Health Center Wins Alcohol Programming Award

The 2004 alcohol abuse prevention program by the student health center at Sam Houston State University has been selected as one of the top two in Texas by AAA Texas and the Center for College Health and Safety.

The College and University Drinking and Driving Prevention Award will be formally presented to the health center in the fall of 2005. Awards are given to campus entities that develop programs or activities that aim to reduce the campus drinking and driving problems and to prevent or control campus alcohol or other drug use which can result in impaired driving.

In January the health center submitted information to AAA Texas for its efforts toward the development of a comprehensive alcohol and drunk driving awareness program in 2004. The health center has been the leader on campus for alcohol programming and has encouraged and supported efforts for the campus-wide alcohol-reduction measures that have continued in 2005 with the SHSU Alcohol Abuse Initiative.

A Grand Prize of $5,000 is given to the top program in a larger region, including California, New Mexico, Hawaii, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Texas. Two state awards of $1,000 are given each year. The SHSU health center was chosen as one of this year’s state winners over 15 other schools.

“We submitted a request for recognition for only those activities coordinated by the student health center in 2004, before full organization of the Alcohol Abuse Initiative," said Michelle Lovering, the center's health programming coordinator.

"What’s even more encouraging is that next year, we will be able to submit the accomplishments of the A.A.I. as well. I am confident that SHSU will be a great contender for the grand prize!”

In 2003, the health center initiated a campus alcohol study which grew in magnitude as faculty members Rosanne Keathley and Martha Bass became involved. The information gleaned from the study has fostered support for the Alcohol Abuse Initiative and has identified problem behaviors targeted by educational programming efforts.

At the beginning of 2004, health center director Keith Lott decided to devote his department's resources to the problem of drinking and driving and began with a simple goal--to increase student awareness of the potential consequences of drinking and driving.

In the spring of 2004, the health center hosted the Save A Life Tour! Drunk Driving Simulator, and in September hired Lovering as its first full-time health programming coordinator, with alcohol education as one of her duties.

In the fall 2004 semester the health center initiated a drinking and driving social norm campaign entitled “Seize the Keys.” The goal of the campaign was to increase awareness of social norms regarding impaired driving among individuals in the campus environment, including SHSU students, faculty and staff.

During October 18-22, 2004, the SHC coordinated the National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week. With help from SHSU’s recreational sports department and the newly formed Alcohol Abuse Initiative Committee, the week of events promoting positive social norms included a day of drunk driving awareness.

Then in November, in order to further reinforce awareness of alcohol social norms and the consequences of drunk driving, Lovering invited Mark Sterner to campus to present "DUI: A Powerful Lesson." Co-sponsors included student activities, the inter-fraternity council, recreational sports, and the Alcohol Abuse Initiative.

Sterner spoke to a crowd of over 500 students about his drunk driving accident in which he killed three of his best friends and fraternity brothers and, consequently, spent three years in prison.

The health center also presented alcohol abuse and social norm information to 150 fraternity and sorority members, who declared their intention to participate in more alcohol-reduction activities and programs.

“This is a great recognition for the student health center and Sam Houston State University," said Keith Lott, health center director, said of the award.

"Many of these activities could not have happened without support from Dr. Thelma Douglass, vice president for student services, and the department’s collaborative relationships with other campus departments and faculty members."

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SHSU Media Contact: Frank Krystyniak
May 12, 2005
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