Alcohol awareness week begins

The Drug and Alcohol Resource Team wants the University community to make healthy decisions. And, as part of this quest, DART will sponsor a wide variety of activities this week, ranging from workshops to block parties, as part of Alcohol and Other Drug Awareness Week. Office of Drug and Alcohol Education Coordinator Karen Pollack said the parties will show it is possible to have a good time without drinking. "The educational programs are very helpful, and what we've tried to do is supplement that with more social activities, the Block Party and the Dance Party," she said. "This is so that it is a celebration as well as an educational effort." DART chairperson Jessica Mennella said there is a need for non-alcoholic programming on campus. "There is a large population of students who don't use alcohol and don't have a place to go and hang out and have a good time," said the Wharton and College senior. DART will also show five movies as part of the week. Ellen Chung, a counselor for the Faculty/Staff Assistance Program and an drug and alcohol specialist, said movies are very effective for promoting awareness. "Movies, because they're visual, make a stronger impact than a straight lecture," she said. "The movies that have been chosen are around this topic, drug and alcohol." College junior and DART vice chairperson of programming and publicity Adrienne Frangakis, said the movies "are for entertainment and [are] a fun thing." The motto of the week is "Responsibility is the Key." College junior and DART volunteer coordinator Nikki Huberfeld said the purpose of the program is not to tell people what to do. "[We're here] to inform them and [help them] to make healthy, responsible decisions," she said. "We're not saying 'Don't drink at all during Fling.' We're saying [that they] should be aware of the consequences [and] to know [their] limit." The keynote speakers are two individuals whose lives were affected by alcohol. One of the speakers, a recovering addict and college student, will discuss how his addiction impacted his life in college. The other speaker, a member of Mothers Against Drunk Driving who lost a child in a drunk-driving crash, will talk about her personal experience. The keynote speech will be held on today at 5 p.m. at the Ben Franklin Room in Houston Hall. Huberfeld said if one person can be helped through education, then the week will be a success. "If one person decides that they're not going to drink [during Spring Fling]?then we have achieved our purpose," she said. "If one or two people hear that we're trying to help them make healthy decisions, then to me, that's the right thing."