This month, at SUNY Fredonia, students will join with their peers on more than 3,000 other campuses across the country to celebrate National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week (NCAAW), October 17-23 - promoting personal responsibility and respect for the law when it comes to the consumption of alcohol beverages.

NCAAW has grown to become the largest single event in all of academia because students take the ownership in designing and implementing this observance for their campus communities. This week gives campuses the opportunity to showcase healthy lifestyles free from the abuse or illegal use of alcohol and to combat negative stereotypes of college drinking behavior.

"We need to do a better job of showing college students - particularly new students - that their peers are not all abusing alcohol and making bad decisions," said Kathy Forster, Interim Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs. "Students want to fit in and follow campus norms. If we incorrectly lead them to believe that everyone is getting drunk on a regular basis, then that's what they will do. We have a responsibility to tell students that making healthy choices is the true norm. Then, we can begin changing public perception."

During NCAAW at SUNY Fredonia, students will have the opportunity to participate in several events, designed to reinforce responsible attitudes toward drinking and respect for current state laws and school policies. Those activities include:

Sunday, Oct. 17: Campus Wide Social Norming Campaign Kickoff.

Monday, Oct. 18, 8 p.m., Williams Center: STOP DWI & "Mock" Field Sobriety Tests. Presented by Sgt. Quattrone of the Sheriff's Office and University Police. All welcome.

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 7 to 10 p.m., "The Spot" in the Williams Center: Casino Night, sponsored by student organization - BACCHUS (Boosting Alcohol Consciousness Concerning the Health of University Students). Free.

Wednesday, Oct. 20, 4 to 5:30 p.m., "The Spot" in the Williams Center: "Mocktail" Happy Hour, featuring free mocktails and pizza. Sponsored by BACCHUS & Signature Café.

Thursday, Oct. 21, 8 p.m., Nixon Hall: "Living with a BUZZ," presented by Karen Brown, CASAC, prevention educator. Sponsored by: BACCHUS. Free.

Friday night through Saturday morning, Oct. 22 and 23: "Up All Night," featuring campus-wide activities in each residence hall and extended Blue Devil Fitness Center and Swimming Pool hours until midnight.

 
Nationally, NCAAW is in its second decade; it started with 25 schools in 1983. The program helps college administrators and students launch and/or strengthen year-round prevention efforts. "What has set this program apart and contributed to its growth is its approach," said Dr. Edward Hammond, NCAAW's chairman and president of Fort Hays State University in Kansas. "Ultimately, this isn't about alcohol, but attitudes. We don't preach, we educate, and we empower students to take responsibility for their own decisions and environment."