Student-athletes at the University of Arizona have formed their own unique group to highlight the fact that most student-athletes make responsible choices when it comes to alcohol use. Student-Athletes Taking Active Responsible Roles (STARR) is an innovative approach to addressing the issue of alcohol abuse within intercollegiate athletics programs. It is an initiative of, by and for student-athletes, promoting responsible behavior and attempting to affect change from the inside out. STARR will utilize social norming and peer education to affect this change. Nothing like this has ever been attempted before on this scale nor with this population, yet the results based on research with other groups have proven to be quite successful.

Alcohol abuse, in addition to other behavioral issues, continues to be a major concern on most college campuses and within intercollegiate athletics departments. However, there are many student-athletes making healthy, safe and responsible decisions. Social norming is a process where attention is focused on the positive, low-risk behaviors that the majority of the group is exhibiting, in order to reinforce that behavior. Focus on the negative, high-risk behaviors engaged in by the highly visible minority group creates an inflated perception of the prevalence of this behavior, and thereby draws more of those who want to fit in or belong to participate in the behavior. By correcting the misperception, the draw to high-risk behavior is reduced.

Below are four institutions that have documented a reduction in high-risk drinking in the general student body after incorporating social norming into their campus-wide prevention programs:

1. High-risk drinking at Arizona dropped dramatically from 43.2 percent in 1995 to 30.6 percent in 1998.

2. Using a similar strategy, Western Washington University saw a 20 percent reduction in risky drinking levels;

3. Northern Illinois University measured an 18 percent reduction;

4. Smaller schools have done as well. Hobart and William Smith Colleges, a private liberal arts college in upstate New York with fewer than 1,800 students, reduced high-risk drinking by 21 percent.

The Arizona STARR group wants to connect with other student-athlete advisory committees (SAAC) and expand this initiative. Becky Bell, director of the C.A.T.S. personal development program, said, "The student-athletes involved with STARR are excited about the potential to change perceptions amongst the student-athlete population." And Eli Wnek, a member of the football team at Arizona said, "If you can change perceptions, you can change lives."

The Arizona student-athletes are committed to doing just that. Already they have gained support from schools representing all three divisions, and have an endorsement from one of the originators of the social norming strategy, H. Wesley Perkins from Hobart and William Smith Colleges. They are working with NCAA Education Outreach staff to explore support and funding options to partner in the following projects: 1. Creation of a national media campaign presenting collegiate athletes modeling and promoting low-risk behaviors, and; 2. Development of a resource directory that provides links to ideas, materials and strategies for SAACs to use to support their campus prevention activities.

The STARR campaign also is unique in that it lends itself to integration with the leadership model (Kouzes/Posner) being used at the NCAA Foundation Leadership Conference and with CHAMPS/
LifeSkills programs. This continuity of philosophy and practice with student-athletes and campus coordinators can only strengthen these efforts and make them more meaningful and far reaching. The Leadership Model addresses five points of leadership:

1. Challenging the process-- STARR challenges the misperceptions rampant about student-athletes and alcohol use and uses a fresh, innovative approach to alcohol abuse reduction;

2. Enabling others to act--By focusing on low-risk behaviors shared by the majority, STARR contributes to an environment that encourages other low-risk behaviors;

3. Encouraging the heart--Student-athletes who participate in the STARR campaign will be sharing and encouraging others to make healthy and safe decisions for the good of all.

4. Modeling the way--STARR is a peer-education based campaign; and

5. Inspiring a shared vision--The national STARR media campaign will provide a forum for a broad sharing of a healthy approach to life. Never underestimate the power of inspiration. This campaign will have an effect on younger kids as well who look up to this group.

Member organizations that join the campaign will be asked to identify individual student-athletes who are willing and able to contribute to the national media campaign. Members will be directed to resources, models and strategies to assist them in their campus prevention activities. The NCAA will act as the clearinghouse for the resource identification and dissemination.

The STARR campaign will provide a forum for collegiate student-athletes to practice leadership in an issue that is so vital to the health and future of our youth. Being a STARR athlete is not a declaration of perfection--it is a day-to-day commitment to a lifestyle of responsibility.

For more information about the STARR campaign, contact Mary Wilfert at 317/917-6222.