National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week
 

Hello GCers!

I just wanted to pass along the tidbit that October 20-26 is National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week!

NCAAW's goal is to help students learn to make healthy choices about alcohol throughout their lifetime.

Please go back to your chapters this next week and think about positive ways to promote responsible decision making with regard to alcohol. Perhaps you can:

- give a special gift to your scheduled "sober sister/brother"
- Deliver a card to every fraternity and sorority on campus informing them about NCAAW and encouraging them to be responsible.
- Give a one-off donation to MADD or SADD.
- whatever else you can think of...be creative!

As someone who has lost a loved one in an alcohol-related incident, I would encourage you to think about this so that we can all stay safe, happy and healthy.

For more information, see http://www.iatf.org/

Thanks!

......Kelly :)

National Association for Student Personnel Administrators
Member of the Fraternity and Sorority Knowledge Community

Kelly,

Thanks. Fine ideas.

FYI...

Alcohol Awareness events at Ohio University focus on making wise decisions
ATHENS, Ohio -- The emphasis will be on the importance of students bringing their best judgment to all social settings and all situations during Alcohol Awareness Week at Ohio University from Oct. 14 through Oct. 18. BYOJ: Bring Your Own Judgment, which has been the theme of a social marketing campaign on campus for two years, is designed to enhance the college experience.

"The intent is to treat students as young adults who are capable of making their own decisions and, if they look at the big picture, will make smart, low-risk decisions," explained Char Kopchick, director of Health Education and Wellness at Ohio University. "We're not trying to dampen their good times. On the contrary, we want students to have the best college experience they can."

Toward that end, Alcohol Awareness activities focus on making certain their college and social experiences are marked by solid decision-making skills.

"We're trying to equip students to make good decisions. After all, they're the ones who pay the consequences," Kopchick noted. "One night of bad decisions can ruin an otherwise outstanding college career."

Alcohol Awareness events are coordinated by student members of POWER (Promoting Ohio University Wellness Education Responsibility), a group of 13 students who serve as peer educators.

"I think that information means more when it comes from one of your peers," POWER member Michelle Bensman, a sophomore, said. "The message has more impact if it's coming from someone who is going through the same things you are."

"Alcohol Awareness Week is important because many students come to college thinking that drinking has to be a big part of their life," Bensman said. "We want to educate people on the risks of drinking and let them know there are other things they can do. It's for their own safety and well-being. I'd want someone to share the facts with me."

An important aspect of the BYOJ efforts is to align reality with perception. "What we have found is that students tend to remember the big drinkers at parties, reinforcing the perception that most students are regular drinkers. In reality, most Ohio University students who choose to drink do so two or fewer times a week," Kopchick said. "We're trying to get across the importance of making low-risk choices that enhance good times."

Alcohol Awareness activities focus also on students' responsibilities as residents in the community, and POWER members of the "Party Patrol" will visit some off-campus student residences to share information on being good neighbors.

Alcohol Awareness Week schedule of events:
Monday, Oct. 14:
BYOJ Obstacle Course, Howard Hall Site, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The obstacle course involves a series of choices that can lead to tougher decisions or better outcomes.
Tuesday, Oct. 15:
POWER Hour, "Beer, Booze, Busted," Ping Recreation Center room B, 8 p.m. Students will share with their peers tips for making the types of party decisions that will keep the party started and reduce the risks of being in violation with the law.
Wednesday, Oct. 16:
"The Real Buzz," 7 p.m., Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium. Nationally recognized speaker David Hellstrom, who regularly speaks at campuses nationwide, is in Athens for the second straight year to challenge students to make healthy decisions regarding alcohol, sex and other important real-life choices.
Thursday, Oct. 17:
Party Patrol. POWER students will spend the evening visiting several off-campus student residences to share packets of information on how to be good neighbors. Included in the stops will be residences where noise violations have previously occurred.
Friday, Oct. 18:
BYOJ Obstacle Course, OktoberfEAST on East Green, 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. The obstacle course will be part of the fest, sponsored by Residence Life, which includes food, music, hayrides and other fun fall activities.


[ 30 ]

Last night my chapter hosted an educational seminar with our university student health office for Alcohol Awareness Week.

We got a great turn out, and it some thought it was ironic that a fraternity was doing educational programming on alcohol for the student body.

Excellent! Thank you for sharing some of the programs on offer at the various campuses! I'm glad to see that people still care about alcohol awareness - especially greeks!

Rock on!

.....Kelly :)

i'll drink to that!!

haha, jk jk.. we definitely are going to participate here at uml... education is the best way to prevent binging