By the late fourth millennium BC, formal civilizations were established in the Mesopotamian river valley, and ever since, there has been a shared effort amongst common people everywhere to fight against the powers that control. 

This is no different from our fine establishment that we call California High School.

Instead of poor peasant farmers and cruel tyrannical monarchies, we have teenage students and employed administrators. We no longer have life and death at stake but lunch detentions and Monday schools instead.

The most recent method of administration cracking down on us sinister students comes in the form of breathalyzers at the entrance to football games. 

Students entering the stadium must first face the possibility of being chosen and tested for traces of alcohol by an administrator.

It is no secret that intoxicated individuals have always seemed to make their way to Cal events, even though they never seem to make their way to a restroom when they have to yack.

These self selected few would either fly under the radar, or act recklessly and thus face the consequences. 

It is a pretty common and well known cycle.

But admin has decided to perpetuate their own cycle of increasing administrative control, which naturally leads to an increase in student displeasure and resistance.

This can be seen in the never ending battles for the right to eat in the main building and the removal of student freedom in the form of leaving campus.

This has been going on too long and the breathalyzers are just another swing of the wrecking ball in the destruction of any shreds of trust left between students and admin.

But I digress to raise an important question: When will this lack-of-trust based violation of personal privacy end? 

Why not breathalyze the 19-year-old alumni who are more likely to have a drink or two before the game?

Why stop there? Breathalyze 92-year-old grammy who took a few pulls of Ol’ Jack before the game because she’s been smoking and drinking since 1934.

Heck, why not breathalyze 12 year old Timmy, because it is best to instill fear before kids even get to Cal.

Because that’s all this is doing: instilling fear into students, most of whom are good kids that show up sober and just want to watch a football game with their friends and not be bothered.

Now I understand the logic of the administrators. This is a high school campus, where drugs and alcohol have no place. Nonetheless, I disagree with their methods.

The students who show up intoxicated are part of a very small minority.

So why breathalyze a few students entering the game, to no avail? 

I recommend the old-fashioned method of simply noticing whether an individual is under the influence. This method obviously provided results because admin put breathalyzers into place after making multiple “busts” of drunk students.

Even with their limited use, breathalyzers are simply another way for administrators to impose their power upon Cal students.

But it is most likely this article will be written at 1 a.m. in vain. The student voice has always been ignored because those in power do not like to look down and listen.