It was a cozy, cloudy Saturday afternoon that was filled with much anticipation and excitement for the sophomore class “Halfway There” boat cruise. The preparations were like getting ready for the red carpet: Getting nails done, applying a lot of makeup and being dolled up in chic attire.

After a long bus ride, we arrive at the NYC Harbor, eating like we were Kate Middleton and Prince William. Suddenly, students are on their phones desperately calling and putting on their jackets, ready to leave. The event quickly turned from being a formal cruise into being a private party on a boat that stayed ashore the whole time.

The dance floor was almost vacant and though students weren’t allowed to leave the dock, due to some students drinking alcohol and disobeying the rules, students boycotted the dance after realizing that it wasn’t supposed to be a Great Gatsby party. A long line was formed to wait for early buses in order to bring students back to campus, not even 15 minutes into the dance.

And unsurprisingly, the one thing that spoiled it all was alcohol. I think it’s unfortunate that drinking to have a good time is a top priority. Sorry to be a party pooper, but life isn’t all about drinking. It ruined the night for the students doing the drinking and for others that just wanted to enjoy the moment at the dance with friends and celebrating our halfway-there experience. What is the point of basically forgetting about your experiences and acting irresponsibly?

Also, many don’t understand why we couldn’t leave the dock, and it was simply because the class had to pay the consequences of those who had a few too many shots. Also, a very Donald Trump thing to say would be that the students should have better respected the authorities and the chaperones that were trying to make the night a safe and sober one for everyone.

Here is a personal anecdote, and FYI, for you. My dad passed away from a boating accident during my childhood, and it was an accident that was traumatic and could have easily been avoided if boat safety were taken into account. So the moral of the story is to think before you act in any situation.

While the cruise didn’t exactly turn out as expected, being around close friends, dancing away and hanging out having a midnight snack at the South Side Cafe at Faber Hall were some of the best highlights.