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UNIVERSITY
LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO COUNTER MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT DRINKING
ATHENS,
Ohio -- The Ohio University Coalition Advocating Responsible
Drinking Decisions will announce a new campaign during
halftime of the Bobcats' game against Marshall University at
4 p.m. Saturday in the Convocation Center.
The
campaign, called "Correcting Misperceptions," focuses on
changing campus and community members' views about the
prevalence of alcohol consumption among students. Coalition
members say high-risk drinking -- having five or more drinks
in a sitting -- isn't as widespread as students think.
"Many
people are influenced by what they think other people are
doing," said Stephanie Dorgan, assistant director of Health
Education and Wellness. "If students think everyone is
drinking a lot, then they may be more likely to follow that
behavior."
But not
all Ohio University students -- or even a majority --
believe high-risk drinking is smart, Dorgan said. According
to a 1999 survey of 1,000 undergraduate students, 63 percent
said having five or more drinks in one night is dangerous.
Other survey facts that shatter misconceptions: Seventy
percent of students said they have not allowed drinking to
interfere with their academic performance and 67 percent
think drinking before having sex is dangerous. Although
respondents said they think students drink three or more
times a week, the survey found that 71 percent of students
actually drink between zero and two times a week. The survey
was developed and results were analyzed by the Core
Institute at Southern Illinois University.
"This
doesn't mean that students aren't drinking, but it seems
that they're taking some responsibility," Dorgan said. "If
we can promote this information, at least students will know
that not everyone is a high-risk drinker and won't feel so
torn in their decision not to have that many drinks. It also
empowers students who are choosing not to drink."
Fifty-eight
percent of Ohio University students surveyed reported
drinking five or more drinks in one sitting in the two weeks
before answering the questionnaire, down 3 percent from
1997. Administrators say the drop could be attributed to an
increase in the number of social activities on campus,
including a late-night recreation program called Baker
Nights and weekend programming in residence halls. Policy
changes also could be making a difference, including
prohibiting students under 21 from displaying empty alcohol
containers in their residence hall rooms and notifying
first-year students' parents of their child's alcohol
violations.
"Changing
attitudes about drinking is a long-term proposition," said
Terry Hogan, interim dean of students and chair of the
coalition. "The reduction in high-risk drinking over the
past two years is modest but encouraging. We have quite a
way to go yet."
During
Saturday's game, the coalition will award about a dozen
prizes to students and community members who have accurately
answered riddles regarding alcohol consumption that are
posted throughout the community and being announced in local
media. Students must be present to win. Answers to the
questions can be e-mailed to ou02@hotmail.com
Coalition
members plan to get their message out during winter and
spring quarters by displaying posters and purchasing
advertisements in local media that feature statistics from
the survey. Members also are developing ways to spend $1,000
set aside to encourage students to become involved in the
campaign.
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