2008 Woodie Awards
SRU gets UMADD chapter
By Alyshia Inks
Issue date: 10/7/05 Section: News
Slippery Rock University has been selected by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to start a university chapter, UMADD, to conduct prevention projects to help reduce underage drinking, high risk drinking and drunk driving on campus and in the community.
"We know not all students drink and want to show others that there are students with the same mission," said Cathie Sadler, coordinator of student involvement and family connection. "It could be very effective. We as administrators have been working on social norms marketing and other similar topics through the Alcohol Coalition Committee, but having an organization like this would provide our committee with more student input, programs and initiatives."
UMADD addresses community attitudes about underage drinking, and works to change the social norms that underage drinking and high risk drinking is acceptable and part of the college experience. UMADD chapters conduct environmentally based projects that partner student leaders with adults to limit access to alcohol by those under 21, and encourage enforcement of underage drinking and drunken driving laws.
Students also collaborate with campus leaders to establish clear and effective policies designed to minimize alcohol-related problems.
"MADD empowers college students to make a difference on their own campus," said James Bryant, national coordinator of UMADD.
"A combination of education, engagement and enforcement will help minimize the devastating effects of underage drinking and high risk drinking that affects more than the students, but the entire community."
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) reported that in 2003 approximately 10.9 million underage youth, ages 12 to 20, used alcohol in the month prior to the survey. Nearly 7.2 million underage youth also reported binge drinking, i.e., drinking five or more drinks on a single occasion at least once in the past 30 days.
The Slippery Rock UMADD chapter recently attended training in Dallas. They learned approaches in changing the social, legal and economic environments in their communities and on their campus, including assessing where and how youth get the alcohol they drink and helping to support law enforcement efforts to uphold alcohol-related laws.
MADD's mission is to stop drunken driving, support the victims of this crime and prevent underage drinking. Founded in 1980, MADD is celebrating its 25th anniversary and the more than 300,000 lives it has helped save.
"We know not all students drink and want to show others that there are students with the same mission," said Cathie Sadler, coordinator of student involvement and family connection. "It could be very effective. We as administrators have been working on social norms marketing and other similar topics through the Alcohol Coalition Committee, but having an organization like this would provide our committee with more student input, programs and initiatives."
UMADD addresses community attitudes about underage drinking, and works to change the social norms that underage drinking and high risk drinking is acceptable and part of the college experience. UMADD chapters conduct environmentally based projects that partner student leaders with adults to limit access to alcohol by those under 21, and encourage enforcement of underage drinking and drunken driving laws.
Students also collaborate with campus leaders to establish clear and effective policies designed to minimize alcohol-related problems.
"MADD empowers college students to make a difference on their own campus," said James Bryant, national coordinator of UMADD.
"A combination of education, engagement and enforcement will help minimize the devastating effects of underage drinking and high risk drinking that affects more than the students, but the entire community."
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) reported that in 2003 approximately 10.9 million underage youth, ages 12 to 20, used alcohol in the month prior to the survey. Nearly 7.2 million underage youth also reported binge drinking, i.e., drinking five or more drinks on a single occasion at least once in the past 30 days.
The Slippery Rock UMADD chapter recently attended training in Dallas. They learned approaches in changing the social, legal and economic environments in their communities and on their campus, including assessing where and how youth get the alcohol they drink and helping to support law enforcement efforts to uphold alcohol-related laws.
MADD's mission is to stop drunken driving, support the victims of this crime and prevent underage drinking. Founded in 1980, MADD is celebrating its 25th anniversary and the more than 300,000 lives it has helped save.
