As reliable as swallows returning to San Juan Capistrano each March, our area's college students return to Oneonta's bars in August to _ well _ swallow.
With the aid of a vibrant underground industry that supplies them with fake identification, students younger than the legal drinking age of 21 swallow beer, wine and whatever else is set before them on the bar.
The State University College at Oneonta, Hartwick College, the police, the bar owners and the city of Oneonta all claim to be doing what they can to keep alcohol out of the hands of underage students.
But that would be awfully tough to _ yes _ swallow, even if we could keep from laughing while listening to such nonsense.
Seven of the nine SUCO students we interviewed for a story that appeared on the front page of The Daily Star's Weekend edition said they had fake IDs, and the other two said they were considering getting one.
To their credit, the police make a show of force early in the fall semester, leading to a plethora of names appearing in the newspaper's arrest reports.
Perhaps if those students realized just how damaging those arrests can be, they would think twice about what they are doing. The arrest reports remain in the newspaper's archives and frequently come up years later in online searches by prospective employers.
But the police cannot devote all their time to enforcing laws that the colleges, city and bar owners have essentially ignored, their pious statements to the contrary notwithstanding.
If the colleges were truly serious about stopping their students from obtaining fake IDs, they would have a policy of suspending anyone caught with one, and expelling anyone convicted on the charge.
But they don't.
College-organized non-alcoholic events to give the students something to do other than drink are fine, as far as they go, but only as far as they go. The students are still easily obtaining their fake IDs, and using them.
The bar owners could purchase more-sophisticated sensors that would reveal false driver's licenses and other IDs, or at least require multiple forms of identification before letting some kid in to drink.
The city has an obvious financial stake in students spending money downtown. Mayor Dick Miller said he sends letters to the parents of arrested students, and that is admirable. But he also said the city has no specific initiatives regarding false IDs.
Students are smart, if not always wise. They know a wink and a nod when they see them. They know their IDs aren't all that's fake about efforts to cut down on underage drinking in Oneonta.
Editorials
Officials must do more to stop students' fake IDs
- Editorials
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Cheers
To new school lunch standards, the All County Band Festival, and welcoming home Army Spec. Michael Dow.
Continued ... -
Have a heartfelt Valentine's Day
"I love you." "Be mine." "You're cute when you're spending money."
Continued ... -
Embargo no longer serves a purpose
Fifty years ago this week, President John F. Kennedy signed executive order 3447, banning trade with Cuba "in light of the subversive offensive of Sino-Soviet Communism." As this anniversary passes, it's worth asking whether this policy has had its desired effects and how much longer it should remain in place.
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Women must win fight for opportunity
The Pentagon announced Thursday that it will recommend that Congress officially allow women to serve in more jobs closer to the front lines.
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Center helps victims of child abuse and neglect
We learned some good news about some terrible news in a story by reporter Joe Mahoney in Tuesday's Daily Star.
Continued ... - Wednesday, February 8, 2012
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Chamber made excellent choices on service awards
A special committee selected by the Otsego County Chamber has made two excellent decisions regarding the organization's annual awards for service to our communities.
Continued ... - Tuesday, February 7, 2012
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Cheers
To Michael Shea, Terry Bliss, and the passage of the bill to allow Otsego's exit from MOSA.
Continued ... - Monday, February 6, 2012
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A sad tale may come to an end with arrests
People are almost always sad, and sometimes outraged, whenever something awful happens to a fellow human being.
Continued ... - Saturday, February 4, 2012
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Pill abuse should be a priority for police, pols
Sens. Charles Schumer of New York and Mark Pryor of Arkansas proposed a bill this week to help police combat a disturbing trend of increasing prescription drug abuse.
Continued ... - Friday, February 3, 2012
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More needs to be done to aid vets with PTSD
The recent story of Stamford grandmother Melody DiGregorio grieving the loss of her grandson, Air Force veteran Edward "Drew" Snyder, brings home the debilitating and often-unreported effects of post-traumatic stress disorder on our service men and women.
Continued ... - Thursday, February 2, 2012
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Area 'shocked' at underage drinking? That's shocking
It has been referenced so often that it has become a cliché.
Continued ... - Wednesday, February 1, 2012
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School's new lease on life a welcome development
It is a big place designed to echo with the sounds of young people in a healthy learning environment.
Continued ... - Tuesday, January 31, 2012
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Cheers
To the Central American Youth Ambassadors Program, to Ray Preston and to the NCOC building trades class and the Prattsville Fire Department.
Continued ... - Monday, January 30, 2012
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Mitt's not at fault for loopholes in tax code
As the longtime frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination, Mitt Romney has faced withering attacks from rivals seeking to upset him.
Continued ... - Saturday, January 28, 2012
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Rest in peace, Naples and Stalter
Our area recently lost two important and influential members of our community: Oneonta surgeon Dr. Kenneth D. Stalter and newly elected Sixth Ward Council Member Mike Naples.
Continued ... - Friday, January 27, 2012
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Case closed on 2 years of turmoil
"Case closed."
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Oneonta Mayor Dick Miller was referring to possible criminal charges against fired police officer Michael Breen on Wednesday, but Miller just as easily could have been talking about the more than two years of turmoil the city has endured with its police department. - Thursday, January 26, 2012
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Obama played his cards right Tuesday
Despite a daunting economy and a challenging re-election campaign, on Tuesday night President Barack Obama displayed what Mark Twain called "the calm confidence of a Christian holding four aces" in his State of the Union address.
Continued ... - Wednesday, January 25, 2012
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Searching for votes instead of honor
Say what you will about John McCain, the Republican nominee for president in 2008 who inflicted an ignorant Sarah Palin upon an unsuspecting nation.
Continued ... - Tuesday, January 24, 2012
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Cheers
To MLK Jr. Day events, Diana Nicols, and Jordan Beers and Mariah Ruff.
Continued ... - Monday, January 23, 2012
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Dignity not enough to show in speech
After weeks of watching the often unseemly, if not downright humorous, antics of the Republican candidates for his job, President Barack Obama should have little trouble providing at least one thing Tuesday night in his State of the Union address. Dignity.
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Cheers
