Wednesday, September 15, 1999
Colleges battling binge drinking
Miami believes incidents down under program
BY RANDY McNUTT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
OXFORD — Miami University and many of its counterparts across the country are trying to decrease binge drinking, and the idea is picking up support among students here.
On Sept. 11,the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges helped buy full-page advertisements in USA Today and other major newspapers to back the campaign. The ad features a big bottle of “Binge Beer.”
|
WHAT IS BINGE DRINKING?
|
The National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges describes binge drinking as the consumption of five or more drinks in one sitting by males and four by females.
In its advertisement, the group said excessive alcohol consumption “plays a major role in poor academic performance, college drop-out rates and student health problems.”
|
The campaign follows a year-long effort at Miami to help students understand the consequences of abusing alcohol.
“Education helps,” said Melissa Parsons, 21, president of the Panhellenic Council, representing about 20 Miami sororities. “Students understand that they have to act responsibly.”
Neither the Greek organizations nor Miami can cite statistics showing that drinking has declined over the last year, but both sides feel that fewer problems have occurred since the university's alcohol-education program began last September.
Most students are aware of the campaign, but the university is now trying to determine if that awareness is changing individual behavior, Miami officials said.
“We do know that incidents of vandalism are down, and they are almost always connected to alcohol abuse,” said Holly Wissing, a Miami spokeswoman. “Any program like this will take time to feel the full effect.”
Miami's office of health education oversees a program that raises social consciousness and encourages self-assessment, risk-reduction education and non-alcoholic activities.
Corrin Richards, 21, a senior and an officer with the Associated Student Government, said education will help, but she doesn't think drinking is a big problem at Miami.
“Our organization has not talked about that issue, and we probably will not because Miami students are responsible about drinking,” she said. “The university has been educating us (on the subject). There's a lot of positive peer influence here. I've never felt pressured to go out and drink and do things that I wouldn't normally want to do.”
At other schools in the area, similar programs are helping students. Xavier University is attacking the drinking problem through its health, student services and housing departments.
“Because so many of our students live off campus, we're doing more in the community,” said spokesman Matt Gamber. “This year we have a whole substance-free housing program. Students pledge not to drink.”
The University of Cincinnati conducts various programs, including an Alcohol Awareness Week just before students leave for spring break. “We have a theme for each day, such as binge drinking and drinking and driving,” said spokesman Greg Hand.
Northern Kentucky University offers several alcohol-education programs, and the residence life office presents workshops and related programs throughout the year, said spokesman Rick Meyers.
At Miami, at least two fraternities, Beta Theta Phi and Phi Delta Theta, have decided to eliminate alcohol from their buildings next year, said spokeswoman Claire Wagner. Unfortunately, she said, the university sanctioned Phi Delta Theta for alcohol violations earlier this summer.
Tom Balzer, leader of Phi Delta Theta's transition to an alcohol-free fraternity, said members don't want drinking to become the focus of their lives, as it had become for some.
When the change occurs next July, he said, alcohol consumption will be prohibited in Phi Delta Theta's fraternity houses.
“Our focus is to return to the sound principles on which our organization was founded,” Mr. Balzer said.
Starting this academic year, students have another incentive for staying away from alcohol: Miami will notify parents of alcohol and drug violations.
“It's important that parents be partners in teaching young people responsibility regarding drinking and good decision-making,” Ms. Wissing said.
The president of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, C. Peter Magrath, said the group took out the ads to help raise public awareness of the dangers of high-risk and binge drinking.
“Our campuses are working hard, but we can't solve the problem alone,” he said in a prepared statement. “Too many students come to us as problem drinkers. Nearly one-third of college students start as binge drinkers in high school, and binge drinking has become a destructive way of life for too many college students.”
Ohio seeks new school-funding plan
Colleges battling binge drinking
Dropout rates on the rise
Hillcrest offers one last chance
Council pay hasn't changed since 1928
Police issue abduction warning
Death may change Air Force training
Industrial park to be home of Kenton jail
Mason annexes all of Kings Island
Merit contenders are named
Sickle cell testing stirs ethical debate
Neighborhood health fairs free
Program shares wheelchairs worldwide
Artist of the 'Black Lagoon'
GET TO IT
Pax will strengthen local UPN
'Side Man' puts playwright up front
Athletic group could solve facilities problem
Butler wreck 3rd double fatality in under four weeks
Citizens to get say on center
Clock moved to park setting
Congregation reflects on its 150-year history
Fiscal court approves sewer study
Officials tap leader for Warren drug unit
Ohio honors 8 local education programs
Police studying infant's death
Religious leaders to give peace chance
Separate schools for Monroe closer
Triathlete races for girl with cancer
TRISTATE DIGEST
