Don’t Forget to Respect

Students had a busy Monday through Friday two weeks ago with classes and midterms. It also seems that they had a busy weekend. There were many reported incidents of underage intoxication, parties being broken up, and other foolish behavior including assaulting resident assistants, Eagle EMS, and other authority figures. This past weekend, though, there was not nearly as much debauchery on the part of students. Why would the behavior of students in general be so drastically different from one weekend to the next?

The mistakes of students two weekends ago may be correlated to the stress that comes with midterms. Students seem to be living by the motto, "Work hard, play harder." There is nothing wrong with letting off a bit of steam, but we need to be respectful when we are out on the weekends. The behavior that students were engaged in is inappropriate and disrespectful.

The authority figures who were disrespected in some of the worst ways possible two weeks ago may be interfering with the "play" of students, but that type of rudeness is not the proper response. It is dangerous, and may point to more deeply rooted problems in our culture. Drinking is understandable and acceptable when done responsibly, but attacking a person who is present to help students does not fall into the category of good, clean fun.

When a student responds the way some students did, it reflects poorly on the entire student body of Boston College. What does it say about us when we behave in such a matter? This goes beyond a basic problem with authority. Many students are at BC because they respected authority, and in turn earned the respect of those in positions of authority. Why is there this sudden and brief shift in the attitudes of students?

It may be due in part to the stress of midterms. Students may feel authority figures have "imposed" in some way on their time and well-being. Students cannot, however, lash out at their professors because they have a direct and very visible effect on students' futures.

Thus, they displace their frustration on authority figures who students may not understand have a direct effect on their futures. What students do need to realize, though, is that an arrest record is even more detrimental to their futures than a D on a midterm exam.

At an even deeper level than simply grades, student behavior and responses to authority figures become habit, and habit becomes character. While students will hopefully not acquire a police record during their time as undergraduates, it is likely that such disrespectful behavior will continue after they graduate.

When we enter the working world, we will likely encounter situations much more stressful than a midterm exam. If we go out drinking and assault a police officer or other authority figure, it will not be brushed off as stupid college behavior; this would result in an arrest record that could seriously interfere with future work opportunities.

As we continue on our journey toward becoming men and women for others, work hard and play hard, but do not behave in a way that reflects poorly on all of us and could lead to destructive behavior in the future.