Every year, the third full week in October is National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week. This year’s week will be October 19-25. Across the country, colleges and universities, including Saint Xavier, will sponsor programs and events to promote the importance of safe drinking.
The programs will also discuss the dangers of irresponsible alcohol consumption.
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 2015 showed that 70.1% of adults reported they drank in the past year, and 56% reported they had drank in the past month.
58% of full time college students reported to drinking within the past month and 37.9% of college students reported binge drinking at least once within the past month.
Binge drinking, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, has become “the most common, costly, and deadly pattern of excessive alcohol use in the United States.”
Although binge drinking affects individuals of all ages, it “is most common among younger adults aged 18–34 years.”
Alcohol has become the third leading, but preventable, cause of death in the United States. According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, approximately 88,000 people die every year from alcohol related deaths.
Moreover, the CDC says that 10,265 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in 2015, accounting for one-third of all traffic-related deaths in the country.
SXU attempts to do its part to protect students from alcohol related incidents through their alcohol policy. SXU’s policy demands students abide by Illinois state laws concerning the drinking age and by maintaining a dry campus.
The policy reads: “With the exception of Gilhooley’s Grande Saloon or University sponsored events, students and/or their guests may not possess, sell, or consume alcoholic beverages on University property.”
An RA who would like to remain anonymous said, “I feel like it’s a policy that isn’t closely followed…but the administration thinks it is. I would say maybe they should have it a a policy in Regina, obviously, but some people are over 21 here on campus, so sometimes it seems like a bogus policy.”
Senior transfer student Christine says, “At my old school, we had a bar in the basement of our diner for students 21 and over, but then there was also drinking and parties in the dorms.
“If people got too rowdy in these parties, the RAs would come down and tell them to go somewhere else, like the student apartments, because they knew no matter what people would drink. Bottom line is, students who want to drink are going to find a way to drink, regardless of a school policy.”
Regardless of student thought, SXU will be taking Alcohol Awareness Week to continue reminding students of the alcohol policy. More importantly, however, the school will use this week to host events that encourage safe and responsible drinking for those 21 and up.
To kick the week off, from 11am-1pm on October 23 in the diner, students can celebrate Mocktail Monday. Students can create “cocktails” and learn how to make responsible choices regarding alcohol.
On Tuesday, October 24, students can learn about how alcohol affects coordination. Cougar Peer Educators will be joined by WXAV in the diner from 11am-1pm to host an obstacle course “drunk.”
Thursday, October 25, students can have a chance to win prizes by hopping on board the SXU Candy Cash Cab and answer questions about alcohol safety. The cab will run around campus at various times during the day on Thursday.
To close the week out, on Friday, October 25 at 8:30am, students can stop by McGuire for “Donut Drink and Drive.” Students can grab a Dough Guys donut and learn more about the dangers of driving impaired.
The events of Alcohol Awareness Week are sponsored by Cougar Peer Educators. For those struggling with substance abuse, call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for local treatment facilities, support groups, and community organizations.
Cheyanne Daniels
News Editor