by Dionne Peacher, CAS

In response to Denise Spellman’s piece about spring break revelry (“Start dreaming of spring break bikinis and boys now,” January 17, 2003), I would like to provide a differing perspective on the matter. Ms. Spellman might mean her article in fun, but whether or not she truly condones cheating and promiscuity, she certainly gives some convincing rationale to act in such ways.

I would not consider myself conservative on most issues, but I disagree with Ms. Spellman’s logic and feel that it could easily turn into a slippery slope. If the claim is that in an environment of drunkenness and partying (such as spring break), cheating is somehow more excusable, then what is there to keep one from cheating during any situation fitting that description? Surely, there are numerous such situations during a person’s college career, so is it always okay to cheat when one can blame it on the atmosphere? Flash forward and consider the traditional bachelor party before a man’s wedding. (The same ideas apply to a bachelorette party as well.) Chances are that this party will entail much drunkenness and revelry, and, with a stripper wriggling in the lap of the groom-to-be, the sexual temptation can be even more intense than that during spring break. Is it acceptable to cheat under these circumstances, days or even hours before the man formally declares his devotion for his bride? The criteria for the party environment are certainly there. It is fairly likely that no one reading this letter is seriously thinking anything about marriage, but it’s not impossible for a habit of justifying cheating during college to continue into more serious relationships later in life.

Another issue is that of respect in a relationship. In my opinion, when a person in a relationship cheats, he or she is displaying a total lack of respect for his or her significant other. (Of course if the relationship is open, or if the couple has a mutual understanding of what is okay for the relationship, then the following does not apply.) When a guy cheats on his girlfriend (and the reverse applies as well), he is completely disregarding her feelings. In addition, if others know about the affair and the girlfriend does not, then she is likely to become the object of gossip, snickering, and possibly humiliation in the end. In any situation (much less in a relationship, regardless of its seriousness), it is disrespectful to subject another person to such possibilities.

If nothing else, at least consider your own health. Here are some statistics worth repeating: “One in five people in the United States has an STD. Two-thirds of all STDs occur in people 25 years of age or younger” (American Social Health Association website). This means that chances of contracting some kind of STD are fairly high. In a state of near-complete inebriation and an oh-what-the-hell attitude, correct usage of a condom (the only way to protect against STDs) becomes considerably more difficu< thus, STD chances grow exponentially. Some STDs are curable with antibiotics, but others are viral, and thus, incurable. Consider the complications that could arise from STDs (infertility, cervical cancer, etc.), and hopefully, promiscuity looks less appealing. Yes, spring break is about fun. But surely, it won't hurt to consider, at least a for a few moments, what could result from a mere seven days, "mere seconds on the metaphorical time clock of college time" of drunken indiscretions. If you're in a relationship, take into consideration the feelings and the health of your partner. And honestly, would our society and culture really suffer that much if the Girls Gone Wild series disappeared?