Ex-alcoholic motivates students

Mike Green was not always a drug and alcohol counselor. In college, he was a star football player and a member of the Greek system. And he was an alcoholic. But these days, Green has recovered from his addiction and is teaching college students how to make responsible decisions about drugs and alcohol. Green spoke to an audience of more than 200 athletes and Greek members Tuesday night in Stiteler Hall, during an event organized by a joint effort of the athletic department, the Inter-Fraternity Council and the Panhellenic Council. The sponsors received a grant for the event from The National Collegiate Athletics Association Across the country, college students are legendary for their drinking and partying habits, Green admitted to his audience. But, he added, they also have the highest rates of alcohol-related deaths, rapes and arrests. Green also conceded that students in the Greek system and athletic programs are often specifically targeted for their heavy drinking. Green, a retired football coach and former all-American, refers to himself as a "coach of alcohol." Through his program, he hopes to teach people how to drink safely and in moderation. There is a difference between social drinking and getting "wasted," he said. On college campuses, however, drinking and getting drunk are considered synonymous. Green recommends conscious awareness of alcohol tolerance. For example, the average 18-25-year-old female should not have more than five beers during a four-hour period. For the average college-age male, the limit should be seven beers in the same amount of time. Green also tells students that attitude, not alcohol, gets them in trouble. He added that most students are "one-nighters." They are not alcoholics -- most are responsible students who decided to take a night off and party with friends. However, 80 percent of the students who will spend the night in jail or end up in a hospital due to alcohol-related incidents are "one-nighters." Green asked listeners to rate their drinking habits by calculating how many times they have been drunk in the last year. The answers ranged from never to more than 300. Green went on to ask students to watch out for their fraternity and sorority brothers and sisters. "In this case, you are your brother's keeper," he said. "Don't let them cheat someone else out of a lifetime." Panhel President and Wharton senior Lissette Calderon said Green was selected to speak because he "knows the goals, knows the problems, and knows the responsibilities." "His message was not about not drinking," she said. "It's about drinking smart and drinking responsibly. He was just being very realistic."