Walk carefully during Homecoming

Let me start out by saying that I am not your mother, and I'm not a prude.  I completely understand the appeal of The Walk.  It's an epic rite of passage that allows you to prove to your buddies how tough you are…before you throw up and lose consciousness.  I'm not going to tell you not to walk because it's your choice. 

You might be thinking, ah it's just The Walk, and there are designated walkers anyway.  I know that sober people are provided to make sure that you don't hurt/maim yourself, and I think that's fantastic.  

I applaud you if you're willing to babysit a one hundred pound baby for a few hours.  However, I'm aware that the designated walkers don't always do their job.  

Some people think it's hilarious to get their buddy drunk and then just turn them loose, which is a terrifying thing, especially if you've never been that drunk before.  Seeing the world through inebriated eyes with no one to help you would never be a fun or entertaining thing.  

Keep an eye out for not only your drunk self but also other drunk people.  It wouldn't take much to trip and fall onto Wabash and get run over by a car.  I made the mistake of driving down Wabash last year, and I had to dodge drunk pedestrians the whole time.   

Even after  The Walk  has ended, there is still quite a bit of time left to the day, it ends right before the game starts after all.  If your inebriated friend plans on going to the game, make sure that he/she doesn't embarrass themselves too much and that they don't hurt themselves.  

Now let's say that your buddy is feeling a bit too under the weather to go to the game.  Don't just drop them off at home and head back.  

With the amount of alcohol that the average person consumes on The Walk, they could be at a pretty good risk for alcohol poisoning.  If you really want to go back to the game, then call somebody to stay with or check in on your friend.  

Chances are their buzz will turn sour and they'd probably appreciate having someone with them.

Go see all the tents, enjoy a great game played by our very own Sycamores, and if you feel like doing The Walk, then walk to your heart's content.  All I'm saying is to just be mindful of your and other's safety.  

Don't speed this weekend, watch out for wayward pedestrians, keep an eye on your drunken buddies and please watch out for drunk drivers.  

This can be a great weekend if you're careful, but it can also be catastrophic if you aren't.