Chugging brewskies in Tigerland isn’t uncommon for many University students. But cracking open a cold one during a biology lecture doesn’t happen every day – unless it’s “National ‘Go to Class Drunk’ Day.” A Facebook.com group titled “National ‘Go To Class Drunk Day’ 2008” proclaims today as an opportunity for students to attend lectures and labs intoxicated. Matt, a Syracuse University sophomore who asked to be anoynmous, created the group that, as of Wednesday evening, had more than 213,000 members from across the globe. Matt said the incorrect year in the title of the Facebook group was simply an error, and he said he definitely wasn’t drunk when he made the typo. “It was kind of a joke that I invited 20 of my friends to, and it kind of blew up,” Matt said. “I want it to catch on here [at Syracuse], but it might take a couple of years. I figured I’d start it off somehow.” Matt said he heard of the holiday from a friend who claimed it was tradition. He said he was not aware of the holiday’s date, so he picked the third Thursday in November. “It’s a holiday that I can only picture college kids doing,” Matt said. “I can’t picture a 40-year-old doing it. That’s just called a drinking problem. But if you’re in college, it’s a way to celebrate a holiday.” Matt said he hopes students are responsible with their alcohol consumption and make the decision to not drink and drive. He said he hopes students abide by their school’s student conduct policies. “You can just have a couple of beers in the morning with your friends,” he said. “You don’t have to go drunk.” Matthew Strahan, LSU English junior, said his roommate, who saw the Facebook group, told him about the holiday. “I don’t ever skip class, and I can’t go to class drunk because it’s the same thing as skipping – you’re not fully there,” Strahan said. “But [the holiday] has a lot of appeal. It gives you a reason to not be responsible for being drunk for a day. You’re part of one big group doing it.” Niko Imbraguglio, LSU chemical engineering senior, said he liked the idea of the holiday and has always joked about going to class drunk. He even has considered going intoxicated to a final exam that didn’t matter. “I suppose it could be fun. I would probably do it, but I have a lab. So I don’t think that would be a good idea,” Imbraguglio said. “It sounds fun, and it sounds like a good idea. It should be interesting to see people stumble around [today].” Eric Norman, associate dean of students and director of Judicial Affairs, said students who attend class drunk could be referred to his office for consequences. “If a person was disruptive, I would consider that more of an elevated offense than someone walking across campus with an open container,” Norman said. Norman said a typical punishment for disrupting a class could include probation for a calendar year, counseling to figure out why the student felt the need to attend class intoxicated, reflection essays and community service. He said students under 21 would have their parents contacted. “Drinking isn’t necessarily a bad thing depending on the situation,” Norman said. “But the behavior that results from that can be a problematic situation. We’re more concerned about the behavior tha results from it.” Norman said he has never seen a case in Judicial Affairs when a student was drunk during class. He said his office is concerned about the well-being and safety of students. Matt, of Syracuse, said he sent a message to all members of the group asking students under 21 to not participate. “If you’re in high school, you’re clearly not 21,” Matt said. “And I don’t know why you’d join the group because that’s just dangerous.” Matt said students from other countries have joined the group and have expressed their willingness to participate in the “national” holiday. “I feel bad because I named it the national [go to class drunk day],” Matt said. “I should have named it the international [go to class drunk day]. I think it’s awesome everyone around the world is doing it.” Matt said he hopes students at his university will adopt the tradition and eventually persuade nearby bars to open at 8 a.m. on the third Thursday of November to allow students to drink a beer or two before going to class. Karl Roider, alumni history professor, teaches a western civilization course with 150 students. He said if one of his students was disrupting class because they were intoxicated, he would call the police. “I would feel insulted more than anything else,” Roider said. “They would have so little respect for me and the class [to attend drunk]. They [would be] showing utter contempt for what they’re here for.” Kaitlin Hoycock, LSU kinesiology senior, said she was not aware of the holiday. She said she knows people who have attended class intoxicated, mainly from their consumption the previous night. “I think if they’re going to get that drunk, they probably won’t make it to class,” Hoycock said. Matt, of Syracuse, said he does not have plans for the holiday’s future. He said if students want to continue celebrating it, they will, and the holiday’s fate rests in the hands of those participating. “Hopefully, it will catch on,” Matt said. “It’s just something college kids can do.”
— Contact Nicholas Persac at [email protected]