NCAAW week 2010

This week is National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week (NCAAW) and Campus Rec is proud to join over 1,000 colleges in America in spreading the word.

The idea behind NCAAW is to inform college students of the dangers of drinking behavior.

Information available during the week covers health, financial, legal and emotional consequences of alcohol.

Yesterday, Campus Rec Wellness, members of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity and Jack 2 Jack set up information tables in the Rec Center.

In 2007, TKE lost pledge member Nikolas Gallegos in an alcohol related accident. Instead of hiding from the incident, the fraternity now takes a stand for alcohol awareness, appearing at campus events in remembrance of Gallegos.

Jack 2 Jack, is a recently re-activated organization whose goal is to prevent wasted dreams through peer education. Although alcohol isn’t the only thing on their agenda, it does rank high on their priority list because of how many college students are affected by it.

This year SFA Homecoming is the same weekend as Halloween and both are considered high-risk times for college drinking. Patrons entering the Rec were asked to sign either a pledge to have a designated driver or a pledge to be one. “Drunk goggles” were available for patrons to put on and gain a better understanding of what their vision is really like when they are under the influence of alcohol.

I watched several people put on the goggles and stumble so badly that they ran into walls. They were all shocked at how impaired their vision was. After putting on the goggles, they seemed eager to sign a pledge.

Both Campus Rec Wellness and University Police provided brochures for people to take with them and read the harsh realities on their own time.

One fact that particularly shocked me was that drunk driving kills about 15,000 people a year. Alcohol use is involved in half of murders, accidental deaths and suicides.

If any of this information interests you, it will be available again tomorrow, October 21, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Rec Center Lobby.

If you are interested in Jack 2 Jack, their next meeting is Thursday, October 28 at 5:30 p.m. in Rusk 333. For more information, you can also e-mail them at jack2jacksfasu@yahoo.com.

Awareness is the first step to prevention.

YOUR inside connection to Campus Rec- Steph