Students must change the culture of college drinking before binge drinking becomes accepted as normal.

After tailgating Sept. 17, I witnessed multiple students unable to walk on their own and others in much worse conditions. A crowd of people gathered in my apartment complex’s parking lot around a seemingly unconscious, young woman who was transported to the hospital.

Students should never drink excessively. Have a good time responsibly, and don’t let the act of getting drunk be a source of entertainment.

“As long as you’re of age and drink responsibly, there’s nothing wrong with it,” said Dekalb Deputy Fire Chief Jeff McMaster. “However, it’s when students take on the party mentality of ‘I want to get there as quick as possible’ and start getting that sense of invincibility; that’s where the problem starts.”

Consuming alcohol could mean sitting back and relaxing at a bar with a few friends, but for others, binge drinking may be the way some prefer to consume alcohol.

Alcohol use and abuse can come with serious consequences such as getting a ticket or arrested, becoming sick, being transported to a hospital or developing health issues. Some of the long-term effects of alcohol are liver disease or failure, chronic seizures, heart disease, mental health problems and extreme alcohol dependence, according to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention website. As a result of drinking, 28 percent of students say they regret doing something, according to NIU a 2015 survey from a random sample of 383 students.

Students can also be affected by binge drinking even if they do not drink. I’ve seen sober people puked on, become victims of theft, get hit by an intoxicated person and receive strong, unwanted sexual advances by others. It seems the sober students are often considered the babysitter. If a student needs a babysitter present, chances are they need to learn to drink in moderation.

In 2012, David Bogenberger, a pledge of Pi Kappa Alpha, died after a night of drinking with a blood-alcohol level of .351, according to a May 8, 2015 Northern Star article. Alcohol culture on campus should never get to the point in which students need to drink excessively in order to be accepted by their peers.

We, as students, need to take a stand on this issue. At NIU, 72 percent of women say they drank zero to four drinks last time they “partied,” while 75 percent of men drank zero to six drinks, according to the survey.

I believe this to be true, but I’m not sure the survey is reliable enough considering the survey was based on 383 students’ answers. If all 20,130 students enrolled at NIU took part in this survey and were completely honest, it could better prove to others that drinking so much is not necessary. The goal should never be to get incoherently drunk. Instead students’ goals should be getting to know others and enjoying those people’s presence without the influence of alcohol.

If students choose to drink, keep in mind there are ways to reduce harm and make drinking safer; students should switch between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks while keeping track of how much is consumed, said Andrea Drott, NIU’s Wellness Promotion’s Health Educator.

McMaster also urges students to drink in a group that will recognize when the safety of a friend is in danger.

NIU has plenty of resources available for students when it comes to alcohol safety.

Alcohol.edu, an online educational course meant to teach students how to drink safely, is required for all incoming students. The course was created in hopes of discouraging underage drinking as well as informing students of the effects of alcohol on the body, mind, perceptions and behavior, according to the Wellness Promotions website.

Take a step toward change. Let’s end this perception that drinking excessively is more entertaining than enjoying the people surrounding us.