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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
STUDENT GROUPS
Globally focused club comes to KU
Alderson Auditorium hosted a number of students looking to help others at Nourish International's first interest meeting last Thursday evening.
The purpose of the meeting was to explain the mission and goals of Nourish International, a new global organization on campus. The chapter founded at the University of Kansas is the first chapter established in the Midwest.
Adam Nicholson, the chapter's founder, led the meeting with an explanation of Nourish International's three goals: engaging students, empowering communities and eradicating poverty. Nourish International fundraises throughout the academic year and sends students to impoverished countries on summer mission trips. The organization has been in more than 80 countries in the past five years.
Nicholson explained the founding of Nourish International at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill campus by Sindhura Citineni.
"She just stepped up to the plate, took a swing and she hit a home run," Nicholson said, using her as a prime example of student determination.
Plans were discussed by Nicholson about raising awareness on campus. Most recently, the the University's chapter has worked with the Spanish department to contact suppliers in Paraguay about importing fresh goods to campus for students. Venture director Nicole Lawson encouraged students to contribute to the efforts.
"We want you to be as involved as you can and want to be," she said.
-Kayla Overbey
CAMPUS
Events to educate on sexual assault
The Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center is fanning out across campus for Sexual Assault Awareness Week through Sept. 18. The University announced events for the week.
Tuesday
"Consent and Alcohol," 7 p.m. at Hashinger Hall Theater
Thursday
"Honoring Survivors," a candlelight vigil, 8 p.m. at the Campanile
Additionally, volunteers will be on Wescoe Beach each day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m..
The observance of Sexual Assault Awareness in September marks a shift from its traditional observance in April. Sonja Heath, assistant director of the resource center, said the change was made in part to boost engagement.
"I believe that making this change will help facilitate student growth and development in a number of ways." Heath said in a release. "At the beginning of the year, students are typically much more engaged in extra-curricular activities and may have more time to participate in programs and events."
— Jonathan Shorman
CRIME
A man accused of watching residents shower in residence halls will appear before a judge today.
Shower case goes to court today
Devin Mason was charged in August with five counts of eavesdropping. The charges stem from several incidents in April where a man entered bathrooms in Hashinger and McCollum Halls and watched residents shower.
Mason has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Jonathan Shorman
D.M. SCOTT
dscott@kansan.com
Underage drinking in college remains difficult to address
Bartender Chris Neverve sees it every year. The cops come in, drop off a sign about underage drinking and make random visits throughout the semester. Yet the problem never goes away.
"Honestly, I can't speak for everyone, but it's pretty much stayed the same," he said. "You always got to be on your toes."
Neverve, who has bartended at the Red Lyon Tavern for seven years, said fighting underage drinking is a "never-ending battle". Neverve added despite law enforcement's attempts to curb the problem, he hasn't noticed a drop off since he began bartending.
Neverve said that as the semester progresses, underage students learn which bars card and which bars don't. The Red Lyon Tavern is not the place for underage students to go, he said.
"Even though it's 18 everywhere else, the rules are the rules here."
PARENTS AND THE LAW
Katherine Moore, a senior from Leawood, said the problem with underage drinking stems not from a lack of enforcement, but from parental guidance.
CRIME
"My parent's didn't talk to me and then I came to college and drank too much," she said. "I had negative repercussions because of that."
Moore said fake IDs are easy to come by, rendering random checks at bars by police officers ineffective.
"I think students drink excessively, especially their first two years of college. It's because they are put in an environment where everyone drinks excessively," she said. "They're not mature enough nor are they around people who know how to drink in a normal,
controlled manner."
POLICE KEEP CHASING
Capt. Schuyler Bailey from the KU Public Safety Office said, in an email, that campus policecontinue to work with the Lawrence Police Department, the Kansas Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control and Douglas County Citizens Committee on Alcoholism to crack down of fake IDs and educate minors about alcohol.
Using grant money obtained by the DCCCA, these departments monitor bars and liquor stores on select weekends. The departments also use grant money to create educational ads for TV and newspaper.
"With the creation of the task force, through the grant, we've seen an increase in the number of arrests because of the additional officers specifically targeting these violations," Bailey said.
Bailey said that students should understand underage drinking is illegal and "there are no exceptions and few warnings given to underage persons caught drinking."
Sgt. Matt Sarna, a spokesperson for the Lawrence Police Department said, in an email, that the department has received the Fake ID 101 grant for three years. The grant provides funding for the Lawrence Police department to put more officers on the street. Extra officers work directed patrol assignments on the weekends to combat problem violations, such as underage drinking.
He said that punishment for underage drinking varies from a minimum fine of $300 to the maximum fine $500. Punishment could also include 30 days in jail, 40 hours of community service work, mandatory attendance of an alcohol information school and a drivers' license suspension ranging from 30 days to one year.
A POWER GREATER THAN
BOOZE
Marceaux suggests that underage students get involved in church activities and university clubs, rather than boozing the weekends away. She doesn't know if parental guidance, law enforcement or a smattering of both works best to combat underage drinking, but she said education programs at the University couldn't hurt.
There is one significant upside to avoiding underage drinking, she said.
"I have a problem with over drinking and drinking period," Marceaux said. "There's so many cooler things you can do than drink."
"There are so many more ways to have fun without drinking, and the best part is you get to remember what happened the next day."
Christian beliefs keep Kayt Marceaux, a junior from Lenexa, sober and out of the bars.
Edited by Adam Strunk
Alcohol and College Students (Age 18-24)
GRAPHIC BY BEN PIROTTE
The number of college students who die each year from alcohol-related unintentional injuries, including motor vehicle crashes.
1,700
The number of students unintentionally injured under the influence of alcohol. 599,000
97,000+
The number of student victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape.
400,000 The number of students who had unprotected sex under the influence of alcohol.
The number of students who report having been too intoxicated to know if they consented to having sex. 100,000
The percentage of college students who report academic consequences of their drinking
25%
Standard alocholic drinks (each contains the same amount of alcohol)
SOURCE: ALCOHOL.KU.EDU/~ALCOHOL/FACTS/#GENERALINFO