University of Georgia - Pandora Yearbook (Athens, GA)

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■ ai i Kerry Copgland ABOVE: Grocery RIGHT: Either of shopping Is necessary, the three libraries but it can become an provide the perfect amusing pastime for environment for friends. friendly gatherings. Lh LIBRAR V B LEFT: Everyone dis- ABOVE: These stu- likes doing laundry. dents advertise the but It, too, becomes typical trend of a col- somewhat of a social lege meal, time. Felicia White Felicia White 24 f Haagodto

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Rise In Drinking Age Affects Athens -r,.! Reocrions ro rhe new drinking age var- ied from rhose of inconvenience ro rhose of ourroge. A proporrion of rhe student body who were nor yet 19, feir rhe diSQppoinrment and frustrations of a longer wair ro be legol. However, It wos students who were leogl, bur not yet 20 years old, who were outraged. Since there is no grondforher clause in the state of Georgia, these students became, once ogoin, under age. A overwhelming majority of University stu- denrs believe thor rhe chonge In rhe drinking age will nor result in fewer drunk drivers. In [focr, many believe quite rhe opposire. Wirh nowhere ro hong out, the roods will be used more often. Some students do feel that the age change is justified, but that the specific torget to the group of 18-21 year olds is not. This oge group has the lowest turnout to vote; therefore, this some group connor effecrlvely offea issues by rheir votes. Regordless of reocrions and opinions, the new drinl ing age hos offecred rhe Universiry of Georgia. Pressure from their nationals has caused frarernities ond sororities ro enforce drinking regulorions, creoring friaion among members. Nighrclubs ore experiencing a drop- off in crowds. Incoming freshmen hove no place to drink, excepr in dorms where new rules ore being pur Inro effecr. Sophomores ore waiting until they become legal. Juniors and Seniors con go inro bars, but often without some of their Freshmen and Sophomore friends. The issue remains controversial, especially in Athens, needless to soy, the overall reaction of ABOVE: The change In drinking age has had definite adverse effects on local night- clubs. Mark Helm BELOW: Due to the change in the drinking age; only upperclaps- men enjoy evenings at O ' Malley ' s. Students to the rise in the drinking age is nega- tive. The students ot rhe University of Georgia were nor rhe only people affected by the low that raised the drinking oge from 19 to 20 as of September 30, 1985, and will raise rhe oge from 20 ro 21 in yet another year. The bar industry In Athens was in the post bosicolly kept afloat by college students. For years bars hove been a highlighr of the social life of college. What now happens to the many bars in Arhens, now rhar so mony of rheir customers ore no longer of legal age? Chonces were, rhe smaller bars would suffer rhe most, possibly going out of business. Ken Fulgem, owner of the Southeast ' s favorite col- lege bar, O ' Malley ' s, sold he noriced o 25 ro 50 percenr decrease in business almost imme- diately. This decline in the number of cusromers frequenring bars resulted in budger and stoff cuts for many bar o wners. For rhe mosr part, the owners of Arhens ' bars did not feel the hike was fair. They believed it was politicolly opothetic and completely unfair ro those be- tween the ages of 18 and 20. Ken feIr thar rhe specials so many bars were having to run to stay olive were only promoring Irresponsible drinking. This could only result in more DUIs and drinking-ond-driving relored accidenrs — the main thing thot the rise in the drinking oge was designed to prevenr. Drinking Age 23

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CHANGE Old Hangouts Become New Favorites Effecrs of rhe drinking age expand ro orher areas of college life Since sru- denrs who are nor of lego! drinking oge cannor go ro local bars, many create rheir own social network around town and on com- pus. For those who study, the library becomes a convenient place to gather with friends Study groups are entertaining in themselves by pro- viding o cosuol otmosphere for students ro study while allowing interpersonal relationships. Sometimes students meet at the library without rhe intention of studying at all. The lounge is rhe perfect ploce to get together for lunch. All in oil, rhe library is one of the most popular sites on campus. Another spot on compus which is a ploce to see friends is the laundry In rhe dorms, sru- denrs conrinuolly do laundry and in rhe process, convene wirh orhers who are there also, Ring- ers is one of rhe newest innovorions in Athens in that it contains a loundry and o bar. Here again, the drinking age offecrs whether one con do his laundry or do his laundry and drink. An increasingly popular form of socializing is Krogering . Those who ore nor on the meol plan sometimes go in groups to shop for gro- ceries. These excursions ore well-known for being sponroneous and carefree Grocery shopping is a chore, but in Athens it con be on adventure. While rhe drinking age effecrs nightdubs ad- versely, it has positive effects on other areas Kerry Copeland