollars. Considering how much Quinnipiac students are paying to go to school here shouldn't they at least be offered some safe way to get to and from their weekend destinations? Guess not. Here's hoping it doesn't take another death for Quinnipiac to get their act together, but until they're liable they won't be held accountable.