By: Dr. Patsy Fowler, English faculty, and Jill Yashinsky-Wortman, Director, Center for Cura Personalis
You are well on your way to becoming a ZAG—Congratulations and welcome to the community! Being a Zag is an amazing opportunity, and with it comes both moral and ethical responsibilities. Part of joining Zag Nation means embracing the GU Mission which calls upon everyone in our community to respect the dignity of the human person. And while this commitment calls upon us to be empathetic toward others, it also calls for each of us to care for ourselves in a way that upholds our own values and dignity. This is especially true in times of newfound freedom, such as the college experience you are about to embark upon. And while it’s important for you to embrace this freedom, it is equally important for you to be intentional about staying connected to your values and do things that maintain your physical, mental and emotional health — as well as that of others. This is never truer than in relation to the decisions you make around alcohol, substance use, and intimacy during your time in college.
Pop culture, alluring stories from older peers or siblings, and even adults reminiscing about “the glory days” may have already created impressions in you about what your college experience could and maybe even should be. But stop, and ask yourself, what do you really want from your college experiences? How will your college experience fit with your values and who you want to become?
Let’s talk reality—our own research and experience has shown us that some Gonzaga students, whether of legal age or not, will choose to consume alcohol or other substances. Some will also choose to engage in sexual intimacy with another person. We recognize that while we, as a Catholic university, have the responsibility for communicating Catholic teaching with respect to moral and ethical behavior, on an individual level these are important decisions that need to be made carefully and in consideration of your personal values. We also believe decisions about drinking and sexual intimacy are ones that should be made independently of each other. Some students, however, will choose to engage in both of these behaviors at the same time. Not only can this situation get messy and complicated, it is often recipe for disaster, and it doesn’t honor the dignity of the whole person for either of you. Let’s be honest—alcohol consumption impacts the judgement of everyone involved. Social cues are harder to read, communication of expectations is fuzzy, consent is trickier or not possible to obtain, and moral, ethical and legal boundaries may be crossed. We put this out there not to scare you or to limit your “fun” at GU, but rather, we ask you to consider how your decisions reflect your own values, honor the dignity of those around you, and show your commitment to Gonzaga’s mission. The healthiest relationships, even those that may be short lived, are those that are founded on mutual respect and shared consent.
As a community, Gonzaga defines healthy relationships as the following:
In alignment with the GU Mission Statement, students are encouraged to engage in healthy relationships that foster a mature commitment to the dignity of both persons and are founded upon mutual respect. Healthy interpersonal relationships, especially intimate ones, are further defined as emotionally supportive relationships that align with individual values, promote identity development, refine and enhance interpersonal skills, and honor the setting of personal boundaries.
As you step on campus and begin life as a Zag, we challenge you to pursue new knowledge, build new relationships, enjoy new experiences, and embrace that newfound freedom that college presents. And, above all, we encourage you to respect the tenets of the GU Mission, remaining especially mindful of St. Ignatius’s call to respect the dignity of all human persons, including yourself.