In past semesters, college students studying through their university’s abroad programs have been perpetuating some American stereotypes with their partying habits.

Some universities and colleges across the country, though, are making an effort to change the actions of their students this semester. This move for change includes Syracuse University, which has faced its own challenges dealing with students adjusting to a new environment.

‘There have always been incidents and there continue to be incidents,’ said Jim Buschman, associate director of the Division of International Programs Abroad. ‘It’s fair to say it’s as much as a concern now as it’s ever been.’

A major reason for the high number of incidents that occur abroad is due to the difference in the legal drinking age. While young people in the United States have to wait until they turn 21 to drink legally, students in places like Europe can drink as early as 17 or 18 years old, said Rebecca Thonet, a junior communication sciences and disorders major.

Although not a big drinker herself, Thonet noticed many of the students in her program taking advantage of the easy accessibility of alcohol while she studied abroad in London last semester.

‘It’s the forbidden fruit syndrome,’ Thonet said. ‘People (abroad) are drinking at times when they normally wouldn’t.’

Thonet said that the social drinking habits of Europeans and lower drinking age spurred students to consume more alcohol, but in smaller increments.

‘(We’d have) a beer or two at lunch, a glass or two of wine with dinner, and then we might have more alcohol if we went out that night,’ Thonet said.

While in London, Thonet said she spoke to a local police officer who stated that drinking wasn’t usually a problem because of the casual attitude locals have about alcohol, yet when problems did occur, it was usually with Americans.

Buschman agreed with Thonet when he reflected on his experiences abroad.

‘If I’m out in the evening, if I encounter a group of people drunk, they are going to be Americans,’ Buschman said. ‘When students visit abroad, it tails off on what’s going on at the (SU) campus. It’s a carry-over of Marshall Street.’

When Americans act out at the beginning of their abroad program, it is most likely because they have not adjusted to the new social scene around them, where drinking excessively is less popular.

‘The bars are definitely different,’ said Matt Scaglione, a junior sculpture major, and a student who participated in DIPA’s program in Florence, Italy. ‘The Italians don’t go out and drink like we do.’

Because the environment is so different, some students can find themselves in bad situations, according to Buschman.

‘(DIPA) deals with cases of sexual assault, rape, and injury,’ Buschman said. ‘In virtually every case, over-consumption of alcohol is involved.’

In order to have a true, positive abroad experience, both Buschman and Scaglione suggest stepping away from traditional American activities, and learning about the surrounding culture.

While he was in Italy, Scaglione realized the importance of giving up the American ways of partying, and enjoy the cultural lifestyle that surrounded him.

‘I figured you have your whole life in America to get drunk at bars, why not do the Italian thing?’ Scaglione said.

Published on August 30, 2004 at 12:00 pm