Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2003/04/16/liberation_abroad_repression_at_home/
Liberation abroad, repression at home – a student's tale
Don't drink and share music
Posted in Bootnotes, 16th April 2003 19:55 GMT
Letter of the Week Re: RIAA attacks the future of America
The RIAA's attack on the youth of the USA, demanding $97 trillion from four students for sharing music, provoked this missive from a college student and Register reader.
To: ashlee.vance@theregister.co.uk
Subject: RIAA antics and the societal need to get drunk
Hello,
I found this article interesting and personally applicable for a number of reasons.not the least of which being the recent (voluntary) end of the DC hub on our LAN here at Ohio State University.
While I'm sad to see my source of media disappear, I don't blame the operator for trying to avoid being lynched by the RIAA.
That pointless comment aside, Id like to mention that the police in Columbus, Ohio DO crack down on underage drinking, nothing else actually.
(Last year I was arrested twice for underage drinking while 20 and even jailed for a month for this heinous crime. Both cases involved police raiding houses with undercover officers and shotgun-wielding liquor control agents)
There was a serial rapist operating around the university district with impunity for several months until a vigilant citizen clubbed him with something.... meanwhile the Columbus Division of Police
had set up several "task forces" and dedicated hundreds of officers to (and I quote) "rid the university and community of underage drinking and punish those caught under the full extent
of the law"
I chalk this up to the governor's wife, who wields control over the state's alcohol control services and has publicly advocated her wish to return to complete alcohol prohibition and raise the penalty for cannabis possession from a civil citation to a class B felony punishable by up to 25 yrs in state prison.
Sorry to bore an esteemed reporter from The Register with this ranting, but you illustrated an important point even if you were joking or being sarcastic: the educational fabric of OSU is collapsing from this seemingly trivial subject.
There are at least 3 or 4 extremely destructive riots here every year as a result of people trying to drinkor have large parties and 150 riot police with tear gas and rubber bullets show up and start firing indiscriminately and beating people up on the street.
Where are the bars you ask? Demolished, along with every other small business near campus in a large-scale redevelopment project designed to bring in national chain stores that is being funded by none other than....the US federal government.
Well I've said my piece, now Im going to pirate some music, smoke a joint, and go get drunk.
[name supplied]