Steroid investigation shows danger in apathy

April 6, 2006

Last week the Northern Star published a three-part investigative piece about steroids.

The extensive, two-month research turned up many interesting scenarios, from NIU staff speculating about availability in the Campus Recreation Center to a Huskie athlete admitting team conversations about using the drugs happen regularly.

But the most disturbing bit of information came after the release of the first article.

Readers throughout campus began commenting to each other about steroids on campus.

The thing is, they made blatant comments and voiced their opinions so confidently and without concern of who was in earshot, it seemed as if they were talking about going to McDonald's or watching television - not discussing the use of illegal substances.

An eight-week search for sources willing to speak openly about their knowledge of steroid use at NIU turned up no concrete evidence of athletes or other students using the drugs. Though people speculated others used the substances, nobody admitted to the Star about using the drugs themselves.

Yet, after the issue was on racks for less than a day, people spoke freely about the who and where of steroid use, unaware of the neighboring Star reporters and editors.

Though the speculation of these readers is hardly the substantial evidence of NIU steroid use that the Star was looking for, it does lead us to believe people are more accepting of these drugs than we, national sports writers or public service announcements could have ever imagined.

And that is not only scary, it is dangerous. It's not as dangerous as actually using steroids, but being apathetic and unconcerned if others do is just as bad.