AAI To Help Students ‘Celebrate Safely’

The Alcohol Abuse Initiative will give tips on how to “Celebrate Safely” as students ring in the New Year with a performance and discussion on Tuesday (Dec. 6).

The event, which will be held from 6-7 p.m. in the Lowman Student Center Theater, will include the department of theatre and dance’s Arts Outreach Theatre Troup performing “What a Night,” a story about “two people who were at the same party and in the same room, but had two very different nights,” according to Student Health Center programming coordinator Michelle Lovering.

“The dramatic play focuses on how assumptions, alcohol, and miscommunication can lead to unintended outcomes,” she said.

Afterward, a peer educator will lead an interactive discussion, asking questions, as well as providing tips on attending and hosting parties where alcohol is served in a responsible manner.

“There are many things that hosts can do to ensure the safety of their guests, such as providing an equal number of non-alcoholic options, arranging ride options or a place to stay for guests who do drink, and making sure that minors do not drink,” Lovering said.

“There are also several effective strategies to reduce the amount of alcohol that one drinks, such as alternating water or non-alcoholic beverages and choosing lower alcohol-content drinks, just to name a few,” she said.

With reunions and other festivities that often accompany the holiday season, Lovering said the AAI wants to make sure students are prepared for issues that may arise when alcohol is present.

“The Alcohol Abuse Initiative would like to encourage students to act responsibly, even when they are away from SHSU,” she said.

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SHSU Media Contact: Jennifer Gauntt
Nov. 30, 2005
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