The Alcohol Task Force is setting up a series of panel discussions called Knight Talks this semester, which will discuss topics relating to alcohol.
The panel is comprised of students and faculty on campus as well as people in the surrounding community.
These panels will provide information to students and also encourage discussion about alcohol consumption, says Jeff Vincent, associate director of Residence Life and member of the Alcohol Task Force.
Use the force
The Alcohol Task Force, consisting of Dave Kells, Mary Masson, Megan Ohler and Jeff Vincent, was created this year by Dean of Students, Michael Samara, Vincent says.
The Task Force was given a grant of about $14,000 to spend this year on one of two things, says Mary Masson, nurse practitioner.
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Students participate in an ice cream social in Pontigny Hall, an event put on by RAs in the building. (Photo by Kaitlin Couillard) |
One option was to spend the money on an anonymous online survey for students called AlcoholEdu. The money could have been used to look at what programs students were interested in, then try and work alcohol awareness programs around the students needs, she says.
In the end, the Task Force decided to use the funds to look at what it was doing right on campus, and what it needed to do better, Masson says. The college will also be purchasing another version of AlcoholEdu called E-Chug, Masson says.
E-Chug is cheaper than AlcoholEdu, Masson says. The program costs about $1,000. It will function as an online survey where students can see where how their drinking risks compare on a national level, she says.
The Task Force is not trying to stop drinking on campus, but rather stop the consequences related to binge drinking, Masson says.
The Knight Talks will focus on three main topics, Vincent says. Some will examine how people’s personal lives have been affected by alcohol, others will deal with alcohol and sexual assault, and there will be panels to get people to talk about their alcohol use.
The first of the Knight Talks, focusing on women, alcohol, and sexual assault, was held on Feb. 12 in the Cashman Great Room.
“We had a turnout of about 16-20 people," Masson says.
In the future, Masson hopes to advertise for the Knight Talks more heavily through e-mail and word of mouth. The biggest challenge is how to get the word out, she says.
The numbers are sliding
In the 2007-2008 academic year, there were 56 students taken into protective custody in the first semester. This year, that number was reduced by about half, to 29 students, Samara wrote in an e-mail at the beginning of the spring semester.
The school is very pleased with the fact that fewer students needed protective care this year, even though there are more students living on campus, says Megan Ohler, assistant dean of students and director of new student programs and development.
Vincent thinks the numbers are improving because of the push for student awareness programs, he says.
“Credit for moderation has to go to the students,” Vincent adds.
Residence Life especially has to be given credit for their weekend programs, like food in the quad, he says.
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There are about six to 12 alcohol-related issues on campus each weekend. |
However, RJ Vallie, investigative liaison of Campus Security, is skeptical of the numbers, Vallie says.
“These numbers are arbitrary,” Vallie says.
Certain individuals draw more attention to themselves than others, and they are the ones who get caught and create the numbers, he adds.
“I wouldn’t go out on a limb and say people are drinking less,” Vallie says.
Vallie speculates that the reason less students are being taken into protective custody could be that fellow students are being more responsible in monitoring their peers, he says.
“Educational initiatives are very important,” Vallie says. “Excessive drinking is an issue that should be dealt with by the campus community. [It] is not unique to this campus.”
Each weekend, there are about six to 12 alcohol-related issues on campus, Vallie says.
Events on campus, such as the Halloween Dance, tend to have a higher potential for alcohol incidents, Vallie says.
On the task force agenda
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In addition to the Knight Talks, the Alcohol Task force plans to have plenty of other programs throughout the semester, Vincent says.
On March 28, The Alcohol Task Force will be hosting Friday Knight Dry.
Friday Knight Dry used to be hosted by the school regularly, but it has not been utilized in the past few years, Vincent says.
Throughout the night there will be a variety of different programs and games during which students can earn a currency for participation and answering trivia questions, says Vincent.
At the end of the night, there will be a “Midknight” auction where students can spend their currency on prizes.
It will be a chance for people to see that they can spend a Friday night without drinking, Vincent says.
In addition to Friday Knight Dry, there will also be another Stress Relief Knight on May 2 in conjunction with Health Services, the Women’s Center and Residence Life, Vincent says. Last semester, there were 10 local masseuses on campus that offered students a massage free of charge. This time, there will be live music and food.
The next Knight Talk will focus on men, alcohol and sexual assault. It will be held on Feb. 27 at 6:30 p.m. in the Hoehl Presentation room. All students are encouraged to attend.