For many incoming freshmen, attending your first house party is almost a mandatory right of passage. The pressure to make friends and fit in can be strong, and the shared experience of drinking often acts as an icebreaker.

Last weekend, The North Wind was invited to participate in a magazine piece documenting drinking culture among students at NMU and beyond campus over the course of a day. What we found was not surprising; college towns are not exactly what one would equate with Andy Griffith’s Mayberry, and Marquette is no exception.

With that said, where there is smoke, there is fire, and with story after story hitting the news about the dangers of binge drinking and the tragic results that can follow, The North Wind thought we would take a moment to pass on some sage advice to our new and returning students.

Foremost, we understand how miserable the long years between 18-21 can be for a young student. Everyone on staff has been through it or is going through it, and it definitely isn’t fun.

But we are in Marquette, and we have the advantage of living in one of the most beautiful natural locations in the country, where there is more to do outside than indoors.

Weekends can be tough, especially  when many students are out enjoying the bar scene or attending a house party. If you feel pressured to do something you don’t want to do, there is always an alternative to suggest that won’t involve a splitting headache.

If parties are your thing, however, there are a few things to remember to make the experience enjoyable for everyone involved.

Limit your intake to one drink per hour, alternating each drink with a full glass of water to help your body process the alcohol in a reasonable fashion.

Also, if you’re going out, leave the car keys at home. If you think college is expensive these days, the average DUI can end up costing more than the average semester at NMU, notwithstanding the danger to yourself and others.

Finally, when out on the town, never leave a drink unnattended in a bar or at a house party, even if you’re with friends. Date rape drugs do exist and can be slipped to you unknowingly.

As the party season gets into full swing, The North Wind asks our readers to be safe and make smart choices.