At Texas State University, Tara Monroe, a junior, has been seen riding around campus in a cute little pink Barbie jeep. And suddenly we all wondered why we aren't riding around campus in Barbie jeeps. It's practical, fun, and Barbie jeeps are adorable, but what gave her this idea?
Tara Monroe was arrested for driving while intoxicated after a Waka Flaka concert. She was released on bond. Her father, who was presumably infuriated with this, came and took her car. Not wanting to ride a bike around, Monroe purchased a Barbie jeep off of Craigslist, and even named it after the girl she bought it from. I understand that it's funny to see someone riding around college in a Power Wheels jeep, but what are we really encouraging here?
She drove drunk, she put the lives of others in danger, and now she is famous for having to find a new means of transportation after facing the consequences of a horrible decision. By putting so much emphasis on the hilarity of the Jeep, we ignore the fact that binge-drinking and drunk driving are huge problems, especially among the college community. She easily could have injured or killed herself or others by choosing to drive drunk; this is not something to be taken lightly. People are killed and hurt everyday in car accidents involving a drunk driver. We are ignoring the severity of drunk driving.
Monroe says buying the jeep was "the best way [she] could have gotten [her] fifteen minutes of fame," and calls it the best decision she has made in college. Our society has empowered and encouraged this young woman for making what could have been a life-altering decision. We are condoning it in the name of humor, and she is basking in the fame.
Before you laugh at her means of transportation and praise her for being clever and creative, think of why she ended up in the situation where she needed the Barbie jeep.
The Barbie Jeep is funny, but drunk driving is not.
