Having fun without the alcohol

By Kristen Hoverman
The Collegian

Tonight from 10 p.m. until midnight free milk and cookies will be handed out at the annual “Milk and Cookies After Dark” program in the lobby of the University Courtyard Atrium.

The program started about five years ago in conjunction with National Alcohol Awareness week, said Assistant Director of Housing Erin Boele. This is her second year involved with the program.

“It’s an event to promote our students to have fun in a non-alcohol environment,” Boele said. “It’s one of the ways we decided to promote safe drinking habits for college students.”

A large variety of fun and educational activities are planned for the evening, including a chance for students to assess their own drinking habits using the e-CHUG Web site, share alcohol- related stories with other students and write about alcohol experiences on the brick wall, as well as other activities and games to educate students to be smart about drinking.

The program is mainly put on by BACCHUS.

“This year Foster Farms is donating 600 cartons of milk,” Boele said. “The Milk Advisory Council donated prizes, Residential Life Staff will be passing out cookies.”

Faculty and staff donate homemade cookies for the event each year.

“Usually between 500 and 600 students attend this event each year,” Boele said. “Last year we had 1,100 cookies and we went through them in half an hour.”

The event is primarily for students living on-campus. However, non-residents are invited to attend with someone who is living on-campus, Boele said.

“It is a safe environment to learn and hang out with friends, without involving alcohol.”

Comment on this story in the Features forum >>