Campus alcohol awareness group growing, chair says

By Anthony Galaviz
The Collegian

More than 3,000 campuses nationwide, including Fresno State, are observing National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week this week.

NCAAW chairman and president Edward Hammond of Fort Hays State University in Kansas said he is thrilled to see campuses educate students about drinking.

“NCAAW remains a cornerstone in campus alcohol abuse prevention efforts,” Hammond said on the Inter-Association Task Force on Alcohol and other Substance Abuse Web site. “Ultimately, campuses need to educate students about excessive drinking and consequences that can occur on both a personal and academic level. All college and university offices need to empower students to take responsibility for their own decisions and the campus environment when it comes to alcohol.

Participation in NCAAW helps students and college administrators work together to increase awareness and strengthen year-round prevention efforts.”

According to bacchusgamma.org, 28 percent of college students haven’t consumed any alcohol in the past month, 67.1 percent haven’t missed class, 66 percent haven’t fought or argued because of their drinking. The study was based on 2004 statistics.

Graduate student Tara Powers, co-chair for the Alcohol Advisory Council Student Subcommittee, said Fresno State started its program in 2004 with two people and has since grown.

“We’re getting more students involved. Everybody seems to love it,” she said. “It’s growing and this thing is really taking off.”

Awareness Week kicked off Monday at the Satellite Student Union with guest speaker Randy Haveson. Awareness Week continues today with a Driving Under the Influence information table that will be set up in the Free Speech Area from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

A Milk and Cookies event will be held tonight in the University Courtyard Atrium from 10 p.m. to midnight. Awareness Week wraps up Thursday with an October Fiesta in the Free Speech Area from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. that will feature the Salsa Club, along with conga drum players, mariachis, folkloric dancers and a disc jockey.

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