Student ''red cards'' are not highly irresponsible and unsafe drinking fests, says James Lansdown. Rather, they are about having fun with flatmates or friends.
In light of the opinion piece, ''Students bowing to peer pressure'' (14.10.14), a few things need to said about ''red cards'' and flat ''initiations'' at Otago University.
I'm a fifth-year student who has taken part in red cards and also been through a flat initiation.
First, and I mean this wholeheartedly, I would like to congratulate the author for raising a topic that can be tough for younger Otago students.
The issue of the drinking culture in Dunedin goes to the heart of the university, and of course is something that does need addressing.
However, the red card system is not, as suggested, ''highly irresponsible'' nor is it often an ''unsafe drinking fest''.
While alcohol is often involved (although in a number of cases it isn't), the idea behind the red card is to have fun with your flatmates or a group of friends.
All of the red cards I have participated in required us to dress up in fun or sometimes ludicrous outfits and then engage in fun games or other activities - what would probably be called ''team bonding'' in just about any other sphere of life.
Was alcohol involved?
Yes. Was getting drunk the only goal? Of course not.
The idea the only goal of a red card is to get as drunk as possible, as quickly as possible, is ultimately missing the point.
The blame for this is laid on the student or students who hosted the red card, as is reflected in the University Code of Conduct by making the hosting student(s) responsible for any damage caused or health issues raised, rather than the red card system itself.
Secondly, the opinion raised the issue of red cards or flat initiations being mandatory a number of times which leads, it is suggested, to students missing tests, assignments or time in the library to participate.
In response, I would suggest that flats which want to participate in red cards set a system of rules early in the year to avoid this.
Making it clear to your flatmates that, if a test, assignment or study session is scheduled for a set time, you won't be able participate saves you having to deal with this down the road.
It's simply common sense.
Have we really come to a point in Dunedin that university students can no longer be trusted to plan their own lives ahead of time?
The responsibility lies with the individual student.
If they choose to participate in a red card when they have an assignment or test scheduled, they live with the consequences.
Initiations are more difficult, as I am aware pressure to take part is present.
However, we live in a country where there is very little compulsive power present in anyone (apart from the State).
If you have signed the lease with the landlord/property manager, there is nothing the incumbent tenants can do to prevent you from taking over the flat next year.
Just say no. No-one is going to remember whether you did or didn't take part in your later years.
This has been the case a number of times recently and the backlash has fallen on those students who attempted to ''enforce'' the initiation, rather than the first years.
Thirdly, the idea that if you don't drink you'll be branded as ''uncool'' and ''lose your friends'' is, unfortunately, a reflection on the type of friends you have, rather than being about peer pressure.
University is supposed to be about getting away from high school ''pack'' mentality and exploring who you really are and who you want to be.
If your relationships depend on you doing exactly what your flatmates or friends are doing every Saturday night then, as harsh as it sounds and as difficult as it might be, you need new friends.
Before this year, I had the same flatmates for three years.
We were all completely different people and did different things.
Diversity, rather than uniformity, can be one of the ways to make your flat awesome.
Alternatively, find flatmates you don't know, if you think there will be issues like this.
That way there are no repercussions for established friendships if things go wrong.
Fourthly, as acknowledged above, there is something to be said about the drinking culture in North Dunedin.
However, that is a nationwide issue, not solely an Otago University issue. Red cards are not to blame for this drinking culture and, done right, as stated above, they can add to the culture of Otago University in an extremely positive way.
We have a fantastic student culture in Dunedin, with our freedom as students adding a tremendous vibrancy that is not present anywhere else in the country.
That student culture is what makes Otago University great, although I would of course admit it has its problems occasionally.
I've loved my time at Otago University.
I never wanted to go anywhere else, and a part of that is because of the great culture that has been developed in the years before.
I would like to conclude by saying that the consumption of alcohol (or not) is a personal choice.
Some choose to, others not to. Reducing the issue to the idea of ''peer pressure'' is both robbing students of personal autonomy and relieving students of taking the consequences of their own actions in the same motion.
You choose whether to drink or not, and you choose to participate in red cards and initiations.
Instead of blaming peer pressure and your friends for not being able to remember your night out, make the personal choice to drink an amount you are comfortable with, whatever amount that may be.
That way, you can feel happy with yourself which, at the end of the day, is all that really matters.
-James Lansdown is a fifth and final-year student.
