For those of you in fear of underage college students DRINKING in New London, New Hampshire, it is time to take a deep breath and relax because the New London Police are here to save the day. 91 Underage Colby-Sawyer College students have been arrested for underage drinking at a house party. The horror. Let me preface by saying I am not a cop basher. But this story is hard to believe.
From WMUR New Hampshire:
"Police said officers observed about 150 people, some of whom were underage students drinking alcohol in or around the house. State troopers and more officers from New London, Sunapee and Colby-Sawyer campus safety assisted in the investigation."
"Police used Breathalyzer tests to cite 55 minors for possession of alcohol by internal consumption. Police said the minors' blood-alcohol level registered at 0.02 percent or higher. All 55 people arrested will be summoned for appearance in Newport District Court."
"That's probably one of the largest arrests that I can remember in 23 years here," New London Police Chief David Seastrand said."
Great win Dave.
Parents are certainly not happy. Here are a few comments on the story that seemed to be rooted in adult logic unlike the Police actions in this case.
"As a parent of a Colby-Sawyer student, the entire situation was ridiculous! Wouldn't it have made more sense for the police to break up the party and send everyone back to their dorms??? There was no drinking and driving involved; maybe the police have nothing better to do with their time but I find it absurd that all these students got arrested when there was no unruly behavior to provoke this; just an off duty cop who happened to hear some noise!!! Students at Colby-Sawyer weren't doing anything different from any other college on a Friday night; however, the police have caused the students and school to get bad publicity which they don't deserve. If they were out of control it would be a different story, but I certainly don't think blowing a .02 on a breathalizer is cause for concern!!!"
"No one was read any rights and the cops entered the house without being invited. Yes there is probable cause however when the cops were asked they said they did not even know there were that many people at the house and thought it was just noisy and originally were not going to do anything but ask to quiet down. The cops had no way to tell people were underage before entering the house and were out of line."
It is an often used argument but I do not see the problem with agreeing with the following statement: They are old enough to grab a gun and fight a war. But having a beer is absolutely out of the question.
Everyone is for public safety. But to say it is strictly a drinking and driving measure is foolish. How many locals are getting drunk and leaving the local bars on a weekly basis? Where is the 105 arrest lesson there? What is with these half measures against drinking and driving? Bullshit. It is not about that.
My message to the students of Colby Sawyer College in New Hampshire:
REBEL! FIGHT! Have a party next week and make it twice as big. If this were 1969 your parents would have setup a party complete with a bonfire 50 yards closer to the station the following week. PROTEST! Have a large gathering without Alcohol and march to the station just to prove a point. Invite the media. You are old enough to die for your country but you can't have a beer at college without getting thrown in the clink? Unacceptable. Please tell me this group of 105 students is not a group of automatons that have forgotten what it is to challenge authority, question our laws, and dare not to live their life in fear.
Be as safe as possible without living your life in fear. Drink responsibly. 21 is just a number. Common sense can be an attribute of an 18-19 year old. Be smart. Don't drink and drive. But dammit you deserve to be a college student. Keep having house parties and do not let this deter you.
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