March 1, 2013: The day Illini nation all become ravaging Michigan Spartan fans. Or, at least that is what freshman-me decided Unofficial really was. For a campus usually covered with bright orange and some blue, it is the one day of the year where campus is covered in Spartan green. And not to say I haven’t bought a t-shirt or two over the years, but I have never really been a fan.

And no, it never helped that this was the time of year for midterms. During my sophomore year, for example, I had six midterms in the week following Unofficial and I was only in five classes. (Yes, I realize this makes little sense. I am still trying to figure that one out.)

I always laughed at the students waking up at 6 a.m. to get drunk and then groaned at those same students for stumbling in drunk to class. If I am going to be up at six, my apartment building better be on fire or someone better be surprising me with a trip to Disneyland. Maybe I’m missing something but Ke$ha’s brushing her teeth in the morning with a bottle of jack just doesn’t scream “This is how I want to spend my Friday morning.” (My Friday and Saturday nights have potential for another story.)

We all have heard the story as to how Unofficial has come to be. Campus bars wanted students around to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, but the holiday almost always lands during our spring break (like this year, for example). I mean, the idea is brilliant: Create a holiday dedicated to drinking. It is perfect for a college campus and even better for the bars. The holiday brings in so many outside students for more income, and to be honest, most of the outsiders make for most of the problems, racking up the most drinking citations year to year.

Really, I have nothing against the student body participating in the unofficial holiday. Hanging out with friends, enjoying each other’s company, nothing wrong with alcohol aiding that. But it does become a problem when it is overdone. This Unofficial, we need to remember the downsides — underage drinking tickets and alcohol poisoning. And unfortunately there have been instances where someone has died. While many of these instances may not have been caused by students at this University, they really could have been anyone of us.

And how much is Champaign and Urbana spending on this day just to help keep things in control?

Last year there were 289 tickets written. While down from 364 in 2011, that number is still staggering. For those of you struggling to pay rent or tuition month to month just be careful you don’t find yourself having to pay a $300 ticket.

But for Unofficial being, “unofficial,” here is what I find the most interesting. Over the years we have all joked that if campus sends out their yearly massmails to parents on their stance on Unofficial, doesn’t that make Unofficial… official? And I cannot imagine those letters to be anything other than a waste of money. How many students have parents forcing their 18- or 19-year-olds home for the weekend just so they stay sober and under watchful eyes? Better yet, try that with a 21- or 22-year-old senior. I’m sure that would go over well. And all of the emails they spend time sending out? While free to send, how many are actually read? These do little to discourage drinking.

There is nothing wrong with a beer or two with friends on a Friday night. But be smart. And remember, if anyone from out of town today who has not spoken to you since high school asks you for a place to stay — it is probably not because they decided this was the perfect weekend to rekindle your long-lost friendship.

In case I didn’t lose you long ago when stating I am not a fan of Unofficial, just do me a favor and be smart out there tomorrow.

And stay safe, Illini.

Joanna is a senior in LAS. She can be reached at [email protected].