<p>I don’t mean for this to come across as rude, but the honor system has nothing to do with the legality of actions. We have a system, through the SJC (what you are referring to as the administrative side) which does administer strikes for illegal actions, such as minor in possession or drunk in public citations. If the administration wants to make it a one strike your out policy, through the SJC, for DUI then that is fine (I would personally support that 100%). However, they cannot mandate that we make drunk driving a violation of student trust and the honor system. I think we should, and I think that it will be a stronger message if we, as students, are the ones who stand up against it and deem it to be a violation of our trust. </p>
<p>Either way, as I mentioned previously, a tolerance of underaged drinking and a tolerance of drunk driving are separate, in my opinion. I don’t believe that anyone has said or believes that everyone is driving drunk or that they are doing it because they disagree that it is unsafe. At the moment, I believe that drunk driving occurs at the rate it does (not just at W&L but all over the Us) because we tolerate it with more leniency then we should. Luckily, at W&L, we have the opportunity to reduce or prevent incidences through deciding we consider it to be a violation of community trust. </p>
<p>Essentially, my point is that administrative action will be no more or less effective then it is at any other school that has drunk driving. Targeting drunk driving and underaged drinking simultaneously will shift the focus off of the bigger problem here, the one that is costing precious lives. True change will have to come from the student body. So, if you are going to lobby for something to change, lobby for students to TRUST one another that nobody on campus will drink drunk or allow anyone else to do so.</p>