Hello. My name is Darby Archbold and I go to the University of South Carolina. I know what you're thinking: Michael Phelps smoked weed there. Or maybe you didn't even realize it was at USC because most of the stories about this incident have just dropped off the university name. Either way, this has been a topic of discussion all over my campus and in most of my classes. Needless to say, it is on everybody's mind. So because I like to speak my mind, here is a USC student's take on Phelps.

 

When Michael Phelps was visiting USC he went down to our bar area and mingled with students. I heard he was bad at beer pong. Then apparently he went to a party and smoked some weed. I don't advocate smoking marijuana, but really? This guy won eight gold medals and everybody is going to freak out because there was a picture of him with a bong? No one seems to be bothered by other celebrities (because Phelps is no longer just an athelete) and their similar behavior. Let him live his life. The Olympics are over and even if this doesn't represent America in the light some might prefer, it is a little irrelevant. Marijuana is legal in a lot of other countries. Not to mention we've got much bigger problems right now.

 

The silver lining? He's provided a great case study for my public relations/journalism classes. Even though I'm sick of hearing about it, it's been kind of beneficial and an application of what I've been studying. Strange, but true. So thanks, Michael.