It was a tough weekend for Florida State University.

It did not go how anyone expected it would.

One of our own died, Pi Kappa Phi pledge, Andrew Coffey. He was from Pompano Beach. He was 20-years-old. This story shakes me, another 20-year-old student just trying to earn my way in life. His death is a tragedy, his life was cut off too short, his goals now forever unreachable.

The same weekend, a member of FSU’s Phi Delta Theta fraternity was arrested on charges of trafficking cocaine and more arrests are expected to be made throughout the week relating to this case.

In light of these events, and the infamous standing reputation of Panhellenic life on campuses, Florida State President Thrasher announced the indefinite suspension of any and all Greek life on our campus.

He wants this suspension to spur on the creation of a “new normal for Greek life at the University.” He says for sororities and fraternities to be allowed back on campus, “[t]here must be a new culture, and our students must be full participants in creating it.” Thrasher has also banned alcohol from any and all university-related organizations. He is not playing around, and he is not taking this lightly, saying he “want[s] to send a serious message” because “[w]e’ve got a serious problem.”

Although it is sad that such a tragic event had to be the catalyst for someone to call for this change, I am so glad that Thrasher is taking such a serious tone on this manner. There is a problem that has been festering on many campuses for many years, the problem of overconsumption of alcohol and the encouragement of reckless behavior. Across the country, there is the ideology that college is for drinking heavily and partying hard. Partying and drinking themselves are not the issue, but when done in excess, they lead to reckless behavior and dangerous situations that can be detrimental or, in Andrew Coffey’s situation, deadly.

The state of Florida is one of many states who have a Good Samaritan Act in place that gives limited immunity to underage drinkers in the event that they call 911 for help if a friend needs, provided they stay at the scene. Yet this is but a band-aid on a gaping wound. This law has helped in some situations, but it has not been the culture change we need on college campuses.

People are still afraid to call for help, or just don’t think the situation is serious enough to call for help until it is too late. A bigger shift in thinking is needed if we as a society and age group are going to be able to improve.

If FSU is to be a statistic, let it be a statistic for positive change.

We cannot solve a problem this large and important with a cop-out program, we need a long-term, preventative revolution. I thank President Thrasher for putting what is hopefully a mindset and lifestyle overhaul into place in the Panhellenic and IFC lifestyle.

Let us at FSU hold the torch and lead the way in carving a different future, and let this be the first step.

Let’s remember and mourn Andrew Coffey, and let’s work to make his story less common.

Let’s clean up our acts, clean up Heritage Grove, and start the walk towards a healthier, less destructive college lifestyle.