Choosing Blue on a Green Day

In general, the color green on the U-M campus is strongly discouraged but there is one day that the maize and blue seems to fade into shades of green.  This exception is none other than St. Patrick's Day, an Irish national holiday which has increasingly become associated with risky levels of drinking and public intoxication.

Some behavior is far from the true spirit of the holiday and can often have implications that students don’t even realize.  Aside from the negative health and legal outcomes that are associated with risky drinking, such as memory loss, hangovers and MIPs, there are certain social consequences that are often missed in the hype.

 

  1. Social Media: Consider what you are posting and making publicly available. Is it appropriate for your graduate school, internship coordinator or potential employer to see that you’re skipping class to make it to the bar for St. Patrick’s Day “festivities?” Would you want your study abroad program to think you’re a liability because you are portraying a reckless image? Think before you post!

  2. Your friend's feelings, other U-M student's feelings: thousands of U-M students do not drink. Among those who do drink, they tell us they stick to 0-4 drinks an outing. Challenge your assumptions and be mindful of your tone and expectations as you prepare to celebrate this holiday. At U-M, we strive to have a caring community and that means not encouraging others to engage in behavior that may cause them harm, such as drinking excessively. Look out for your friends and make sure they feel comfortable with the plans.  Many students choose not to drink, whether it is due to personal, legal, religious or sobriety reasons, consider how your "hype" may affect their shared environment. Expect Respect. Give it. Get it.

 

So whether you plan to Stay in the Blue or go a little green, keep these things in mind and find a way to celebrate in a safe, healthy and fun way for all.  Visit the U-M St. Patrick's day website for some great tips on how to make this happen.

#stayintheblue

Contributed by Joy Pehlke, Wolverine Wellness