I can't believe after more than three years at Tufts, it is EvanCochran's assertions that have implored me to write a viewpoint.After feeling disgusted after reading Cochran's column, I decidedto sit down and write a response. The crux of Cochran's argument isthat the MBTA, by closing at 12:30 a.m., leaves drunken collegestudents with no other choice but to drive drunk, and it istherefore the fault of the public transportation system whenstudents drive drunk.
The flaws with his argument are numerous. I'll first point outthe glaringly obvious fact that the only person whose fault it isfor driving drunk is the person behind the wheel. I will admit thatit sure is convenient to pawn off responsibility for one's actions,even if it is a fallacious claim at best. Imagine "Johnny College,"as Cochran names his prototypical college student, pleading beforea judge, "It's not my fault I slammed into that tree drunk, Bostonmade me do it!" What a great defense.
We all agree that the T should be open later, but it's not.That's Boston. Besides that, since when has the city of Boston, orany city for that matter, been responsible for providing a goodtime to college kids or any of its citizens? The answer? Youguessed it, never. Sure, the city is responsible for the safety ofits citizens, so an equally viable conclusion to Cochran's claimwould be to hire more police officers who could rid the roads ofthose oh-so-innocent drunk drivers who couldn't find their wayhome.
Cochran also enjoyed whining about the costs of going out andthe subsequent lack of transportation options back to campus. Thecosts for Cochran became exceptionally overbearing when he got a 50dollar parking ticket for parking in Cousens lot. You know what asolution would have been? Don't park there! We all know Tufts has aridiculous parking policy, and we all know that they enforce it alltoo well. Trust me, we've all angrily crumpled up a ticket andthrown it on the ground before getting in our cars after going tothe gym, but that's a different article.
Now poor Johnny College can only afford a few pints at the barand has also been priced out of the cab market. Of course, ifJohnny College just rounds up his crew, a cab of 4 people costs nomore than a pint plus tip. All Johnny College needed to do wasdrink one less beer while out. Now, had Johnny College not spenthis entire week drinking, he would know that there are otheroptions for getting home from Boston.
On Friday and Saturday nights, the Night Owl bus, operated bythat fickle mistress the MBTA, runs until 2:30 am at the cost of abuck-fifty per person; a little pricey, I know. If you wantsomething free, why not try the shuttle bus that the TuftsCommunity Union Senate runs into Boston every hour? If you must goout the other days of the week, why not stick to Davis, Harvard, orin between? There are a plethora of options there.
"It's still too expensive," whines Johnny College. "I want topay $1.25 and no more to come home, or else I'm just going to drivedrunk." Ah, young, na�ve Johnny. Do you know how much a DWIcosts? $500 to $5,000 dollars. With that money you could illegallypark in Cousens lot at least 10 times, or buy 100 pints, or take acab to downtown Boston and back 50 times. Wow. Oh yeah, I forgot tomention, it comes with up to two and a half years in prison. I'msure that's a real good time.
One more thing, you know those insurance companies that insureyour car? Well, they really don't like it when you get caughtdriving drunk. The rates you pay will be elevated for many years tocome. But wait, there's more. When you kill somebody because ofreckless behavior behind the wheel, you go to jail for a long time.It's a felony - I think they call it vehicular manslaughter. Thinkof all the money you'll lose from lost wages when you are in jailfor 10 years. With all that money Johnny could drink his way tooblivion and still afford a cab ride home.
I guess what really bothers me about Mr. Cochran's argument: heattempts to justify drinking and driving because he admits it is abad thing. That is to say, admitting he is in the wrong and thenplacing blame elsewhere is not acceptable. I can't imagine that itis all that inconvenient to have to work one extra hour a week (andI assume Cochran has a job in order to afford all that booze) to beable to afford cab fare home, especially when he can really dodamage to himself or somebody else's life.
As a person who has been directly affected by drunk drivers, Iwould love it if Cochran and his friend Johnny went to a victim'spanel and saw the effects that driving drunk can have on people.Some folks want to simply get to where they are going, but insteadhave an unfortunate meeting with a self-serving drunk.
Claude Mendelson is a senior majoring in politicalscience.
