MAYHEM

By Maryann Dakkak

It's party time at Santa Clara. Well, I guess its always party time for some people here. School's only been in session a measly two weeks and there haven't been many sober nights.

And lately, the nightlife has been caught off-guard with the onslaught of police officers. Remember last weekend when the three main parties at Sig Pi, the Wasteland, and the Ranch were all broken up in a period of about 15 minutes? Students were running amuck in confusion. So what are they to do?

I mean, really, we work our butts off all week long slaving away at our desks, and we deserve some release. Maybe it is overdone sometimes, and yes, too much alcohol is definitely an ominous specter preying on us vulnerable students, but there's a limit!

So with the parties being closed down and the laws of the land being upheld in our little Santa Clara bubble, students are having to look elsewhere for ways to release their energy.

A new arrival in Sunnyvale might be just what most students need. The Forum, an amazing dance clubs that boasts two floors, one for hip-hop, and one for house music, gives it's patrons an awesome atmosphere and catchy tunes to get down to. Plus, they are open for the 18 and over crowd three days a week: Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

I'd suggest the movies as well, but the AMC Mercado seems to be more treathcerous than a ride in the paddy wagon, considering the hordes of people, crazy lines and sold out signs on every movie. But AMC Saratoga is not looking half as bad. Then again, there are the prices, and with our small student budgets, most of the time movies just don't cut it.

For those who refuse to change their lifestyles, with a little bit of care, respect and self-responsiblity, you can continue to party safely.

And except for maybe a few people who were scared into sobriety, I highly doubt it's going to make much of a dent on the party scene. We might be smarter about it, but it's not going to stop. As long as students are working hard, they'll party hard, and yes, hopefully responsibly. I can only speak for myself. I just hope they know that instead of stopping "the problem" the police have lost some of our trust.

I'll see y'all tomorrow, at the usual places, doing our usual thing. But please, do be smart and responsible, I really don't want to have to watch anyone else be taken in. Until then, be good. Oh, and use the crosswalks.