A new culture is emerging in American universities, and it is affecting hormonal teenag-ers aged 18 to 22. Alcohol directly affects the brain’s frontal lobe (where decision-making oc-curs) and is not fully developed until 23. Teenagers lose all control once the frontal lobe is af-fected. Victims have reported an increased desire for risky behaviors including: underage drink-ing, unprotected sex, and public nudity.

This culture is causing quite a stir in these fine-learning institutions (or is it?). Professors continue teaching and assigning homework as usual. (Lectures must go on!) Administrators re-port spending time in cubicles filing technical forms, while students menacingly plot the next wild party. When the President from a leading university was asked about this problem, he re-sponded casually, “Things are being done. I know the paperwork is around here somewhere.”

A first-year student, who was once homeschooled, describes her first encounter with the-se affected individuals: “This weekend a girl approached me and told me that she and a group of other students would be attending a dance club, where they planned to rub body parts together in a sexual manner. Another girl chimed in saying that they called this methodical dancing, ‘twerk-ing’. I was horrified.”

This culture of disrespect and alcohol abuse seems to be supported by music and social media outlets. The music industry is thriving off emotionally troubled teenagers who seek com-fort with lyrics such as “I just want to party” and “turn down for what.” The lyrics propel the teens into believing they can do anything if they set their brainwashed minds to it. Musicians and recording labels traditionally try to appeal to youth audiences, who are more likely to relate to their music. Musicians have moved away from lyrics about love and heartache to drugs and sex. These lyrics encourage teens to dance, sing, and say what they want, while completely disregard-ing traditional moral standards. Today’s teens accept this dramatic shift with open arms.

Social media is also playing a large role in this culture. Recently, popular actress Amanda Bynes was targeted for provoking teen’s bad behavior. She reportedly called out other actors by posting negative thoughts and profanities on social networking sites, which only encouraged teens to behave in a similar, disrespectful manner. Teens use social media to find out about the next “big thing,” using common applications such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. These social media outlets allow teens to be more connected to pop culture than ever before. One col-lege student said, “Social networking is the only way to be connected. Without it you are defi-nitely not cool. You are out of the loop, and nobody likes to be out of the loop.” Well said. With-out social media, this new culture would not have been born and will certainly not continue.

What happened to the good old days when students attended universities to only get an edu-cation? What happened to the times when students enjoyed each other’s company not surrounded by alcohol and disrespect? And more importantly, when is it all going to come to an end? These questions may never have a definitive answer, but regardless, the parties will go on!
Why do students embrace this culture so willingly? The answer is simple: times have changed. This is a different generation, whether your grandpa likes it or not. This is not your Woodstock-attending, minivan-driving culture; it is a culture that defies all standards set by its predecessors. But, it is important that we establish new standards for our society.
Ladies, you don’t need to wear heavy makeup, push-up bras, and booty shorts to get a man’s attention. And, gentlemen, ladies don’t need to know how many beers you can chug; they are much more impressed by your manners.

Respect your peers and then the party can go on!