University Chronicle Extras:
Movies
|
Student Resources
|
Vote 04
|
Career
|
Scholarships
|
GradZone
News
Briefly
Calendar of Events
Commentary
Opinions
Sports
Diversions
World News
Classifieds
Login
Letter Submission
Search
Archive
Publishing Policy
Mail Subscriptions
St. Cloud State University
College Publisher
Home
>
News
Week stirs awareness
By Diana Matusewic
Published:
Thursday, October 24, 2002
Media Credit: Marie McCutcheon
Michelle Pemberton, left, and Rebecca Day observe the wrecked car on Atwood Mall Wednesday in conjunction with Alcohol Awareness Week.
Alcohol Awareness week, sponsored by Delta Phi Epsilon, is a time of reflection on the social problems associated with alcohol.
This year’s theme “Keep it in Balance” means students should drink responsibly if they’re going to drink.
“It started out that we just did a vigil, then we went to health services and they (Alcohol Drug Awareness and Prevention Team) turned it into a whole week,” said Rachael Holmbo philanthropy chair of Delta Phi Epsilon. “They pretty much plan the whole week, and we help out.”
Every year the week starts with a wrecked car display brought by Central Auto. The car is placed in the middle of the Atwood Mall.
“In this particular one, a 19-year-old man was leaving a party drunk and was killed,” said JoAnne Kane, Alcohol Drug Awareness and Prevention Team coordinator and interim associate director.
According to Kane the purpose of this week is to focus on what drinking means to this campus.
“That includes people who drink, people who don’t drink and people who drink responsibly,” Kane said. “It’s to get the campus to stop and take a look and see how drinking affects them and how it impacts the campus reputation.”
Students can express their thoughts about alcohol on “The Wall” located in the Atwood main floor and in Halenbeck Hall.
Also as part of Alcohol Awareness week, a Psychology 402 class put up crosses outside of the Education Building to represent the number of alcohol-related deaths that occur over one year in Minnesota.
An Alcohol Awareness vigil that took place Monday afternoon at the World Commons Garden provided an opportunity to remember those whose lives have been impacted by alcohol use or abuse. One girl recounted being raped while at a party. Diane Rieger, adjunct faculty in the community counseling department, spoke about her daughter who was killed by a drunk driver.
According to Holmbo, the speakers as well as the other events that take place during Alcohol Awareness week impact the students and the decisions they make when and while they drink.
“I think it’s made a lot of people double think their actions and I think it makes people realize they need to watch over each other,” Holmbo said.
ADAPT, which is part of Health Services Department, provides services for students who are experiencing problems with alcohol. In addition, ADAPT is the main sponsor of Alcohol Awareness Week every year.
“We’ve been doing it here for about 16 years,” Kane said.
ADAPT is also sponsoring a root beer kegger and dance with a DJ at Hill-Case tonight at 9 p.m.
