EDITORIAL: Turn down for safety


tailgating
Students gather in the freshman parking lot to tailgate before the Central vs. Syracuse game on Sept. 13.

If you attend Central Michigan University, you know full well the party atmosphere Western Weekend. 

Central Michigan Life knows a fair share of students will be rooting for CMU by getting drunk at tailgate and flooding the student section to cheer on the team.

Never mind being preachy. This editorial serves as a gentle reminder to take care of each other this weekend. CMU is our community and our home. Our peers are our friends. Some might consider them family. 

This community vibe at CMU means looking out for each other. At CMU, we have the Take Care initiative, something to keep in mind while firing up. It involves taking care of yourself, but also making sure friends and fellow students are safe. If they're not, speak up and do something about it.

Through the Take Care initiative, students are encouraged to notice what is going on around them with intent. If you see a potentially dangerous situation, do not be a bystander. It's not a "party pooper" move to get a police officer when you see someone too inebriated to function. Making sure that person is safe is most important; that's what police are there for. 

All students who have started off at CMU since freshmen year know about the harms of the bystander mentality. Sexual Aggression Peer Advocates dedicates a large portion of their programming to "No Zebras, No Excuses." Seeing that performance is required for students new to CMU, and rightly so.

Don't stand by while bad things happen. Don't be a zebra. 

College students face some unfortunate realities on a daily basis. Drinking-related injuries, sexual assault and suicide are some of these issues. Take Care encourages students to be active, not passive, in fighting these issues. As a member of the CMU family, it is your place to get involved. 

We're not telling you not to party. What we are doing is encouraging you to party safely and to keep in mind the safety of others this weekend.

CMU students must watch out for each other, no matter what. 

While we may not all be friends, we do have one thing in common: We want to see CMU beat the Broncos tomorrow. In the end, that's the strongest basis for friendship we can think of.

So please, fire up and have fun responsibly. 

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