A strange scent lingers in the air surrounding the freshman dormitories; it is a bit skunk-like, yet less pungent. One would not be able to distinguish where it was coming from unless they knew the “secret” spot.
“It’s almost like they put these benches here specifically for smokers,” a Marist freshman who asked to remain anonymous said, “I mean, why would anyone want to randomly sit on a bench in the woods.”
The benches are located up a small hill in the field in front of Champagnat and Leo dormitories. They are surrounded by trees, making it difficult to distinguish whether or not there are people on them from afar unless you spot a small flame growing from a lighter.
“Drinking alcohol and partaking in drugs are just what college students do. It’s a part of the college culture,” Emily Longhi, a junior at Marist said.
According to a study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, this attitude is putting many students in great danger.
The 2007 study found that 22.9 percent of full-time college students met the “medical criteria for substance abuse and dependence,” compared to the 8.5 percent of the general population who met the criteria.
So what is socially acceptable at Marist, and what do students think is a “drug and alcohol problem?”
When it comes to certain drugs, Longhi thought Marist students would readily admit to at least trying them.
“Marijuana use among students is definitely in the majority, especially here at Marist,” she said, “and it seems to me that most students have tried ADD medications at least to help with studying.”
Longhi would not comment on her personal use.
The CASA survey found that the daily use of marijuana among college students doubled to 310,000 from 1993 to 2005. The use of stimulants such as Ritalin or Adderall increased 93 percent.
“I sometimes forget weed is illegal,” said a sophomore at Marist who wishes to remain anonymous. This student, who currently has a 3.65 grade-point average, also admitted to trying cocaine.
The sophomore said that they thought there is “most definitely a large degree of experimentation at Marist, but most students can control themselves and not let it develop into a full blown abuse or dependence.”
Tony Riley, a senior at Marist, believes that Marist students confuse the “majority” with their group of friends. “If someone is living in a house with nine other people who smoke weed, they assume that the whole Marist campus does. It just isn’t like that.”
He went on to say that although he and his friends do not partake in marijuana use, they all would agree that it is a socially acceptable habit for college students.
