Over 1,000 colleges and universities in the United States participate in National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week in October of each year to recognize the importance of campus prevention efforts addressing alcohol abuse and impaired driving prevention. 

Locally, Gannon University, Mercyhurst College, and Penn State Erie, The Behrend College prepared and presented programs for the students at each of their schools to increase student awareness of alcohol abuse issues and to provide students with alcohol-free options.

     ►   Gannon University provided informational displays and activities during

            each day of the week in the campus center which were sponsored by

            student groups and campus departments.  The displays included facts

            about alcohol and about laws pertaining to alcohol use, tips for responsible

            decision making, and information about the signs of alcohol poisoning. 

            Social norms messages were also displayed around the campus to

            encourage students to make healthy and safe choices.

 

            Students were invited to attend “A Round on Us” social event, which

            provided mocktails, games, and information about alcohol issues.  On

            another evening, a student group sponsored an OcSOBERfest Halloween

            party with a haunted maze, games, activities, music, food, and prizes.  That

            event was followed by a late night movie for students.    

      

     ►   Mercyhurst College planned a variety of activities and assorted

            giveaways in observance of Alcohol Awareness Week.  Throughout the

            week, students were encouraged to sign pledges to make safe and healthy

            choices regarding alcohol use. Alcohol-related information was distributed

            at various campus locations as well.  Free, confidential screenings for

            depression were available on campus, since alcohol and depression are

            often related issues.

                                                                                               

            Students could test a simulator outside the student union which is designed

            to illustrate the dangers of drinking and driving.  On another evening, a

            speaker, Matt Eby, shared his story with Mercyhurst students of being

            charged with DUI Manslaughter in Palm Beach County, Florida several

            years ago in hopes of dissuading others from making life-altering

            mistakes such as his. 

           

            The week ended with two social events whereby students could compete

            with their peers to create ice cream with the chance of winning an ice

            cream maker and a “Greek night” at which students wore their best toga,

            enjoyed alcohol-free refreshments, and competed for prizes.

 

     ►   Penn State Erie, The Behrend College presented innovative displays

            around campus as part of a “Don’t Be A Statistic” Poster Campaign which

            pointed out current relevant statistics regarding alcohol consumption and

            the dangers of underage and binge drinking.  Informational tables with

            giveaways, such as breathalyzer key chains, were staffed by Personal

            Counseling and Health and Wellness individuals to spread the word about

            responsible choices.

                                                                     

            The DUI Simulator was available on campus for students to experience

            the dangers of drinking and driving.  Matt Eby, the speaker charged with

            DUI manslaughter, also spoke to students about the impact of his decision

            to drink and drive.  Another speaker, Joel Goldman, presented “Sex

            Under the Influence” to encourage students to make smarter decisions

            regarding sex and alcohol. 

Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, announced today that it is the recipient of an $11,500 grant from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) to support the college’s mission of preventing underage and high-risk alcohol use. The PLCB has awarded more than $664,000 in grant funding to 62 organizations throughout the Commonwealth for 2006-07—a 34 percent increase versus last year.

“Penn State Behrend has established three primary goals for this grant,” said Amanda Knerr, associate director of student affairs. “We plan to increase the visibility and awareness about alcohol expectations and enforcement on-campus; use the social norms campaign model to educate students; and provide Penn State Behrend’s support services with the tools necessary to create a culture of discussion surrounding alcohol choices and behaviors, campus culture and student wellness.”

Penn State Behrend will use the grant to address four key projects.

• Students will complete the CORE Institute’s alcohol and drug survey to determine their perceptions about and behaviors related to alcohol use.
• Penn State Behrend will develop a new social norms campaign based on the CORE survey’s results, including marketing initiatives to target students’ feedback.
• An additional officer will be assigned to campus during the late evening/early morning hours on Friday and Saturday nights throughout the year and on certain holidays, such as Halloween and St. Patrick’s Day.
• Penn State Behrend will purchase an Alco-sensor FST for its campus police to administer on-site blood/breath alcohol concentration (BAC) tests to students.

The grant is co-sponsored by Penn State Behrend’s Partnership for Prevention Task Force to reduce underage and high-risk alcohol consumption, as well as Police and Safety Services and Residence Life.

Knerr added that the C-Compass Coalition, which is comprised of representatives from Penn State Behrend, Gannon University and Mercyhurst College, received a PLCB grant to cover the costs of several new initiatives aimed at reducing underage and high-risk alcohol consumption by college students at local bars, taverns and beer distributors. The grant will allow the C-Coalition to collaborate with local establishments to address and combat this behavior.

Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, offers 31 baccalaureate, five associate, four pre-professional and two graduate degree programs with 21 minors to more than 3,700 students. Focused on providing a student-centered environment, Penn State Behrend is the link that connects its students to a major research and land-grant institution on a campus enriched by more than 90 clubs and organizations, 21 NCAA varsity teams, 19 intramural sports and modern facilities. For more information, visit www.pserie.psu.edu.

C-COMPASS, Campus & Community Partners Advocating for Safe Students, a coalition formed by Erie colleges and universities was awarded $11,500 in grant funds today by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to support its mission of preventing underage and high risk alcohol use.

The PLCB selected C-COMPASS and 62 organizations throughout the commonwealth to receive a share of over $664,000 in funding for comprehensive community-based initiatives. The grant to C-COMPASS will be dedicated specifically for building relationships with local establishments in their communitment to reduce underage and high-risk alcohol use in the Erie community.

“Today’s awards continue the Board’s dedication to engaging local partners in the fight against underage and high risk college drinking,” said PLCB Chairman Jonathan Newman. “This grant money will bolster the collaborative effort between the PLCB and C-COMPASS and expand the resources in the fight against underage and high risk consumption.”

This year’s total grant award is an increase of 34 percent over the ’05-’06 funding level and is the largest award, to-date, by the PLCB for prevention and high risk use initiatives.

“This increase in grant funding shows the PLCB’s unwavering commitment to protect youth and communities by heightening the effort in the fight against underage and high risk alcohol use,” said PLCB Board member, Thomas F. Goldsmith. “The Board will continue to set higher and higher goals and dedicate the financial support and resources for continued successes in education and prevention initiatives.”

The ’06-07 grants targeting underage and high risk use of alcohol, are one component in support of the PLCB’s mission to provide leadership and resources in reducing alcohol misuse in the commonwealth.

“Today’s awards are part of the PLCB’s comprehensive approach to fighting alcohol misuse,” said Patrick J. Stapleton, a PLCB board member. “The PLCB recognizes that strategies which change the college environment affect a change in perception about alcohol among young adults. Providing funding to support these environmental changes is one of the best ways the PLCB can help prevent life-long alcohol misuse.”

The PLCB grant monies will support a range of initiatives including law enforcement training and community and youth outreach and prevention programs. The PLCB is an independent state agency that manages the alcohol beverage industry in Pennsylvania. It is responsible for licensing the possession, sale, storage, transportation, importation and manufacture of wine, spirits and malt or brewed beverages in the commonwealth, as well as operating a system of liquor distribution (retailing) and providing education and prevention services to reduce the harmful effects of alcohol misuse. The PLCB grant program is administered by the Board’s Bureau of Alcohol Education.

For more information, visit www.lcb.state.pa.us and www.dontletminorsdrink.com.