Alcohol
report shows promise
By
Zamná Ávila
Summer On-line Forty-Niner
The
first alcohol report conducted by the Cal
State University system indicated promising
improvement on curbing alcohol related incidents.
The report is representative of a two year
alcohol prevention policy implemented by
Chancellor Charles B. Reed, who decided
to take action after the alcohol related
death of a student at Cal State Chico and
two near-death incidents of alcohol poisoning
at San Diego State in October 2000.
The survey comparison of spring 2002 and
spring 2003 was discussed in the July 16
CSU Board of Trustees meeting. The results
indicated a 5-10 percent reduction in alcohol
use and underage consumption, a 3-5 percent
decline in binge drinking and property damage
caused by alcohol and a 20 to 30 percent
reduction in driving-under-the influence.
The
policy took effect in July 2001 and is the
first of its kind instituted in a university
system. Although some individual campuses
may have similar policies, the CSU system
combines education, counseling and enforcement
of its policy while allowing each of its
participating campuses to review the policy
and tailor its own needs.
The
report contains data collected from one
half to one third of the campuses that participated
in the surveys. The eight CSU campuses selected
to be the pilot of this effort are Chico,
Fresno, Hayward, Long Beach, Sacramento,
San Bernardino, Sonoma State and Monterey
Bay. The Office of Traffic Safety has provided
funding of about $770,000 to support the
Sober Driving Initiative and education.
Each CSU campus is allocated about $60,000
for two years. In addition to the Department
of Alcoholic Beverage Control, the Office
of Traffic Safety, and the California Highway
Patrol, all of which fall under the Business
Transportation and Housing Agency, community
groups depending on each campus and communities
are also involved.
Perry
Angle, project director of the CSU initiative
said "the main objective of the policy
is to provide education to everyone about
responsible drinking and prevent any more
tragic incidents by developing intervention
programs." According to Angle who administers
the allocation of the grants and makes sure
all campuses involved stay on track, each
campus has peer educators that are paid
through the campus. "Our main target
is students entering the CSU system who
can hopefully establish safer drinking behaviors.
The fact is that most students drink moderately
or not at all," says Angle.
At
CSULB, violators of the alcohol policy from
fall of 2001 to spring of 2002 numbered
about 117, while the fall of 2002 numbered
about 125 violators. "What this means
is that resident assistants and police departments
are better aware of the policy. More people
involved are knowledgeable on what to look
for, I don't think it is an indicator of
failure, but improvement on our procedures,"
said Renee Twigg, director of the university
student health center.
Doug
Robinson, Vice President of Student Service,
who serves as a chair of the alcohol advisory
council at CSULB, explains that the campus
uses social norms to reduce binge drinking,
tobacco, and other drugs focusing on dorm
students in resident halls, fraternities,
and athletes. "We have a 'no alcohol'
policy on campus and although we have a
pub on campus, we also need to make sure
we work under the conveyance of the law,"
says Robinson. Students who violate the
policy by drinking in the resident halls
or having open containers, for example,
are likely to be placed in a 1-2-3 program
the campus has implemented.
A
first-time violator must undergo a three-hour
mandatory seminar in which all aspects of
the violation are discussed including the
rules on campus, the impact on their record,
studies and social life. "There is
a correlation between GPA and alcohol. We
try to teach students some skills in being
able to negotiate in a social setting and
make them aware of different issues like
date rape under the influence of a substance,"
says Twigg.
The
second violation will include mandatory
counseling, and a third a possible reprimand.
No student has had to be suspended or dismissed
on the CSULB campus, according to Robinson.
In
addition, posters, flyers, local police
involvement, faculty and peer outreach,
and parent communications are encouraged
on the campus. "We think we fit the
national trend and alcohol abuse is not
a severe problem on our campus. This does
not mean we should lessen our efforts as
trends do change," says Robinson. He
also cited an incident where a 21 year old
student died after throwing himself from
a bridge in Belmont Shores a few years ago
while under the influence of alcohol.
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