There's something missing here...

DeltAlum · #1 05-23-2002, 01:15 AM

Can you believe it? Here's an article on binge drinking from the Ohio University "Post," and it doesn't mention the Greek System even once.

Binge drinking still popular on college campuses, reports show
by Karlie Dunsky
For The Post

While students are drinking to excess less in high school and have better access to warnings against extreme drinking, a study by the Harvard School of Public Health shows almost half of college students continue to binge drink.

According to the study, the percentage of U.S. college students that binge drink remains 44 percent, the same as it has been for the last decade.

Last year 1,400 college students in the United States died in alcohol-related deaths. OU has had at least one alcohol-related death this year. Nathan Roberts, an Ohio University student, died in Columbus during winter break on his 21st birthday.

The problem hits home with OU administrators, who are working to combat statistics with educational campaigns.

“We know the number of students coming to OU already using alcohol is higher than the national average,” said Judy Piercy, director of OU judiciaries.

A nationwide study showed that, on average, 49 percent of students entering college have consumed beer in the past year. Seventy-five percent of incoming OU students said they had drank beer in the last year.

During Fall Quarter at OU, 60 percent of all judicial referrals filed were alcohol related — offenses that can result in probation, suspension or expulsion from the university. Ten percent of all judicial referrals dealt with intoxication.

OU’s Coalition Advocating Responsible Decisions this year re-launched the “Bring Your Own Judgment” campaign, which has been supported for the last three years by a $10,000 grant from Ohio Parents for Drug-Free Use. The campaign largely consists of posters and other items with facts about drinking and safe sex, such as a pyramid that explains the effects of increasing amounts of alcohol on people and the 13 steps to correctly put on and remove a condom.

Rather than put excessive drinking in terms of binge drinking, the organization prefers to view drinking in terms of high or low risk-taking. Low-risk drinking is considered one drink per hour, which is the rate the body can process alcohol. Drinking at a higher rate is considered high risk. A risk always is present to underage drinkers because they are breaking the law.

Several important factors keep students from realizing the risk in their drinking. Shots and large drinks are dangerous because students do not realize what they are drinking or how much alcohol they are consuming, said Charlene Kopchik, director of health education and wellness at Hudson Health Center.

And BYOJ also targets risks frequently related to alcohol, such as sexually transmitted diseases, sexual assaults and unplanned pregnancies.

“We’re hitting a variety of issues in one campaign,” Kopchik said.

But the effectiveness of the BYOJ campaign continues to be debated among students.

OU senior Jen Robb said while the facts on the BYOJ “java jackets” on cups in The Front Room are depressing first thing in the morning, the information is not effective in influencing her behavior.

But other students said the campaign is worthwhile.

“I think that people are impressionable,” said OU senior Leo DeLuca. “The campaign helps them to conform to the judgment of others. If you realize you drink five times a week when most people drink twice a week, it may make you realize there may be something wrong with you.”

OU’s Residence Life staff also started a campaign called “Just Say Know” to educate students on the effects of alcohol. The project includes posting weekly fliers with facts about alcohol around residence halls. These posters warn that binge drinkers are far more likely to do poorly in school, get into legal trouble and drive drunk.

“We want people to think about their alcohol use and its effects on the culture and the campus in general,” said Wendy Merb-Brown, associate director of Residence Life.

The effects of poor decision-making do not only affect victims, but everyone who cares for those people, Kopchik said.

“We can do so much, we can have university policies… but it comes down to each individual taking responsibility,” Kopchik said.

Kevin · #2 05-23-2002, 11:39 AM

I can see two possabilities....

1. The reporter was lazy and couldn't track down and credible sources to talk about greek alcohol violations.

2. The reporter was smart and realized that drinking is problem that is not exclusive to the greek community. It's a problem for any campus AS A WHOLE.

DeltAlum · #3 05-23-2002, 11:46 AM

KT,

Could go either way. Or maybe both.

Another possibility is that maybe the reporter is a sorority woman.

AOX81 · #4 05-23-2002, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltAlum
Another possibility is that maybe the reporter is a sorority woman.

That's exactly what I was thinking. If it is true we need more Greek Writers and Reporters!!!

Kevin · #5 05-23-2002, 01:01 PM

Yes she could have been a sorority woman but I'd hope that wouldn't be her sole reason for not mentioning the greek system. That would be unethical

My reason #2 would cover that justification just fine, or so I thought...

(see above)

Of course if she was a sorority woman she should have included some text to the tune of "Binge drinking isn't limited to fraternity and sorority members, it is a problem facing all college students". Of course that study (another debate entirely) has figures that would tell you otherwise....

I'm happy with it though!

DeltAlum · #6 05-23-2002, 01:03 PM

And if there aren't more Greek reporters, every chapter should at the very least have someone in charge of liason with local media -- someone who is in regular contact with friendly or sympathetic reporters or editors.

I've said this many times before. Be proactive in media relations. Don't wait for a crisis.

KT's point is well taken. A Greek writer might not, however, go out of her/his way to drag Greeks into the story. It is probably safe to assume that Greeks were mentioned in the report that this reporter was writing about, but she had the vision to see the overall "big picture" instead of pointing fingers at any specific segment.

dzrose93 · #7 05-23-2002, 01:25 PM

I just received this information from a DZ sister:

There is an article this week in the Journal of the American
Medical Association that studies state trends in health risk factors
among adults. It indicates that "binge drinking" is up among adults (no mention of college age adults or Greeks). It seems to be a societal issue, not just a college or Greek issue. Nineteen states reported an increase in binge drinking, while only two reported a decline. If you really want to quote the article, go to
http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v287.../joc10528.html

Interesting!

DeltAlum · #8 05-23-2002, 02:08 PM

Personally, in my more mature years, I've decided to try "Binge Sobriety."

I don't drink for sometimes days at a time and then drink moderately when I'm on the road or out to dinner or something.

I know you will all be shocked...but it works pretty well.

dzrose93 · #9 05-23-2002, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltAlum
Personally, in my more mature years, I've decided to try "Binge Sobriety."

I don't drink for sometimes days at a time and then drink moderately when I'm on the road or out to dinner or something.

I know you will all be shocked...but it works pretty well.

LOL, DeltAlum!

Gosh, now that I think about it, I fall into the Binge Sobriety category too.

LXAAlum · #10 05-23-2002, 06:18 PM

Let's see, how would one state this at the support meetings, DeltAlum?

"Hi, I'm LXAAlum, and I'm a Binge Sobrietor?"

However we would word it, I'd be in that group as well!