Culturally Designed Tragedy

A former University of Minnesota, Mankato student was found dead in an apartment near campus this morning. Authorities believe, though not conclusively, that Amanda Jax's 21st birthday celebration the night (and perhaps day) before is to blame. Excessive alcohol consumption is no longer an isolated event where the untried drinker becomes very ill and never again finds him or herself in such a state. It's a cultural institution, one almost as culturally compulsory as attending college.

I attended Gustavus Adolphus College, about ten minutes up the highway from Mankato. The drinking culture there was no different. In fact, I would venture to presume it's no different at any campus save Bethel College in Arden Hills and the smaller unaccredited Bible colleges salted throughout the state. I wrote a piece for the "Gustavian Weekly" my junior year about the consumption.

Without going further, I must disclose that between high school and present day, I was a pack a day smoker and fierce Puritan when it came to alcohol use on account of rampant alcoholism in my family (in the last year, I've backed way off from it, a delight to many around me actually, and can be found having a beer or gin and tonic at local bars once or twice a week). I was stalwart in my position, castigating those who drank excessively and berating their behavior publicly in the newspaper.

I was lauded by the administration (the director of Safety and Security even considered framing the article for the wall of his office). I was laughed at by the students (one wrote to the paper that quite simply, I needed to get a life). And so I closed my mouth out of embarrassment.

Until now. I can't say it enough, after spending a considerable amount of time with slightly younger crowd than myself in the last year, I have observed the stupidity with alcohol is perhaps not even equal to when I was in school, but very likely worse. It's cyclical and of course addictive. Now, in the case of Amanda Jax, her past was riddled with instances of poor choices and a steady pattern of alcoholism. Regardless, is it not worth taking into consideration the environment that has been fostered that approves of dangerous consumption with ease?

In the most cynical and jaded of responses I can have, I find myself reducing the entire matter to the principles of Darwin. Put simply, those not of the capacity to benefit society may very well find themselves removed from it. But Amanda Jax was studying to be a nurse, of which Minnesota and perhaps the country still suffers a shortage of. And believe me, nurses will do more in a week for their patients than I will for my clients in a lifetime. How on earth can this not be regarded as outright tragedy. And without a finger to point in blame except the one on your hand pointing inward.