Sober for a change

Driving a club car blindfolded can be difficult. Driving a motor vehicle impaired is even more difficult and can have fatal repercussions. Public Safety and the Health Services department hosted Alcohol Awareness week at GCSU as a preface to National Alcohol Awareness starting next week.

“Just about 95 percent of all incidents on campus are alcohol related,” said Sgt. Baker of the GCSU Public Safety department. “We really try to crack down on DUI’s more than anything.”
Alcohol Awareness Week is an attempt at educating students about drinking and the consequences.

“The theme of the week is GCSU decide,” said Rachel Sullivan, the University Health Education. “It goes along with the current election. Students have a choice not to drink or to do so responsibly.”

The events were paid for using alcohol sanction money from students arrested in alcohol related incidents. Starting Monday, students and faculty were invited to Magnolia Ballroom for a night of alcohol trivia.

Students celebrated Thirsty Tuesday at Midnight Madness. Basketball alumni took their best shot at shooting hoops. Players wore impairment goggles to simulate the effects of drinking.

“They didn’t do so well,” joked Sgt. Baker. “They didn’t even score!”

Wednesday’s events included a seminar on lowering the drinking age and a slalom course on front campus. Students took a crack at driving a club car while wearing impairment goggles.

Public Safety unveiled a new line of impairment goggles, ranging from mildly intoxicated to fatal. The goggles come in both daytime and night vision versions. The goggles are designed to show its users how the brain interprets movement.

“Alcohol doesn’t impair your vision,” said Sullivan. “It impairs your judgment.”

Students received pamphlets during Thursday’s activities while enjoying the virtual car-crash simulator.

“It’s a fun way to get out there and promote awareness,” says Baker. “We understand it’s a college town and we just want students to be responsible.”

One way students can ensure everyone’s safety is not to drive while intoxicated.

To increase awareness beyond GCSUdecide week, students are invited to patrol with a Public Safety officer. If anyone suspects trouble on campus, students are encouraged to call Public Safety by phone or using the callboxes located across campus.

As the Sweetwater Festival approaches, Public Safety is preparing to crack down on reckless drinking.

“As long as everything is peaceful and serene,” said Sgt. Baker, “they won’t have any contact with us.”

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Oct 17 2008. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry