The Red and Black

Issue date: 8/19/08 Section: Opinions

SLC: 24/7 no more

Although the SLC will stay open fewer hours, we understand the reasoning

As a part of state budget cuts, the Student Learning Center will no longer stay open for 24 hours a day, as reported on page 1 of today's Red & Black.

The administration explained that the cost of operating the building throughout the night would equal the pay of two faculty members, and The Red & Black editorial board believes closing the SLC at 2 a.m. is a positive trade-off. The schedule change will cut down on both energy and personnel costs.

So, where will you go now to focus after 2 in the morning when you have a 20-page paper to finish by 9 a.m.? We have a few suggestions:

• The Grill. You may not be studying in complete silence, but the milkshakes are fantastic. You'll also hear hilarious conversations from people who choose The Grill as the last stop during their night downtown.

• Your place. It's time to clean off that desk you've been using to house picture frames and store clothes. You can keep snacks on hand to help you power through the night.

• Snelling Dining Hall. It's all the breakfast food you can eat, a quiet place to study and open 24 hours a day.

We know some students used the SLC during the early morning hours to finish up a research paper or study for a huge exam, but we also understand that things change when the economy goes south. Despite the SLC's new hours, we hope you're able to find a place that fits your studying needs.

- Kristen Coulter for the editorial board

Safe drinking 101

Even those who drink alcohol legally need to remember to do so responsibly

Those of you over 21, beware - just because you've reached the golden age of legality doesn't mean you can ignore responsibility when it comes to alcohol.

As reported on the front page of today's Red & Black, Joseph Fu, the head of the University's mathematics department, was charged with driving under the influence this past weekend, even though his breath sample indicated he was under the legal limit of .08 grams.

A University police officer stopped Fu while he was driving the wrong way on a one-way exit ramp on Loop 10 and transported him to the Athens-Clarke County jail. There, Fu received a .057 gram Breathalyzer result.

Under the DUI - Less Safe process, a driver still can be charged with DUI - even if his breath sample is less than the legal limit. The process has not been a widely publicized provision in the Georgia DUI law, but the editorial board thinks students should be aware of it.

Although underage drinking is a hot issue, those over 21 - especially those in positions of authority - cannot forget to set a good example.

Even if you're not a lightweight, don't be fooled by the allure of having just a drink or two and then driving home. Don't give police officers any reason to pull you over, because any alcohol that shows up on your breath could wind up on your record as a DUI.

The cost of a taxi certainly is less than a DUI fine and the increase you'll likely face in insurance fees. Learn from Fu's example: just a few drinks could affect you for the rest of your life.

- Shannon Otto and Jennifer Paxton for the editorial board

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