The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- October 12, 1998

Athletes can carry the ball on alcohol awareness

Role models to deliver a message of responsible behavior

BY KAY HAWES
STAFF WRITER

It's Saturday night after the big game with the rival team, and college students are reveling in the victory. The partying turns to drinking games, and the drinking games result in alcohol poisoning for several students. One of those students dies. Another is charged with manslaughter. Lawsuits are filed.

Tragedies like this can be devastating to both the families and the universities that are involved.

And, if a student-athlete is a victim in a drunk-driving accident or if a student-athlete is arrested in an alcohol-related incident, it is obvious that there is additional pain for the athletics department.

What may not be as obvious is how the athletics department -- and even student-athletes -- can help the university community avoid such tragedies.

More than 3,000 colleges and universities in North America will be involved in a variety of activities to recognize National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week (NCAAW) October 18-24.

NCAAW's organizers encourage college athletics administrators, coaches, athletic trainers and student-athletes to participate.

NCAAW's purpose is to provide widespread campus participation to create support for alcohol-abuse prevention programs and other health-related issues.

Through the promotion of a highly visible week of educational programming and activities, NCAAW builds campus-wide attention for alcohol abuse and related issues, said Edward Hammond, president of Fort Hays State University and chair of NCAAW.

"The week spotlights peer-education programs and other initiatives that go on all across the country all throughout the year," Hammond said.

NCAAW is sponsored by the Inter-Association Task Force on Alcohol and Other Substance Abuse Issues (IATF).

IATF is a coalition of 21 higher education associations that have united to combat underage drinking, alcohol abuse and illicit drug use among college students. It strives to inspire students to review their lifestyles and make informed decisions. IATF also supports teaching college students life skills that will enable them to succeed in college and beyond.

While several high-profile incidents involving college students and alcohol have taken place in the last year, NCAAW is not a new idea. It is a 15-year-old initiative that has continued to grow as more individuals in higher education realize the need for such efforts.

Hammond, who has served in the administration of several universities, has been involved with alcohol-abuse prevention efforts on campuses since the early '80s. He was instrumental in the development of IATF and the growth and maintenance of NCAAW.

"It was quite obvious to me that the abuse of alcohol was having a negative impact on our collegial environment, and it was a problem worthy of me spending time and effort on it," he said.

"Clearly the attention that some recent high-profile cases have received has put the issue back on the front burner. In the past, those types of incidents just weren't 'news' like they are now."

Hammond noted that one negative aspect of the coverage of these campus incidents is that college students get a skewed idea of what is 'normal' on campus.

"The majority of students make responsible decisions," he said. "The headlines bring a negative result in that students tend to believe everyone is (abusing alcohol), while they're not.

"I tend to look at the statistics that show a third of college students are binge drinking and say that means two-thirds are not. We need to publicize the fact that two-thirds are not binge drinking and that one-third of college students don't drink at all."

Social norming

Pointing out to college students that the majority of their peers are not abusing alcohol is an important strategy known as social norming, explained Drew Hunter, executive director of the BACCHUS and GAMMA Peer Education Network, an IATF member organization.

"Social norming basically deals with a student's desire to fit in," Hunter said. "Students perceive that a lot more binge drinking is going on than really is."

BACCHUS and GAMMA Peer Education Network, which includes nearly 800 affiliated chapters on college campuses, will observe NCAAW with a "Trust the Truth" campaign.

Campaign graphics include a magic 8-ball and fortune cookies, and campaign materials question how some people make decisions and reinforce how healthy people make decisions.

Hunter said the theme plays off the social norms research of Michael Haines, coordinator of health enhancement services at Northern Illinois University, and national survey data from The Core Institute at Southern Illinois University.

"Research tells us that college students consistently overestimate the number of their peers who drink heavily and their acceptance of the drunken behavior," Hunter said.

"This acceptance of their misperception of normative behavior has a strong influence on students. Norming campaigns have been used to get students to realize that there are actually many fewer students binge drinking than they think.

"The goal of campaigns then is to use the media to bring down the campus' perception of partying and break down the myth that everybody's partying all the time."

Athletics departments -- and student-athletes -- can make a difference

The BACCHUS and GAMMA Peer Education Network is the largest student organization in the United States, Hunter said, and it is made up of student leaders -- including student-athletes -- who concentrate on peer education regarding student health and safety issues, including the use and misuse of alcohol.

