By NILS VAN OTTERLOO
Staff Writer
 

I greet this new era in Bates's Social Scene with open arms.

While I understand that this marks a serious blow to the livelihood of various campus organizations, as well as a major turd in the expectational punch of freshmen geared up to party down.

I feel that this is the just desserts that Bates has been cruising for through its blatant hypocracy, crass kowtowing to greedy campus special interest groups, and incorrigible disrespect for the Lewiston Community and Law Enforcement Officials, who are, after all, only doing their jobs.

Let me just say that when it comes to alchohol use/abuse I am, par exellence, a Bates college student. Yes, when it comes to partying, my friends and I work hard and play hard.

I will never miss the typical orgiastic hedonism that I have witnessed, year after year, at the cycle of Den Terrace, Page, Halloween, Semi-Formal, Lick It, and Triad parties. I really don't understand how your average-thinking Batesie can subject him/herself to these things which are all just variations on a (pathetic, really) theme, week in and week out.

The thing that I really love about all this is that I know everyone is going to throw an absolute tantrum complaining about how "They can't do this!", "This is a major infringement on our rights!" and "But what will we do for fun?" Well, I have two things to say to these people : "Tough" and "That's Life."

If we hadn't abused our privileges, then we wouldn't have to worry about abusing our status as guests in the Lewiston community.

The thing that bugs me the most is the disrespect shown towards the members of Lewiston's Law Enforcement and Fire Safety community who have MUCH better things to do with their time than bother with the typical Bates noise complaints and pulled fire alarms.

I would like to point out, to everyone who is pissed off at the Administration and the police for taking away a privilege which was never theirs legally, that we have a lot to be thankful for, entertainment optionwise.

New as of this year we have a gorgeous Frye St. Coffee house where we can lounge around, listen to tunes, watch the tube, and get our hourly dose of high octane caffeine in order to fuel our late night studying binges.

I myself, as a legally of age adult, will be first in line to sup the sweet nectar at the newly installed tap in the Den (ain't she a beaut?), which, I will remind you, was brought to us by some very considerate and considered angling on the part of the deans and whichever bureau of liquor licences in Lewiston Town Hall is in charge of such things.

I say, depending on how things go campus party-wise, that we seriously reconsider campus organization funding in the future with regards to actual campus signifcance/numbers in order to create a more democratic process for funding distribution.

I would vote in favor of attracting more highbrow activities involving campus facilities such as literature/poetry readings by bigname authors, contemporary music and dance, and more artsy-fartsy film festivals.

I must submit, as a warning, that if there is no funding for oncampus live music, very soon that sucking sound you hear will not be "Groove Tonic/Wallace Haul", it will be the sound of capable, talented contemporary musicians leaving to go to campuses where live music is regarded more highly (i.e. Funded).

Buck up! A campus where it is nigh upon impossible to secure alcohol at popular functions can still be fun, if you're willing to be creative.