As New Orleans closes the chapter on Mardi Gras season, Tulane University students have shifted their attention to forward-looking pursuits like securing a summer internship or preparing for their semester abroad in the fall. Amid the seasonal reset and academic refocus, it’s time for students to reconsider their relationship to alcohol.
Tulane alumna Neva Coleman spoke publicly about her sobriety journey and the impact her college experience had on her relationship with alcohol. She described growing up with intense pressure to excel academically and athletically.
Coleman said that she used alcohol as an escape, and during her time at Tulane, her drinking escalated from misuse to abuse. She recalls blacking out frequently and going on extended benders, even as she continued to maintain strong grades. For a time, she justified her behavior as her way to “let loose,” using her academic success to minimize the seriousness of her drinking.
For many young adults, skipping a night out isn’t just about saving moneyit’s about prioritizing long-term health and wellness. But at Tulane, the culture around drinking can feel more complicated. There is an unspoken pressure to curate the perfect “work-life balance”: Excel in the classroom, maintain your mental health and look physically fit while doing it all. It’s a lifestyle that often feels less like balance and more like performance.
Ultimately, it is impossible to do everything at once without burnout, breaks and a serious reality check.
Junior Cora Fitzgerald gave up drinking alcohol for Lent this year.
“I think partying will always be integral to Tulane’s student life,” Fitzgerald said. “But there is a broader cultural shift toward prioritizing physical and mental health, and I think I already feel that at Tulane.”
Fitzgerald’s decision reflects a growing trend among students who are reevaluating their relationship with alcohol. While Tulane is known for its vibrant social scene, students like Fitzgerald suggest that campus culture may be evolving to put a stronger emphasis on wellness and balance.
Choosing sobriety or even moderation can feel isolating. The expectation to show up to the pregame and the bar can clash with the generational shift toward wellness.
My biggest piece of advice for students is to take it week by week. Make time to be with friends, try new restaurants, go to the movies and prioritize sleep. Some weekends it may be exciting to go out, have fun and engage in the party scene, but it doesn’t have to be every week. Students can find balance by choosing certain nights to go out and keeping others for themselves.