Underage Drinking Awareness on Campus

The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, known as OASAS, presents Marist with a grant used to increase awareness amongst underage students. OASAS is an agency known for the prevention and treatment of alcohol and chemical dependence problems. Their latest program, "Underage Drinking: Not a Minor Problem: College Edition," seeks to raise awareness for young people about the risks associated with alcohol consumption. The monetary grants they offer to colleges and universities allow for the distribution of information campus wide.

According to Steve Sansola, Associate Dean of Students, Marist is sponsoring a series of awareness efforts with the $2,850 grant. The programs began in January and will continue through March.

"This grant is part of an effort to infuse information to students and keep them aware of alcohol education," said Sansola. "It's a chance for Marist to really reach out to its students."

OASAS supplied Marist with fact sheets, which include alcohol statistics associated with thebehavior and activities on college campuses. Miniature versions of these sheets known as palm cards were given out in January at the new student orientation. Sansola operated a booth at this semester's Activities Fair where the distributed the palm cards as well.

"We recently held a pretty successful poster campaign," said Sansola. "The fact sheets were given out to all residence areas so that the RAs could provide them to students."

A copy of the fact sheet was given to the Marist radio station, newspaper, and TV 31. "It was somewhat of a PSA campaign," said Sansola.

Awareness efforts can further be seen at the Men's and Women's home basketball games. Sansola arranged for the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department to pass out palm cards at the entrance of all games. A group of students from Marist Counseling Services called "Active Minds" also volunteer to hand out palm cards during the games.

Sophomore Danielle Sherman picked up a card before entering the game. "The facts on the sheet very surprising and informative," said Sherman.

"While I think students will take time to read and consider the information, I am not convinced they will alter their lifestyle based on only that," said Sherman.

At halftime, there is a shooting contest for a few students who agree to wear beer goggles, which impair their vision and judgment. If a student makes a basket they are awarded a gift certificate provided by Sodexho.

"It's a lot of fun," said Sansola. "Since they are wearing the beer goggles, students are hitting the corners of the backboards or sometimes hitting nothing at all!"

The grant also allowed for keynote speaker, Riva Houston, to visit Marist and speak to athletes about the dangers and consequences of underage drinking. Houston appeared on campus yesterday afternoon in the Nelly Goletti Theatre.

Plans for future awareness include giving out palm cards at the upcoming Off-Campus Housing Fair.

"There are some sophomores and juniors planning to move off-campus, and should be made aware of the figures we've learned from OASAS," said Sansola.

Napkins featuring the information on the palm cards are currently in the process of being made. They will be placed in the Dining Hall and other retail outlets in the surrounding Dutchess County area.

Efforts to increase consciousness of the negative outcomes of underage and excessive drinking are now constantly present on campus. The grant has enabled mass production of conclusive statistics that could potentially affect all members of the Marist community. After each program, both OASAS and Marist are one step closer to reaching their ultimate goal of student awareness.