Week raises alcohol awareness

With Spring Fling quickly approaching, University officials in the University's Office of Drug and Alcohol Education and students are eager to spread the word about the dangers of alcohol abuse. Organizers sponsored a block party, a drink-making competition and a volleyball tournament -- all non-alcoholic events -- as part of the Alcohol and Other Drug Awareness Week. The week, sponsored by groups from across the University, included social and educational programs, including workshops and lectures on the various side-effects of drug and alcohol use and abuse. Karen Pollack, coordinator at the Office of Drug and Alcohol Education, said the programs emphasized the need for "more social kinds of programs . . . without alcohol use." Drug and Alcohol Resource Team Chairperson and College sophomore Nikki Huberfeld, who helped plan the activities, said the timing of the events was no accident. "We do it the week before Spring Fling for a reason," she said, noting that the programs tend to focus on education, not prohibition. "It's to remind people to remain healthy and make good decisions." An alcohol first-aid guide, prepared by the Office of Alcohol and Drug Education and DART, appears in the Spring Fling brochure this year. "On Friday people won't be very sober around here," Huberfeld said. "We hope [we] can heighten people's awareness. If you use common sense you'll be OK," she added. Adrienne Frangakis, College sophomore and next year's DART vice chairperson for programming and publicity, agreed with Huberfeld. "We're an educational office -- our intention is not . . . to tell you not to drink, [but] to make educated decisions," Frankgakis said. The best attended event, according to Huberfeld, was the Mocktail competition and block party held on Locust walk Monday. Virgin drink stations offered samples of their creations to students, who voted for their favorite recipe. "It was excellent," Frangakis said. "There were people all over the place." On Tuesday, Frangakis handed out over 2,000 fortune cookies with alcohol awareness messages inside. "People don't want to talk about [alcohol and drugs], but when people do talk about it you can get problems solved," she said. "I see it definitely making an impact, which is a rewarding thing," Frangakis said. "I think we really reached out to a lot of people."