Hunter noted that participation in awareness events such as NCAAW by individual student-athletes, athletics teams or even entire athletics departments can make a big difference.

"Where athletics can really help all of these efforts is in giving them visibility," Hunter said. "Any time an athletics department gets behind us, it really boosts the university's program."

Hunter noted that any type of promotion at athletics events can help reach more students and help get out the word that most students are responsible.

At the University of Denver, the athletics department has created the Smart Choices Program, a year-round effort to educate students about the importance of making smart choices when it comes to alcohol.

The program is led by the Smart Choices Student-Athlete Council at Denver, and it makes use of student-athletes as advocates for the program.

Diane Wendt, senior associate athletics director at Denver and director of the Smart Choices Program, pointed out that student-athletes are natural leaders for alcohol education efforts on campus.

"I think it's a great opportunity for student-athletes to be leaders. They are perceived as important role models and ambassadors throughout the campus," she said.

"We have a lot of outstanding leadership from our Student-Athlete Advisory Board, and they use that good leadership to promote responsible decision making."

A variety of products have been developed for Smart Choices, including posters, educational pamphlets, bulletin boards, banners, and radio and television spots.

The university also brings in speakers such as Mike Green, the president of Collegiate Consultants on Drugs and Alcohol, and David Hellstrom, director of education for the BACCHUS and GAMMA Peer Education Network, to address student-athletes on alcohol issues.

Denver also had a campaign last year called "Remember 7," which was prompted by the death of student-athlete Michelle Wright, a women's soccer team member who wore No. 7. Wright died when the car in which she was riding was struck by a drunk driver.

The student-athletes involved with Smart Choices met with leaders from student organizations across campus and made "Remember 7" a campus-wide initiative.

One of the highlights was "Wright Night," an alcohol-free event on the anniversary of Wright's death. "Wright Night" featured a live band, pizza, soft drinks, jousting and a climbing wall, as well as all different types of activities hosted by various student organizations.

"We acknowledged our loss and celebrated the achievements of this student-athlete while reminding students to make good choices," Wendt said.

An issue of student welfare

The NCAA has recognized that participating in NCAAW and other activities designed to educate college students about responsible choices is a good idea, said Elizabeth N. Binkley, NCAA sports sciences program coordinator.

"Our role in all of this as a member of IATF is to encourage our member institutions' athletics departments to participate in the week, either by encouraging a speaker to come in or by participating in some event that's already happening on their campus," Binkley said.

Binkley noted that the issue of alcohol misuse and abuse should concern the Association and athletics departments.

"As far as overall student-athlete welfare, health and safety -- alcohol abuse is a major issue," she said.

In addition to participating in the task force, the Association's sports sciences group also provides posters, "fast facts" on alcohol and speakers' grants.

"The NCAA researches substance use and abuse habits of college student-athletes," Binkley said, noting that the research results often serve as an impetus for programs offered by the sports sciences staff.

"We're also able to share that data with other higher education institutions and organizations," Binkley said.

Another program sponsored by the NCAA is CHOICES, a grant program for alcohol education. Through CHOICES, the NCAA provides funding to member institutions and conferences for the development, implementation and evaluation of alcohol education and prevention programs on college campuses. While those programs may benefit the entire campus population, student-athletes must be an integral part of the project.

Calls for this year's proposals and grant guidelines for CHOICES will be sent to athletics directors' offices on October 14, and they also will be placed on the NCAA's Web site at www.ncaa.org/sports_sciences/education.

A new kind of six-pack

While the programs and activities held during NCAAW are an effort to bring a unified approach to highlighting the problems of alcohol use and abuse on campus, the efforts of IATF, like the efforts of universities nationwide, are a year-round endeavor.

Last April, IATF hosted the National Symposium on College Alcohol Practices at the College of William and Mary.

The symposium resulted in a set of recommendations that included the Safety Six-Pack, which was announced in a September 10 press conference at Georgetown University.

Those recommendations are being referred to as a "new kind of a six-pack," since there are six suggestions each for what parents, college students and college officials can do to prevent alcohol abuse on college campuses (see page 26).

