Animal House. Old School. The 1980’s edition of Playboy that broadcast to the United States that Plymouth State College was one of the top “Party Schools” in the country. What do all of these things have in common? They are all stereotypes; unfounded, ridiculous and not at all relating to the Plymouth State University of 2007.
We bring these stereotypes up, because as of late, it seems that a few individuals still believe they exist. Plymouth, as a community, has worked very hard to remove the Animal House and Playboy persona from the University and their efforts have paid off. But now, have they gone too far?
The Follet-owned Campus Bookstore that arrived recently at Plymouth after the contract with Barnes and Noble ran out brought in a new line of merchandise: more sweatshirts, more colors, more used books, and shot glasses.
Shot and pint glasses are two items that are normally sold in a campus bookstore. As a staff, we own drinking glasses from Ohio State, The University of New Hampshire, Keene State College, Cornell University, Arizona State University, Reed College, and Hofstra University.
Plymouth State joined the ranks at the beginning of the school year as well, yet now, any form of shot or pint glass cannot be found on the shelves of the bookstore. So what happened to them? Administration removed them. Why? To disable the promotion of consumption of alcohol on campus.
As mentioned before, Plymouth State has worked very hard to make sure that the reputation as a party school is extinguished. Numerically, according to a report from the State of New Hampshire, Plymouth State had the lowest amount of University alcohol related arrests last year.
So why is it that after all of this progress, we are still being condemned for another generation’s college experience? Shot and pint glasses are items that can be bought anywhere – in fact, many individuals already have collections – lacking one with a school logo.
The “Panther Logo” is something that has lost its pride and meaning in the past few years, and students as well as faculty are working to bring the camaraderie back. T-shirts sporting the phrase, “Together, we are Panthers” and winning seasons from the athletic teams are starting to do that. Eventually, the University may reach the desired goal of everyone in “Plymouth Green.”
Basically, banning these glasses from the bookstore is not going to stop students from drinking; they already have the tools that they need to do that. So, in an effort to add to the school spirit initiative, bring the Plymouth State shot and pint glasses back.
-The Clock Staff