Alcohol abuse continues to be a major concern on most college campuses and within intercollegiate athletics departments. However, just as in the general student body, there are many student-athletes making healthy, safe and responsible decisions about alcohol.

Student-Athletes Taking Active Responsible Roles (STARR) is an innovative approach that addresses the issue of alcohol misuse and abuse within intercollegiate athletics programs by highlighting the responsible behavior of the majority of the student-athlete population. The STARR pilot uses the social-norms theory and peer-education efforts to reinforce positive behaviors and set the tone for incoming and current student-athletes.

The NCAA Division III Pilot STARR Social Norms Campaign began this September. The STARR pilot is continuing at eight Division III institutions and is gaining momentum. Consultants helped institutions perfect their print media messages and install software to begin an electronic media campaign. This electronic campaign attempts to reach student-athletes and students alike by displaying screen savers that flash social-norm "factoids" in campus computer labs. STARR institutions will survey student-athletes in November to measure the effectiveness of the first year's campaign and are excited about their second year with the STARR pilot.

For more information on the NCAA Division III Pilot STARR Social Norms Campaign, contact Sarah MacInnis at 317/917-6222 or smacinnis@ncaa.org.

STARR Pilot Program Participants