Also out of the symposium came formal proceedings, which will be unveiled at an October 19 press conference hosted by the IATF at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

Thomas Goodale, associate professor in the school of education at William and Mary and BACCHUS and GAMMA Peer Education Network board member, has been instrumental in the writing of the symposium proceedings.

"A copy of the proceedings -- which will detail initiatives already undertaken, talk about legal liability and offer a model alcohol policy -- will be mailed to every college president in the country," Goodale said.

Goodale has been involved in the development of the IATF since the beginning, and he noted that the development of the task force has made initiatives like NCAAW and the National Symposium on College Alcohol Practices more visible.

"The task force was an attempt to realize that a lot of people were doing a lot with regards to alcohol-abuse prevention, and we thought it would be better to coordinate our efforts."

IATF also sponsors several other projects, including National Collegiate Health and Wellness Week, which is March 7-13 this year.

Another function of NCAAW is to highlight those alcohol-abuse prevention programs that make an impact all year.

IATF sponsors an awards program for those schools participating in NCAAW as part of their year-round alcohol-education and drug-abuse prevention efforts.

The competition includes not only national recognition but also cash awards. For more information on how to enter, see the task force's Web site at www.iatf.org.

An issue for everyone

Goodale says the attitude of those in higher education toward alcohol misuse and abuse issues has changed over the years.

"When we started, virtually no schools had alcohol-abuse prevention programs," he said. "Now, many campuses have created a position called the campus alcohol-abuse education and prevention coordinator."

Changes in research have also pointed the way toward different approaches, and media coverage of incidents and resulting litigation has heightened public awareness.

The work of groups such as Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) also have highlighted the need to address the issue on campus, Goodale said.

And, alcohol misuse and abuse is not a topic of concern only to educators who work in the campus health center or do research on student behavior.

"It's an issue that almost every college president has to deal with now," Goodale said.

And, as Wendt noted, "You never know when a tragedy is going to affect your campus and your student-athletes."

The Safety Six-Pack

The Safety Six-Pack for Colleges

1. Make a firm statement that underage alcohol use will not be tolerated, and engage the local community in developing and enforcing the alcohol policy.

2. Promote and sponsor many (and mainly) campus activities that are alcohol free.

3. Provide alcohol-free living options.

4. Provide and publicize Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention personnel. Support peer education programs and student-led initiatives.

5. Disseminate campus alcohol policies and other drug policies that are uniformly enforced with all students, faculty and staff.

6. Encourage and be receptive to student feedback and involvement in maintaining a campus community that will be healthy, safe and live up to the university mission of education and retention.

The Safety Six-Pack for Students

1. Study. Remember the goals you are to achieve while you are in college.

2. Stand up for your beliefs. If you do not drink alcohol, it is OK to say so. There are other students out there who feel the same. In fact, the majority of students in college today are of legal age (21), and those who choose to drink use alcohol moderately.

3. Have fun and socialize without the involvement of alcohol; be prepared that some students may pressure you to drink alcohol.

4. Get involved in campus activities.

5. Go out in groups and watch out for your friends. If you all go out together, go home together, too. Help each other get home safely. Know the signs of alcohol poisoning.

6. Be aware of the campus education and counseling resources. Look for peer education programs and student-led health and safety programs. Don't forget that your family is a source of support, too. Keep in touch often.

The Safety Six-Pack for Parents

1. Talk to your son or daughter about the legal use of alcohol and the need for responsible decision making; emphasize that "competitive drinking," drinking as a hazing ritual, and drinking games can result in alcohol poisoning and can kill even the most healthy young adults. Discuss any family history of chemical dependency.

2. Explain clearly to your son or daughter that there is a balance between study time and social time, and that he/she will need to find the balance that will meet the academic expectations you all agree on. Discuss the legal consequences of having a fake ID.

3. Talk to your son or daughter about the role of alcohol and how alcohol abuse can affect achieving his or her goals. Discuss the reality that peer pressure can occur about drinking choices.

4. Keep the lines of communication open. Call and e-mail often. Communicate as friends and as parents.

5. Visit the campus and network with other families as well as college officials. Encourage your son or daughter to become involved in campus life by joining organizations or working on projects of interest.

6. Encourage your son or daughter to provide written authorization to his or her college to grant permission for the release of health and safety information to you.

Members of the Inter-Association Task Force on Alcohol and Other Substance Abuse Issues (IATF)