CSUSM has just been ranked the safest California university again, but some possible contributing factors to explain that could be the fact that we have an alcohol-free campus.  Alcohol on campus could either drastically change our campus’ safety and reputation or be an added benefit to “fun times” on campus and draw more students. The Cougar Chronicle’s editors weigh in on whether or not they think CSUSM should allow alcohol on campus.

I believe that while CSUSM is still expanding, we should remain a dry campus. Our campus is small and unfortunately we’ve already had multiple deaths due to drinking. We are a small university, usually campuses become wet after they’ve been established physically and academically. I don’t believe we are ready to take the responsibility of legal drinking on campus. College students do not drink responsibly and I don’t believe our school is ready for more tragedy. College is about obtaining a degree, not social drinking. I think we need to focus on responsible drinking and avoid as many tragedies as possible. If you’re 21 and want a beer, there are multiple bars around San Marcos. We don’t need to bring alcohol to campus.

-News Editor Melissa Martinez

We should have a wet campus because school gets hectic and a drink at the end of the day could really do us all some good. Being a wet campus will create more of a campus life and have a better student life than what we have already. It will also drive more attendance at campus events because alcohol will be served and it can be very easily regulated because nothing drives students to events more than free food than alcoholic beverages.

-Sports Editor Alex Franco­­

Straying from a ‘dry campus’ is not the best idea. Often times alcohol is something that is blamed for instigating some of the problematic situations that college students get themselves into. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions about alcohol and whether or not it is worth consuming. However, its presence on campus is not a necessity. If a person is going to college in order to become educated and earn their degree, then their focus should be on that. Having alcohol available too close to campus can become more of a distraction than a benefit, which ultimately defeats the desire for its presence.

-Features Editor Katlin Sweeney

In light of the fact that CSUSM was just ranked (again) the safest California university, it would not be a wise idea to allow alcohol on campus. As it is, I am sure a good part of the reason why we are the safest California university is because we have no alcohol anywhere around. I know that the crime rate would probably go up if alcohol were to be allowed, and the number of DUI’s on campus and the surrounding areas would most definitely go up. Alcohol on campus is a bad idea and I hope they don’t allow it.

-Opinion Editor Jessie Gambrell

I think CSUSM should be a wet campus. After all we are college students and this is our time to experiment. We have the University Police Department to protect us. Just because a school is considered a “wet campus” doesn’t mean that students won’t be getting carded. We are all here to get degrees and work hard for our future but drinking with friends has always been a college past time that the school should embrace. I don’t encourage drinking for everyone but for those that do, I’m sure it would be favored.

-A & E Editor Juliana Stump