Walking a straight line: straight edge culture at CU Boulder

“The college experience” is a common expression, yet with today’s culture, the definition of the experience seems to have been drastically misconstrued. College has become the time people experiment with drinking, partying and doing drugs, and many students fall under the impression it’s a natural right of passage into adulthood.

And despite CU being labeled as a party school, there exists a subculture of students referred to as “straight edge,” or those who abstain from drinking or doing drugs.

Freshman economics major Nick Rice admitted to trying drugs in the past but eventually “straightening out.” (Nate Bruzdzinski/CU Independent)

“I don’t do drugs or alcohol simply because I don’t like the feeling of being buzzed or dazed,” Ashley Bornnschein, a sophomore molecular development cellular biology major said.  “While I know that a glass of wine may not hurt, the more you compromise on your morals and beliefs, the easier it becomes to push the limit a little further. One shot of vodka becomes two, and so on, especially as a tolerance builds. It’s definitely a dangerous path to choose, and I prefer to just avoid it completely.”

Drinking and drug use has become a social norm, with abstinence becoming an anomaly among today’s college crowd.

“Alcohol and drugs aren’t new, and I wager they’ve been changing how people socialize with each other since the beginning,” A.J. Kazlouski, a junior English major said. “Dependence on alcohol for the sake of social traction certainly seems to be a problem, since CU’s reputation seems so steeped in it.”

Kazlouski has never drank or done drugs.

Drinking has long been filed with other social stigmas, and its popularization results in an estimated 1,825 alcohol-related deaths each year in college-aged young adults. Far too often do ambulances pull up in front of dorms late at night, and cocaine addiction and alcoholism is all too common on many college campuses

“Lots of close friends of mine have lived their lives in fear because of parents who abuse the bottle, and I would be lying if I said I haven’t felt that same fear once or twice before,” Kazlouski said. “And with drugs, I find the world quite interesting enough as it is. I have no need to artificially enhance it.”

Most students agree, however, that little occurs from placing judgement on either platform, as the issue is complicated and there exist many gray areas.

Luis Olivas, a freshman computer science major, understands the variation between those who choose to drink or do drugs.

 “I don’t think I can honestly say that I find drugs and alcohol to be overrated,” Olivas said. “I think everybody kind of knows how they want to have a good time and everybody’s definition of a good time is a little different.”

Kazlouski also noted his understanding the right to one’s own opinion.

“I would never pass judgment on anyone who drinks safely and responsibly,” Kazlouski said. “I choose not to drink or take any drugs because that is what is right for me and my body, but I don’t think that choice is the ‘right’ one.”

Of course, dealing with issues of this nature, such as defying what is seen as a social norm, raises the question of peer pressure and its role in encouraging drinking or drug use.

“I do come across peer pressure, and I have lost friends because of it,” Bornschein said. “When people ask me to come to parties or let me know where all of the “fun” is at, I just don’t tag along. I would rather avoid the situation altogether then find myself tempted by substances and potentially dangerous situations.”

Freshman economics major Nick Rice admits to having tried drugs and drinking throughout high school, but stopped towards the end of his senior year when he decided to “straighten out”.

“I think a lot of people use alcohol as a bit of a crutch,” Rice said. “For me personally, I just have more fun things that I like to do than just drugs and drinking.”

Straight edge or not, addressing the dangers of over-drinking and drug use is not something to be overlooked. Abstaining from these substances may be the only cure-all, but because it’s naïve to think a majority of students won’t experiment, we’ll end on this note: be responsible and make good choices.

Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Megan Curry at Megan.l.curry@colorado.edu.