Suicide Sunday

In the 60's through the 70's, students were more politically aware based on the assumption they could do something about the world. To a greater or lesser extent, many of us did. Not all, nor yet most of us, but many. By the middle 80's, the idea seems to have become, in Woody Allen's phrase (in a recent interview):
"Life is filled with frustration, and there's not a lot you can do about it, so you might as well enjoy it."

It's not a very good motto, but it seems to have passed for profundity for three decades. And now, when things are generally bad enough that small groups of committed people can again make a difference, neither the bulk of students, not their professors/teachers/advisors, are ready to do a lot about it.

Lecturing the young is not a useful practice. We didn't listen then, they don't listen now. The other week, I did Phil Ochs's I'm gonna say it now (mildly updated) in a a venue with a lot of college/uni students, and got a few odd looks and some general agreement that nobody understands the depth and complexity of late teen to mid twenties angst.

The more things change.........

yea im glad semester is over too. I touched the sky instead of getting wasted though.

maybe if y'all stopped watching fox or cnn for world events and actually looked to see what youth are doing in the world today, you'd find an answer.
ya sound like every generation that watches the current crop of youth enjoying their youth: jealous.

Does this honestly surprise anyone?

Khidrock, the question is why youth today do not care about standing up for rights, injustices or change in this world?

Come on, this isn't new, this isn't a first, people didn't start partying this year, decade or century!!!! Most people and especially youth (I know I know some people don't drink and some don't like to drink, but realistically) like to drink and most of those partied their asses off in college. I had a blast in college, I drank almost daily once I turned 21, went to class, partied at night and still got a BS in Molecular and Microbiology. I've vomited, been carried home, sang silly songs very loudly - it's almost a rite of passage. Not saying that people don't die or that it's safe and/or healthy, but it happens, always has, always will. I do believe that youth today do not care about standing up for rights, injustices or change in this world, but I do not blame drinking one freaking bit. My reasons for that would be entirely too long to spout off here.

psaltseller, you are right. In US there is a constant race. For some reason people are caught in the anxiety to achieve for better or for worse. As a result we are simply not truly experiencing anything; we are not learning and not enjoying life.

I used to find it interesting that college/university students in Italy, Germany, and the U.K. weren't really encouraged to be all that adult. Upon leaving uni, they tended to take far less time than the bulk of their U.S. counterparts in making the jump to responsible grown-up type people. There may be a lesson there.

Lots of demonstrations, when deemed necessary, lots of parties, but also lots of studying in a system where a year (or a number of years) of study can be wiped out by a bad oral/written test result. There are no points/credits to be earned by just showing up, as in the States.

Hemp Kills!....oh wait I mean alcohol.

lol you just got to love our british partying ;)

it makes me sick the majority of students are more interested in getting pissed than their studies its fucking backwards, it is the societies fault, on my student union website there is nothing but drinks adverts. how come students dont protest anymore? because the government has done a damn good job of making us feel worthless, students in the uk dont know or care about politics anymore which is not just a shame it is a travesty. let them puke up their guts perhaps they will learn more about life

They see a one sided media that will not express any other point of view.

Free society or not is another subject... The phenomenon here is why today’s youth is chooses drink to death instead of stand up against war, or lack of freedom... Looking at the previous generations the youth was the symbol of fresh start and change instead of hopelessness, inability to find the positive outlet to change, or even desire to know...

We must remember we live in a free market society. These people are adults. They can drink until their hearts desire. They have all the liberties as You and I. You cannot go down there and pull that young ladies pants down and spank her butt with you naked hand just because she is looking unlady like. . However, I do believe that leadership and mentoring is justified, coaching in the proper ways to release stress.

You probably hit that right on, every thing out of control and wanting to numb the feelings.

Historically students have been the outspoken force for anti-corruption, anti-war, anti-discrimination in many parts of the world. Students have been the energy fueled by strong moral values and believes in right vs. wrong which brought about many positive changes. Why today’s youth is so passive and uninterested in taking on a difficult issue and stand up for what is right. Instead students are busy drinking to death. Why is it? There are many unresolved problems and injustices in our society... Is it possible that the youth do not care and see no issues and injustices as long as it does not directly affect them at this moment?
Or maybe it is just the opposite; our youth simply realized that the issues are just out of control and nothing will help thus drink to death and have “fun” today.

whatever . that chick would very quickly become a close , intimate friend of mine , and i wouldn't mind if she wasn't aware of it .

"Might as well enjoy it! It's all about having fun! Besides, Mummy and Daddy are paying for your college, so you can go out and have fun! YeeHaw!"

Cambridge. England. The bulk of the costs used to be covered by the government, either directly or through the Student Grant.

Less and less of that now, thanks to the current crop of students and their immediate predecessors.

Fortunately, these are not the typical students. The American equivalent would be the frat/sorority crowd of the Athletic star and cheerleader variety.

cute!

Now you know what it means by "acute alcohol poisoning." There will, no doubt, be at least 1 or 2 deaths, but, hey, you only go through college, once, eh?
Might as well enjoy it! It's all about having fun! Besides, Mummy and Daddy are paying for your college, so you can go out and have fun! YeeHaw!

wait... cambridge... so hawking has to teach these drunks

How proud are her parents going to be to find she's the international poster child for partying to you pass out in public. Nothing hotter than being face down ass up drunk for all to see.