This is a time of year in which we all are getting eager about what we are going to do with all our free time this summer. Sure, we have jobs, internships and maybe even summer school to take some of our vacation, but the grind is over for a few months. But before we get all crazy with gravity bongs and keg stands, we need to exercise a little common sense.

This is not intended to be a puritanical rant about how you should live your life, rather as simple reminder that we are not invincible and need to remind ourselves of that. Even if you think you are the world’s safest drunk driver, you need to understand that a DUI is a serious charge. Not only does it cost thousands upon thousands of dollars in fines and legal fees, it can haunt you on a résumé. Besides, have you ever been in the drunk tank? It’s filled with urine, bile and a stench so foul that it would make standing near Amy Winehouse a gratifying experience for the senses by comparison.

Besides the legal trouble that we can get ourselves in, we can get hurt if we are not careful as well. We have all seen the person who gets way too smashed and then tries to fight, climb something they shouldn’t or sleep with someone they would avoid like the plague under normal circumstances.

Enjoy yourself this summer, and do the things you like to do. Get drunk, take illicit drugs and have unprotected sex with anonymous partners, but please be careful. We want everyone to come back in one piece, and the only people who should come back pregnant next semester should have intended on it. Please take care of yourselves this summer break. If you don’t, who will?

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