(Ann Truong -- The Beacon)
By The Beacon's Editorial Board
Last spring, the Campus Program Board decided to replace this fall's homecoming dance with a carnival in the fall and a concert in the spring.
On Tuesday, CPB suddenly second-guessed its decision and is now considering organizing a homecoming dance at the Chiles Center. With only three weeks to plan the event, this seems impulsive and naïve, though well intentioned.
Instead of flip-flopping its stance on a homecoming event, CPB should pick an event and stick with it.
Students count on the stability of CPB for the same entertaining events each year. However, this last minute announcement makes CPB look like it is unsure of what it's doing. CPB is underestimating the time and commitment such an event takes, and it is poor judgment to think that a homecoming dance can be pulled together in three weeks.
CPB cancelled the homecoming dance for safety reasons. Yet, as of Wednesday night Public Safety had yet to be informed about the possibility of rescheduling the event.
CPB also decided to cancel homecoming in order to take time to figure out how to address students' irresponsible alcohol consumption before the dances. With this goodhearted move to bring the homecoming dance back, they have forgotten why they cancelled the dance in the first place and still have not addressed the issue of binge drinking.
Moreover, the issue of binge drinking doesn't seem to be addressed with the carnival either. The carnival will take place before a soccer game. Students often "pregame" before sporting events and will not be less inclined to do so if there is a carnival involved.
Holding the carnival on campus will also allow students easier access to their alcohol. Nobody wants the student who can't hold their liquor to throw up on them after a ride on the whirly bird.
That being said, we applaud CPB for its efforts to plan an event like the carnival. It is a more inclusive event that everyone can enjoy.
Finally, though CPB did not address the drinking issues, UP students should step up and take responsibility for their actions. Throwing up all over your hot pants is not classy, and the minority of students who overindulged before last year's dances should be aware of the slew of headaches they have caused for CPB, ASUP and all students who enjoyed the dances responsibly.
