Coalition program to deal with campus alcohol woes
CALIFORNIA – In an effort to decrease alcohol consumption among the students at California University, the California Campus Community Coalition met Friday to discuss their goals for the year 2003 and talk about which actions have been effective in the past. According to chairman Liz Gruber, the coalition has been in operation on the campus for five years. It has been funded by grant money from the state Liquor Control Board, and more recently has received money from Pennsylvania liquor-control enforcement agencies.
“Our goal has been to increase alcohol enforcement on campus, and to increase the number of alcohol-free options the students have for activities,” said Gruber. “We’ve received money from liquor-control enforcement agencies to help increase enforcement on campus, which is very important.”
A number of students on campus belong to the coalition, some belonging to other organizations that are related to it. Melissa Berry is also a member of the Coalition Against Rape.
“We do link sexual assault with alcohol use because it often occurs with drinking and that is why we are involved,” said Berry.
Her organization distributes promotional items to enforce the idea that people should be careful about watching their drinks when they are out and not leaving them unattended. They also send posters and bar napkins to bar owners to display, letting people know that sex without consent is rape, even if alcohol is involved.
“We really want to increase our campaign as much as possible,” said Berry.
One of the primary actions the coalition has taken to increase awareness about alcohol use is a survey of “social norms,” according to Gruber.
“We survey students about how much they drink throughout the week, and we find out there are some misconceptions,” said Gruber. “Some people think that all of the other students are drinking, and they may behave that way because they think it is the norm. But we find out that really isn’t the case, and that many students don’t drink a lot of alcohol. Zero to five drinks a week is the norm, and some students don’t drink at all.”
Last year, the coalition distributed a calendar on campus that said, “More are Drinking Less” to reinforce the fact most students are not drinking every week. It contained statistics on each page about the amount of alcohol students consume on average. It also contained a schedule for the Underground Caf?, an alcohol-free coffee house, and sports schedules, which give students options for activities that don’t involve drinking. Gruber said the coalition plans to produce another calendar this year, because representatives feel it is more effective than some other promotional items, such as posters.
“I think the calendar is more functional,” said Dr. Tim Susick, dean of student development, who has also been instrumental in helping the coalition.
Susick also said he believed the parent handbooks were helpful during freshman orientation to let students and parents know the expectations on campus and the rules about alcohol consumption.
Jim Zeaman, a state liquor-control enforcement spokesman, said he felt orientation should really emphasize the consequences of under-age drinking. The college does have a penalty policy for students caught drinking under-age. And Zeaman pointed out that drinking when you are too young can be harmful, since a lot of students are tempted to start partying the week before 21st birthday.
“There is nothing exciting about spending your birthday in the hospital, with two or three citations in your pocket for under-age drinking,” said Zeaman.
Some activities the coalition wants to have next year include a performance by Bill Ross called “Last Call.” The slogan for the show is “A Sobering Look at Alcohol Abuse and More.” It is a show that increases awareness of alcohol abuse in an entertaining way. The show will possibly be held on Jan 14. Coalition member Ashley Moore said it is a good event that students will want to attend.
“Activities that are informative and entertaining at the same time will be more effective than a lecture,” said Moore. “I know students don’t like to come to mandatory things like that.”
Susick said he has learned that students really enjoy road trips to Cedar Point, Kings Dominion, and have also had formal dances on the Gateway Clipper.
“Students know that we have enforced no drinking before the dances, and, years ago, that may have deterred students from coming,” said Susick. “But now, we still have over 400 students attend, even though they aren’t allowed to drink.”
The coalition plans to meet at least two more times during the spring, and members want to meet before spring break to hopefully have a strategy to reduce alcohol use during spring break.