Dear Editor of Otter Realm,

I know this is just a college paper and all, but give me a break! I find it ridiculous that you all would have the first article of your Oct. 4-18 paper be about alcohol awareness, and then also include an article instructing students on how to play beer pong. Where is the sense in that? Oh and I loved the line about the controversy surrounding the game. I thought the article was going to talk about how it can be dangerous to binge drink or something, but no. The “controversy” is what the game should be called. Are you serious?! Yeah, let’s tell students how to play binge drinking games and include that while this game is played there is usually “vomiting, fights, and causal sex.” Wow. I know students are going to drink and probably play drinking games too, but is it really necessary to give them step by step instructions?

Melissa Brunow

Dear Melissa,

Thank you for response to the Oct. 4-18 issue of the Otter Realm. I can understand your concern about the content of the paper; however, it was not our intention to offend or even promote binge drinking. The purpose of our paper is to inform and present facts and ideas; sometimes topics and events will appear in the same issue but are not directly associated in any way.

The article, “ Beirut: Competition, Social Status and Intoxication,” was located in the sports section and was an article that explored the alternative sport of Beirut. The reporter did research, conducted interviews and presented a very truthful and honest look at the sport, specifically within our campus’s social vista. I know that the article did not explore the physical and mental ramifications of binge drinking or connections between sexual assault and alcohol consumption, but it was meant to explore the Beirut culture at CSUMB.

We have in the past written articles that explore drinking alcohol and sexual assault and the concerns related. In the May 3-10 issue of the Otter Realm a very in-depth look at the Monterey nightlife was written about in “Sexual Assault, in Local Bars Still Prevalent.” We also have written articles that look at alternative games and sports, like the April 5-18 issue of the Otter Realm article called “Players Club: A Look at Poker Culture,” where the game of Poker is clarified and looked at specifically in the campus’ social realm. These articles explain but do not look at the larger social issues that stem from the scenes that surround them.

Lindsay Cesmat, Otter Realm Editor in Chief