Alternative locations unsafe
Even with a full plate of classes to weigh me down, I’ve always looked for ways to define my summer experience and make sure it still feels like one. Five Points has been a haven for students like me at USC to drown their worries with a cold glass of Columbia Nightlife since they can’t take a long vacation without the threat of failing. However, with the introduction of a larger police presence and more summer bar raids by police officers, bars that used to be bustling with activity are finding large crowds increasingly rare. While I do enjoy the increased safety, I think that the raids do a lot more harm than good.
I understand that Five Points attracts people of all ages, regardless of legality, but what area that provides a cheap and accessible environment for an entire student body wouldn’t? I support these police officers and their abilities to do their jobs. Cutting down on violence and crime is definitely a plus for the Columbia community. Taking a page from my Australian study abroad experience, I’ve learned that drinking responsibly and in a safe area is of greater concern than legal right.
Raiding Columbia bars during the summer forces those underage students who want to drink, regardless of rules, to find alternative ways and places to drink. This means driving to a home to escape the risk of punishment and consequently drinking in a more harmful environment.
Five Points overflows with cabs for safe transport home, increases the cost of drinking that limits students’ drinking to their wallets and provides bouncers and cops who prevent fighting and a potential trip to the hospital. Drinking in a bar is much safer than the places bar raids are forcing students to switch to. I suggest a more lenient approach to bar raids, but an increase in the presence of police to deter more severe crimes.
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