2008 Woodie Awards
With college comes independence, parental freedom
by Andrew Miller
Issue date: 1/17/08
Section: Voices
We forget sometimes, but along with receiving training for a professional career, college also allows us the time and space to develop into adults. This is partly why we've left home for school in Mankato. It's also why many Mankato-natives turn down free room and board at home and get their own place, instead.
If college is one thing to every student, it's the first real taste of independence. That freedom from parental reign may not be absolute - Ma and Pa still do what they can to take care of us when necessary - but still, becoming independent is an integral part of the college experience.
So, pardon me, but I'm offended by the idea of Minnesota State notifying parents when students commit alcohol-related offenses. While this may seem practical - and maybe even responsible - when dealing with 18-year-olds in the dorms, the reality is freshmen, non-traditional students and everyone in between should be treated equally. If we're all to pay equal tuition, we deserve equal treatment.
If a 35-year-old student is arrested for driving under the influence, will the university be informing their parents?
I'm 23 now, but I did receive a minor consumption ticket three months prior to my 21st birthday. I paid the superfluous $262 fine, which I assume went toward the Mankato Police Department's Donut and Coffee Fund. I told my mom but left my dad in the dark. (If you're reading this - sorry, Dad.) I broke the law. I suffered the consequences. I learned my lesson. This is called "personal accountability." Any good parent has already taught their kid to take responsibility for their actions long before they've left for college.
Minnesota State attempts to respect a student's privacy when it comes to academics. Professors are not required to respond to inquiries from students' parents and parents cannot obtain their kid's student identification number or passwords from the school. However, when it becomes the university's prerogative to inform parents of their kid's transgressions - especially those off-campus - there's significant leverage lost in protecting a student's independence.
The university's concerns about student drinking come from the media's portrayal of this being an institution where vodka flows from the drinking fountains and 40s are dispensed from the vending machines. When a student dies of alcohol poisoning, they are a "Minnesota State student" in the big, bold front-page headlines, and then a name in the story. Since we're viewed as an extension of the university, even if we've done something off-campus or over break or even by complete freak accident, the university is forced to take ownership. It's not right. No one can argue with that. But notifying parents is no solution.
Before the university adopts any new alcohol policies, it's important students are viewed as adults or are at least given the opportunity to become one. It's not the university's role to inform parents whenever students make a mistake. In all fairness, it's none of the university's business. But since MSU has become insecure and somewhat collapsed under public perception, don't be surprised if parental notification is adopted.
While we're at it, might as well add parents-teacher conferences.
Andrew Miller is a Reporter staff writer
If college is one thing to every student, it's the first real taste of independence. That freedom from parental reign may not be absolute - Ma and Pa still do what they can to take care of us when necessary - but still, becoming independent is an integral part of the college experience.
So, pardon me, but I'm offended by the idea of Minnesota State notifying parents when students commit alcohol-related offenses. While this may seem practical - and maybe even responsible - when dealing with 18-year-olds in the dorms, the reality is freshmen, non-traditional students and everyone in between should be treated equally. If we're all to pay equal tuition, we deserve equal treatment.
If a 35-year-old student is arrested for driving under the influence, will the university be informing their parents?
I'm 23 now, but I did receive a minor consumption ticket three months prior to my 21st birthday. I paid the superfluous $262 fine, which I assume went toward the Mankato Police Department's Donut and Coffee Fund. I told my mom but left my dad in the dark. (If you're reading this - sorry, Dad.) I broke the law. I suffered the consequences. I learned my lesson. This is called "personal accountability." Any good parent has already taught their kid to take responsibility for their actions long before they've left for college.
Minnesota State attempts to respect a student's privacy when it comes to academics. Professors are not required to respond to inquiries from students' parents and parents cannot obtain their kid's student identification number or passwords from the school. However, when it becomes the university's prerogative to inform parents of their kid's transgressions - especially those off-campus - there's significant leverage lost in protecting a student's independence.
The university's concerns about student drinking come from the media's portrayal of this being an institution where vodka flows from the drinking fountains and 40s are dispensed from the vending machines. When a student dies of alcohol poisoning, they are a "Minnesota State student" in the big, bold front-page headlines, and then a name in the story. Since we're viewed as an extension of the university, even if we've done something off-campus or over break or even by complete freak accident, the university is forced to take ownership. It's not right. No one can argue with that. But notifying parents is no solution.
Before the university adopts any new alcohol policies, it's important students are viewed as adults or are at least given the opportunity to become one. It's not the university's role to inform parents whenever students make a mistake. In all fairness, it's none of the university's business. But since MSU has become insecure and somewhat collapsed under public perception, don't be surprised if parental notification is adopted.
While we're at it, might as well add parents-teacher conferences.
Andrew Miller is a Reporter staff writer
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