Here’s the situation: You are at one of your social gatherings and your fraternity or sorority has had way too much alcohol. So much so that they are not only making a fool of themselves but people are beginning to feel uncomfortable. As their Greek peer and a bystander, what do you do? The following tips below will give you some helpful advice on how to diffuse the situation and reduce conflict/drama
Tip #1 First Things First
Any person who has had too much to drink should be taken care of. How you go about assisting them will depend on different circumstances such as where you are, how much they’ve had to drink, and if they have had any combination of other drugs (illicit, over the counter, or prescription).
If you have been drinking, you may also want to consider if you are equipped to help out your classmate. If you are not, the best thing that you can do is find someone who is sober enough to make the most responsible decision. If you think that there is a remote chance that the situation may be worst than expected, you should call the paramedics. Regardless of the intoxicated student’s attitude toward your decision, it is always better to play it safe.
Tip #2 Be a snitch, be a friend
As a bystander, you may not be prepared to physically remove the person out of the situation. Perhaps they may get verbally or physically abusive. If this is the case, it is in your best interest to call the police or campus authorities if you feel like someone could get hurt (including the person who is intoxicated). I would only utilize this open if you have tried other options like taking them some where else or pulling person aside and talk to them.
I know that being a snitch in college is not cool, especially if you are apart of a brotherhood or sisterhood. However, if you think things may get violent it may be in the best interest of all parties involved to call the police. Besides, police officers are professionally trained to handle such situations. Believe it or not, things (especially when alcohol is involved) can quickly get out of control.
By the way, I don’t think your first course of action should be to call the police. In fact, your first point of contact should be your Greek advisor. The police should be your last resort. At this point, it’s about damage control. Again, calling the police is only an option if you feel that things are getting out of control. Remember, police intervention is better then jail time, a criminal charge, or death.
I realize that contacting local/campus authorities or even your Greek advisor is not the multiple choice answer that college students would pick in this particular scenario. However, most students should always be mindful of the worst case scenarios that can really get out of control. If you want to be a responsible member of your organization the best thing to do is to defuse it before it gets out of control. It could mean the difference between life and death.
Tawan Perry is the creator of the comprehensive Connect-5 College Completion Program. As a college speaker and as both a former student leader and college administrator, Tawan uses the Connect-5 College Completion program to help guide students step by step from college prep to cap and gown.
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This is a very difficult conversation to have, and at the time, it will seem like a lose-lose situation. However, if your friend is honest with themselves and you, they will love you even more for making the right decision even when it was a rough decision. If it’s a one time deal, this is a great guide. Do you have resources or suggestions for when you have this convo every weekend?