Collegio Online

Issue date: 10/18/07 Section: Campus Life

Media Credit: Aaron Anders/Collegio Reflected in a mirror, former coach Mike Green showed students how alcohol can affect their lives dramatically during his speech, "The Four Stages of Drinking," in the Crimson and Gold Ballroom on Monday, Oct. 15.

Drinking excessively, even once, may have more serious consequences than habitual drinking, says Mike Green, president and founder of Collegiate Consultants.
"I don't know why people don't speak up when people have too much to drink," Green told an audience of 200 PSU students. Green has been speaking to college students about alcohol for 24 years and punctuates his speeches with personal stories on the devastating effects of alcoholism. He says he's been sober for 30 years.

Green's appearance in the Crimson and Gold Ballroom was part of several campus activities in observance of Alcohol Awareness Week. During the week, Monday through Thursday, Oct. 15-18, students were offered the chance to enjoy alcohol-free activities.

Although Green used crude language in his speech, students showed by their laughter and comments that they could relate to his experiences.

"If someone's getting f-ed up, stop them, take their keys," Green advised the audience.

The event was promoted to teach students how to engage in safer drinking habits.

J.T. Knoll, coordinator for PSU's prevention and wellness program and chair of the school's substance abuse focus group, says that this year's theme, "RU Connected," speaks to friends taking care of friends, remaining in contact through phones and text messaging devices and committing themselves to be designated drivers when needed.

During the week, cans of Mountain Dew and Pepsi were handed out, along with some SafeRide koozies, in the Oval. The koozies carried PSU's SafeRide phone number, as well as the phrase: "Friends Take Care of Friends."

"(The giveaway) always goes well," Knoll said.

This week's activities:
Monday - Mike Green, spoke on "The Four Stages of Drinking."
Tuesday - PSU students, with ID card, got a free miniature golf play at Four Oaks Golf Course.
Wednesday - Free barbecue for students put on by GAMMA (Greeks Advocating Mature Management of Alcohol), in the Gorilla Village.
Thursday - Volleyball game for residence hall students, at Weede Physical Education Building. Karaoke Night at the U-Club.

Knoll adds that some of the financial support to bring Green and other events to campus came from Prevention and Wellness, Substance Abuse Group, Student Health Services, University Counseling, Leadership Counsel and University Athletics.

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