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Alcohol Awareness Week to be presented at William Penn

       Strong concerns about alcohol use by college students exist throughout the nation. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse, binge drinking and driving while intoxicated among 18- to 24-year-olds continues to increase.
       In order to raise awareness of the risks associated with alcohol use, campus counselor Frank Sims has organized an Alcohol Awareness Week, which will begin Monday, September 29. One of the most effective demonstrations will lead off the week through a “driving under the influence” simulator. This technologically advanced machine can provide students with an experience that will realistically show the dangers of drinking and driving. Virtual reality goggles offer panoramic-simulated views of the road to provide an interactive experience that recreates ordinary and extreme driving conditions.
       The simulator will be set up in the activity center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and area high schools have been invited to bring students in to share the learning experience.
       On Tuesday of Alcohol Awareness Week, the Oskaloosa Police Department will provide a demonstration of how a canine officer is used in situations involving drugs and illegal substances. The officers will be at the Union at 11 a.m.
       Non-alcoholic “mocktails” will be served in the Union on Wednesday, with recipes available, to make students aware of alternative beverages for social occasions. The Iowa Highway Patrol will provide a film on the danger of alcohol-related accidents on Thursday, and “non-consumption contracts” will be available for students on Friday. The contract pledges non-consumption for a specified period of time, and students who sign must be willing to have these contracts posted for others to see and consider.
       William Penn University is a “dry campus” by policy—alcohol is not tolerated under any circumstances. Administrators also recognize the risks associated with drinking and want to prepare and inform students with the hope that when the dangers are better understood, fewer students will drink.
       For more information about the week’s events, contact Frank Sims at 641-673-1703.

Written By: admin
Date Posted: 9/23/2008
Number of Views: 279

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