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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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THURSDAY, DEC. 3, 2015 | VOLUME 130 ISSUE 28
NEWS ROUNDUP >> YOU NEED TO KNOW
ART IN FOCUS.
Leigh Kaulbach,
a KU graduate
student, creates
zines — self-
published works
with original or
appropriated art.
Arts & Culture >> 05
CITY LIAISON INTERNSHIP. Student Senate teamed up with Haskell Indian Nations University to create the position. News >> PAGE 02
ALEX RGBINSON/KANSAN
BIG AWARDS FROM THE BIG 12. Kansas volleyball coach Ray Bechard, above, was named the Coach of the Year.
Sports » PAGE 12
KANSAN.COM >>
FOLLOW NEWS ONLINE
MISSY MINEAR/KANSAN
PUNNY. Yes,
Cheick Diallo's
name rhymes with
"check." No, you
should not use
any of the multiple
puns on his name.
Educate yourself. »>
Kansan.com/sports
BLAKE MCFARLAND/
KANSAN
SKATING SEASON. The Lawrence skating rink is open for a second year. Read about changes and when you can get your skate on.
» Kansan.com/news
ENGAGE WITH US >>
ANYWHERE.
Your peers don't drink as much as you think
Health officials say misperceptions can lead some to overindulge
This is the second in a series from The University Daily Kansan exploring issues impacting student wellness.
A project exploring issues critical to student wellness at the University of Kansas A series from the University Daily Kansas
MCKENNA HARFORD, BLAKE MCFARLAND, KWANG HYUN
@KansanNews
When Becca Levine came to campus as a freshman, she thought everyone would be partying all the time. Her concept of student life was shaped by movies such as "Animal House" and other images popularized by TV and social media. She soon realized she had an exaggerated view of student behavior. "I thought, coming into the college, you had to drink if you wanted to be social, especially in different organizations," said Levine, a senior from St. Louis. "I came up with an assumption that you have to force [yourself] to drink, or I would stand out if I didn't in a social situation." Such perceptions worry health officials, who say students who overinflate the drinking habits of their peers are at risk of over-drinking themselves.
"When individuals perceive a certain behavior to be normal, that will change their behavior," said Jenny McKee, director of the University's Health Education Resource Office.
In a recent survey of more than 425 University undergraduate students as part of the 2015 National College Health Survey, 32 percent of first-year students said they thought "typical" students drank on 10-19 days of the last 30 days. However, when asked how much they drank, 14 percent said they actually drink that often.
For second-year students,
the gap' was
even larger
OUR HEALTH
34 percent of second-year students said their peers drank 10-19 days in the past month, compared with 5 percent who said they drank that frequently.
The University results mirror national studies, which show that students commonly overestimate how much other students drink. A study of National College Health Assessment data from 2000 to 2003 found that students at 130 schools overestimated both the frequency and amount of alcohol consumed by their peers. This was true for schools where many students abstained from drinking, as well as for schools where students reported drinking three or four drinks the last time they went out. The study found that perception of the campus drinking norm is the "strongest predictor" of the amount a student personally consumes.
Mckee said the gap between what students think their peers are doing versus actual behavior may be based on hearing about or seeing extreme behavior. The drinking habits of others can be amplified in the minds of students, which can, in turn, cause students to drink more, McKee said.
"If you're seeing these statistical outlying behaviors of people being transported to the hospital, or seeing people passed out, or seeing people throwing up, or you are constantly faced or hearing stories of people being very, very drunk, that might lead a student who might drink occasionally — but is not a regular thing to do
Students overestimate peers' alcohol use
Survey results show how often students believe others drink each month compared to themselves
Perception vs own drinking habits Own Perception
Graphic represents student replies to how often they thought others drank alcohol on 10-19 days in the past month versus their own use. Source: Results from 428 student respondents to the 2015 University of Kansas National College Health Assessment survey, provided by Watkins Health Center Kansan Graphic by Blake McEarland
Kansan Graphic by Blake McFarland
"When you live on a campus like ours, where
— to modify their behavior to fit what they believe to be the norm," McKee said.
She said student living arrangements are also a factor.
about 80 percent of first-year students live in a residential community such as residence halls or scholarship halls, they see a lot of that behavior," McKee said. "They see people coming home from bars or parties with some pretty extreme behavior."
