The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reported that 1,825 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die each year from unintentional alcohol-related injuries.
April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and in an effort to promote sobriety Keene State College hosted a “Day of Clarity” on the student center lawn, where students had the opportunity to partake in several games and activities, such as water pong, Kan Jam and dizzy bat.
KSC’s Greek Life organizations were represented, as well as Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP), Owl Nation and the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE).
Students also had the opportunity to wear BAC (blood-alcohol content) goggles that showed a visual experience of what it’s like at a certain level of intoxication. While wearing them, students could drive a golf cart through an obstacle course to see how they would perform if they were actually under the influence.
Alyson Lear of MVP said she and her organization handed out “sober sex is dope sex” stickers as well as cards with condoms and encouraging words on them such as “spread the love, not the infection.”
File photo by Bethany Ricciardi
Lear said, “All of us involved have pledged to be sober for 24 hours, and that’s what our focus is and that students will take from this experience that even if they are going to drink or party and what not that they are going to do it safely.”
Co-Chairs Rachel Norton and Matthew Sem orchestrated the event.
Norton, a member of KSC sorority Delta Phi Epsilon explained that it’s important for people to see Greek organizations promote healthy living. She said it’s great to see “students can get together and put the effort into hosting an event like this that shows you don’t need to drink or do drugs to have a good time in college.
Sem of Phi Lambda Chi said he has participated in the event many times. “I have to say after putting the goggles on, this is one reason I will never even consider drinking and driving. It’s definitely an experience,” he said. Sem continued, “We want to show that you can have fun without alcohol. If you are going to drink do it safely.”
Coordinator of Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention, Treatment and Education Services Michelle Morrow said the Day of Clarity is about raising awareness and having the community come together and provide education to students on campus. Morrow said it’s fun and encouraging, but also educational and shows “how alcohol really does have an effect on your reaction time your vision all of that.”
Skylar Beddie of Alpha Sigma Phi explained it’s important for people to remember that college isn’t just about the drinking and partying. “It’s about the school and becoming one as a whole,” Beddie said.
He continued, “There are students who choose not to drink and that’s great and I hope this reinforces that for them, but for students who do choose to drink, I hope this gives them some information as far as [how] to do that in a safe way and not…cause negative physical effects.”
Alexandra Enayat can be contacted at aenayat@kscequinox.com
