Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - The University of Wisconsin-Platteville will use a $5,000 grant to inform students about the dangers of high-risk drinking.

This is the fifth consecutive year UWP has received a grant of approximately this size from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. This year, the University of Wisconsin System received a $60,000 block grant that is then allocated to state campuses that submit proposals to spend a portion of the funds.

"We're looking at a variety of strategies to address high-risk college drinking," said Roger Meyer, director of Counseling Services at UWP.

Meyer said many students have a misperception that virtually everyone drinks. A survey conducted on campus indicated that many students believe that 99 percent of their colleagues had consumed alcohol during the past 30 days; the actual number was 74 percent.

"We need to correct that misperception of everyone drinks," Meyer said. "We have to get accurate information and awareness to students and give them the opportunity to make choices."

Meyer said it also is important to address high-risk behavior that often accompanies college student alcohol consumption including drinking and driving, binge drinking, sexual behavior and violence.

Counseling Services will work with a number of campus organizations, including Greeks Advocating Mature Management of Alcohol, and focus on sponsoring alcohol-free events, such as an alcohol-free tailgate party prior to the UWP Family Weekend football game. The event includes a meal, alcohol information and non-alcoholic drinks.

Activities also are planned for Alcohol Awareness Week, which is Oct.18 through 24. There will be a table set up in the Pioneer Student Center with information. Prizes, such as alcohol-awareness T-shirts, will be awarded to participants in alcohol trivia games.

There also will be a focus placed on other high-risk times of the year, including just before Thanksgiving, spring break and the end of each semester, Meyer said.

Much of the grant money will be spent to reach out to students during those time periods with a media advocacy campaign that will be designed to change both behavior and perception. Students will be reached through the school newspaper, school radio station, events on campus and posters.

Already-developed posters feature two UWP student athletes urging students to make smart choices.

"People make choices and giving them that information opens the door for them to make a different choice - either not to drink at all or to be more careful about how much they drink," Meyer said.

For more information on alcohol awareness activities at UWP, contact Meyer at (608) 342-1865 or meyer@uwplatt.edu.

Contact: Roger Meyer, director, UWP Counseling Services, (608) 342-1865, meyer@uwplatt.edu Written by: UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, pr@uwplatt.edu