In the University survey, about 24 percent of students said they had no alcohol the last time they socialized, while 10 percent said they had four
SEE PERCEPTION PAGE 2
Office of Multicultural Affairs searches for director
MADI SCHULZ +
CONNER MITCHELL
@KansanNews
Precious Porras, interim director for the Office of Multicultural Affairs and final candidate for the vacant OMA director position, presents on Friday on the topic of "Strategic Leadership at KU's Office of Multicultural Affairs." The presentation is at 11 a.m. in the Kansas Room of the Kansas Union.
The first candidate, Festus Ado-Yobo, director of Black Programs at New Mexico State University, presented on Monday. Andre Brown, federal outreach and student service program director at Arizona State University, presented on Tuesday. All candidates present on the same topic.
Jerry Crawford, associate journalism professor and chair
"We want someone who can come in here and speak on more than just saying, 'I want to help students,'" he said. "We want to look at how they can incorporate everything from not just students, but faculty, staff, the community, retention and Endowment. So systematically, they need to be able to look at how the program works."
of the search committee, said the topic was selected because of the importance of strategic planning in leading a University program.
Festus Addo-Yobo
During a reception after his presentation, Addo-Yobo talked with students and answered questions on topics including Native American recruitment and involvement on campus, how he can help LGBTQ+ students of color, issues students
Andre Brown, a candidate for director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, gives a presentation on Tuesday.
CONNER MITCHELL/KANSAN
Frank Angel, a University student, talked about his experience on campus as a Native American student, the lack of Native American representation on campus and his frustrations about the lack of education in what it means to be a Native American student. He recalled a time when he mentioned he was Native American and a peer said "you look awful white to me."
He spoke in detail of social plans, like having speakers come in to talk, having debates and other social gatherings to get students involved in the multicultural center. Addo-Yobo also answered questions and discussed the disconnect between the University of Kansas and Haskell Indian Nations University.
In response, Addo-Yobo suggested students use instances such as those as teachable moments for other students.
of color face and his plans for the multicultural center.
"I liked him, and I liked a few of the responses that he gave, but ultimately I felt like he was beating around the bush a little bit, and he didn't answer my question specifically or my friend Omar Rana's question specifically," Angel said. "And it was just a little tiring. I felt there was a little tension in the room because people were getting tired of it, and I kind of was, too. But, over all, I think he was alright."
Crawford was also present momentarily at the meeting. Crawford encouraged everyone to visit the provost office's website to leave their thoughts on the candidate.
"Your voice will be heard, and we will read everything, and we will not discount it," Crawford said.
Andre Brown
"My philosophy as an educator is to change lives through the opportunity of education," he said. "[In the Office of Multicultural Affairs] You can't just wait for students to come to you. You have to go to them, and I believe that wholeheartedly."
Brown also emphasized building a relationship between academic departments and the OMA by ensuring the curriculum and opportunities presented to students prepare them to be constructive members of society.
Brown highlighted the importance of collaboration and student retention during his Tuesday presentation.
"Why not stand to develop a relationship with each academic college? College is to get an education and to eventually gain employment," he said. "So how do we provide support and scholarship opportunities for students to be successful? In addition to being University of Kansas students, you also want to be successful, productive citizens."
Brown said that in order for organizations like the OMA to succeed, student voices must be heard.
"The bottom line is this: You
need to listen to students," he said. "You need to hear their concerns, and you have to have a dialogue. I want to know what your concerns are."
Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk tweeted after Brown's presentation that they hadn't been impressed with either of the firs two candidates.
Invisible Hawks (@InvisibleHawks) December 1, 2015
Our Initial thoughts on the first two candidates? Not impressed. At all.
They also tweeted that the new director must be an advocate.
The @KU_OMA director must be a SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCATE well versed in multiple forms of oppression and privilege.
- Invisible Hawks (@InvisibleHawks) December 1, 2015
All candidate presentations will be available to view online after the final presentation. Attendees of the presentations are invited to give feedback to the search committee by 8 a.m. on Dec. 7. Crawford said the committee will meet to review feedback and forward a recommendation to Vice Provost for Diversity and Equity Nate Thomas as soon as possible.
- Edited by Rebecca Dowd
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