Dodgeball, drunk-goggle tricycling highlight alcohol awareness week

Kayla Webley
2004-10-19
The Daily

Dodgeball, comedy and tricycles all highlight a week of festivities aimed at making students more aware of the dangers of irresponsible drinking.

This week, the Student Affairs Commission on Alcohol and Substance Awareness (CASA) with the IMA, Interfraternity council (IFC), Panhellenic Association and the Resident Hall Student Association (RHSA), are sponsoring a week of events as part of National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week.

"We want to promote knowledge and information and also encourage students and others to make healthy choice for themselves and their friends," said Deb Nelson, co-chair of CASA and assistant to the vice president of Student Affairs.

The theme of this year's event is "avoiding a worst-case scenario," spun off of the popular book and game series Worst Case Scenarios.

"We are trying to promote a good outcome, so that if [students] choose to drink, they are doing so safely," said Nelson. "They are watching their drink, watching out for friends and having a designated driver."

The week kicked off with a pre-game tailgate party with Rainy Dawg Radio. At the parties, located at Ian's Domain in McCarty Hall and Eleven 01 in Terry-Lander Hall, students could get snacks and information about making safe choices about alcohol use.

"Really it's about the individual," said Lee Dunbar, RHSA president. "We give them the information and they make the choices."

Aaron White, vice president of public relations for the IFC, said he feels college students are particularly at risk when it comes to using and abusing alcohol.

"It is important to be aware of alcohol abuse, and it is of particular concern to the campus," said White. "College-aged kids have alcohol available to them in most situations and they need to be aware of the risks they take when they drink."

The residence halls are hosting, in addition to the campus-wide events, special activities for their residents. These events include a root beer keg, a century club -- seeing who can do the most shots of Coca-Cola in an hour and an "un-bar" mixer, where fake Rohypnol, in the form of Skittles candy, will be placed in peoples' cups without their knowledge to show how easy it is for someone to put something in a drink.

"It is pretty obvious for anyone here that this is alcohol awareness week," said Dunbar, commenting on the fliers and posters covering dormitory hall walls.

In addition to hosting speakers such as last night's comedian Jim Gaffigan, and tonight's nationally renowned speaker, Mike Green, the week also has events indirectly involved in raising alcohol awareness, like Dodgeball Mania.

Dodgeball Mania, Wednesday evening at the IMA, is an alternative event designed to turn out people, who might not go to see a speaker, get them playing a game of dodgeball and at the same time providing information packets on alcohol, according to White.



CALENDAR

Today - 7 p.m., Kane 130. Mike Green, nationally renowned speaker, presents, 4 Stages of Drinking.

Tomorrow - 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., IMA. Dodgeball Mania: Play the favorite P.E. pastime with friends.

Tomorrow and Thursday- 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the HUB lawn. Trike-O-Rama: Try riding a tricycle using goggles that simulate different levels of intoxication.