The UA’s new Homecoming alcohol policy, designed to discourage underage drinking by monopolizing beer distribution and prohibiting outside beverages, went into effect for last weekend’s festivities. Tucson police and state liquor control agents issued 171 citations for violation of the new policy, according to the Tucson Citizen.

Thanks to the university’s valiant attempt to curb underage drinking, and arguably earn itself a little extra cash, attendance to this year’s Homecoming parade and pre-game events on the UA Mall seemed rather low. By not allowing clubs and organizations the opportunity to provide alcohol for their alumni, they went and drank elsewhere, and many practically empty tents watched the traditional homecoming parade alone. Understandably, the university wanted to curb underage drinking. But officials didn’t curb it, they just moved it. People are going to pre-game or tailgate no matter what. So students moved off campus, and now instead of tailgating and walking to the game, students were driving. Perfect. And not just students, alumni who weren’t interested in paying for beer and drinking by themselves on the empty half of the Mall. This isn’t to say that Homecoming is solely about drinking – but if we’re going to make changes, let’s make productive ones.

– Chelsea Jo Simpson is a junior majoring in journalism and Spanish.

As the proud progeny of two UA alumni, I’ve heard my fair share of tales about their time at the university. Walking through the boozy crowd and colorful tents at last weekend’s Homecoming celebration, however, I couldn’t help but think about how different their college experience must have been from my own. The threat of cuts in federal highway funding coerced Arizona into raising the drinking age to 21 from 19 in 1985. But when most of our parents were in college, the change hadn’t yet gone into effect. A good number of the alumni who return each year to exuberantly celebrate Homecoming are reminiscing about the days when kicking back on the UA Mall with friends and a few beers before a football game wasn’t a criminalized offense swept into the shadows for half the campus population. Alcohol shouldn’t be the be-all and end-all of school spirit, but there’s no question that social lubrication refuses to be easily divorced from social activities – and it’s a shame that some of the best memories and traditions of previous generations are now all but unknown to the students of today.

– Connor Mendenhall is the opinions editor of the Arizona Daily Wildcat,
a sophomore majoring in economics and international studies.