I’m hoping to live off campus next year. And if I get the house I want, I’ll be in Trinity Heights. At the moment it looks like I may be going into hostile territory.
I’ve looked at the recent story about this, the Chronicle editorial on it, the Trinity Heights Action Committee’s column from yesterday, and the report they published on the subject. After reading it all, I can’t help but think everyone’s missing something.
Granted, as Duke students it’s an undeniable fact that we have a right to party as hard, publicly and disruptively as we like, but I think they may have a point. No matter how understanding you are, you can’t just let people be drunk and disorderly outside of your home—especially when you have things like responsibilities. On the other hand “zero tolerance” on the part of Duke Police doesn’t really mean anything. That is, unless people who are disruptive off campus are going to be reported to judicial affairs on their first offense—which is a pretty ridiculous concept.
So what do we do? THAC was on the right track when they suggested better education for Duke students who intend to move off campus. But the education doesn’t need to be about the laws. Frankly, everyone knows not to urinate on other people’s houses or play music loudly outdoors at 3 a.m. or throw beer bottles/cans all over the ground. When people do those things it’s a choice. But everyone’s forgetting that actions like that look way different when you’re the one committing them.
That gets us to the point: Invite Everybody!
Everybody knows that drunk people suck when you’re sober, but when you’re drunk too they’re the greatest people on earth! THAC just think they’re upset about the rowdy behavior, but they’re really just looking for an invite. Think about all the times there was a great party next door that you weren’t invited to. It hurt right? Well, it’s time for Duke students to start following the golden rule.
I know I will.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
What a great idea!!!!!! I am sure that residents of Trinity Heights will be absolutely overjoyed that you have come up with the FINAL SOLUTION. Your post will make Duke students laugh out loud while at the same time it shows an amazing level of compassion and understanding towards Trinity Heights residents. I am certain they will be so happy about this that they will provide the beer as well as trash pickup, throw-up clean up, and hundreds of Duke Blue porta-potties on every corner in the neighborhood. Perhaps you can even invite all the kids in the neighborhood to the wet T-shirt and baby oil wrestling contests. I am sure they will all be future Dukies after that.
I am continually appalled by the tasteless blog posts found here. Maybe you should just stick to the quality columns that run in your daily paper.