Student reasons for getting permanent tattoos varies

By Jared Hanna
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

In recent years, body art at Norwich University has become a popular tradition, and the trend of teenagers and students in their early 20s getting tattoos reveals that they permanently ink themselves for a variety of reasons.

"For some people as soon as they turn 18 it's kind of like 'look at me I'm 18;' it's almost like a marker," said John Driscoll, 21, a business management major from Maine.

But according to Mike Presti, 20, a junior management major from Bedford, Mass, the motivation is to keep memories. "To remember something by keeping part of it with you always, which you can get all misty eyed when you think about it."

"It's definitely a big step for a person, like finding out who they are and what they want to be," said Nathan Hadlock, 21, a junior peace war and diplomacy major from Montpelier, Vt.

For Driscoll, getting a tattoo is "something to make you distinct. Some people like to express themselves in certain ways."

Historically, a majority of those getting "cut" have been men; however, recently both men and women have shared the experience equally.

"People say punk rockers always have the tattoos; anybody does," said Michelle Bentz, 20, a sophomore criminal justice major from Northfield, N.J. "You don't have to be a specific type of person. You can be the most conservative person and have a tattoo, and you wouldn't know about it."

A common tattoo theme at Norwich is Corps of Cadets company tattoos, or a sports team tattoo.

"I already have one that symbolizes my tank platoon affiliation, and I am planning on getting one on my other arm, for my company: 'Golf Company, spirit of the corps,'" Hadlock said.

The sports team tattoos are a well known tradition at Norwich, with the football team getting tattoos starting sometime in the mid to late 1980s, and the lacrosse team following suit sometime in the mid 1990s.

This tradition is not limited to varsity teams, as the Norwich men's rugby club has their own tattoo design as well, the "Rugadillo," Presti said.

Some warn, however, that getting tattoos can become addictive. "I got one over spring break last year, and as soon as I got that I was thinking about where else could I put one," Bentz said.

William Dougherty, 20, a business management major from Florida agreed. "They're extremely addicting; be careful. I have four, and as I gradually went along, they got bigger and bigger."

As the designs of these tattoos get bigger and bolder, so do the costs.

"I have about $800 worth of ink on my body," Dougherty said. "The cheapest being $75 and the most expensive one was $175."

The permanency of the tattoo scares off many from venturing into that world. And some students at Norwich warn that this consideration should not be forgotten.

"You just have to realize that it's permanent, and that you can't get it off, and it's always going to be with you," Bentz said. "You just got to make the right choice, and that's what some people don't understand. Some people get them just to get them."

A lifelong decision, such as these tattoos, is something some students are ready to make.

"They mean a lot to me, and I'm glad I have them, and I don't think I will ever regret having them," Presti said. "They represent a part of me, something that won't ever necessarily change."

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