14D
Monday, August 18. 1997
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NON-ALCOHOL
Continued from Page 1D
Ruth Engs, professor of applied health science at Indiana University, said she believed the drinking age should be lowered to 19. Engs, who studies drinking, said alcohol education needed to be taught in health programs at the high-school level before students went away to college.
"We are a drinking culture," Engs said. "If people choose to do a behavior, then they need to be taught how to do it in a moderate, safe way. The same goes for sex and other activities."
Ambler said he had been working with the KU Panhellenic Association to control alcohol abuse within the greek system. He said Matt Tessier, Greek program alcohol and risk management educator, attended Greek parties to make sure alcohol-related problems were kept at a minimum.
Ambler said he was pleased to hear that Sigma Nu and Phi Delta Theta fraternities had decided to ban alcohol from their houses by the year 2000. But he said he was worried this action might do more harm than good.
"Forcing kids into cars to go off campus to use alcohol is not a wise thing," he said. "I worry about being too stringent, but I am glad to see fraternities and sororites addressing the problem. At least we are raising students' consciousness about the abuse of alcohol."
Saturday, 11:15 p.m.
We are unable to find any signs of the party. We are forced to resort to our fallback plan: a local bar. There are not as many people at the bar as usual, but we hear that it will pick up at midnight. My friends order drinks, and I ask the bartender for my usual, a free Coke. My friend's roommate, who is drinking beer from two separate cups, sees me enjoying my Coke.
"Can I have a sip?" he says sarcastically. I walk away with an empty feeling. I look around the bar and see everyone enjoying their drinks. I get the feeling that people are staring at me because I'm drinking only Coke. I feel that if I buy a beer, I'll be able to fit in better with the crowd.
name from across the room and waves me over. That empty feeling quickly goes away.
McKinney, who has many friends who drink regularly, said most people respected his choice not to drink.
"As long as people respect me as a nondrinker, I will respect them as drinkers," he said.
Suddenly, my friend Kendall yells mu
McKinney said people were often shocked that he did not drink because he had an outgoing personality.
"Usually people don't say anything to my face, but sometimes, people treat me like I'm being rude because I'm not partaking with them." McKinney said. "But I don't care."
Ambler said the social stigma attached to non-drinkers was not as strong as it used to be because of the many alcohol awareness programs available.
"Part of a college education is helping people learn that it is OK to be themselves," he said. "What you do with the alcohol education is try to enforce these beliefs."
Dan Lu, Overland Park junior, has never had an alcoholic beverage, and he has no problem telling people he does not drink. "Sometimes I feel like I might be missing out on something, but deep down inside, I know I will not regret missing out on it." he said.
La said he sometimes felt he was the only non-drinker in the world.
"I wonder sometimes if I'm on a personal quest to prove to the world that you can still have fun even if you don't drink," he said.
Ambler agreed with La that it was difficult to go through college without drinking.
"Nineteen-year-olds have been taught that this is how you have fun," he said. "To be able to show that you can have a good time without alcohol is difficult in our society when its use is so prevalent."
Sunday, 12:30 a.m.
More people pile into the bar. I spot four friends who have just started on their first drinks. We talk about a movie they saw and what their plans are for the summer. Suddenly, bright lights turn on above the bar, and I see people rush to throw their drinks into trash cans. I ask Chris what is happening.
"The police are on their way here," he says.
Chaos erupts for about two minutes as underage drinkers down their drinks and dispose of the cups. The cops leave after
Sgt. Susan Hadd of the Lawrence Police Department said the department targeted bars on nights that were known for underage drinking. She said she thought police presence at bars and parties was a positive way to deter underage drinking.
five minutes without making arrests or handing out citations. The bar returns to normal.
It showed the drinking laws were being enforced, she said.
Hadl said she wished the department had more manpower, so it could go into bars more often.
"Our time is dictated by calls," she said. "When there are more pressing matters, it becomes less of a priority."
The majority of individuals who police catch drinking underage are issued notices to appear in court rather than arrested.
Tom Porter, a Lawrence city prosecutor,
said the typical penalty for underage drinkers who were found guilty was a $100 fine with a suspended jail sentence. He said these individuals then had to take an alcohol evaluation test, which also costs $100. The test determines whether they have the potential for developing drinking problems.
Porter said he dealt with about 10 underage drinking cases each month and that it was difficult to control the situation.
"I definitely think we have to enforce the law," he said. "But I don't think it is a problem that we can ever resolve."
The bar is about to close and we are tired. My friends are buzzing, but I think they're too tired to feel the effects. We cram into my car for a difficult drive home. I see a police car coming down Jayhawk Boulevard ahead of me.
Sunday, 2:00 a.m
"Guys, get down!" I say.
As I search for a parking spot, I reflect on the evening. Even though I didn't drink, I had a great time with my friends. I often hear people talk about the fun they have when drinking, but I am enjoying my time at the University without it.
"Hey guys, we have to do this again," Kendall says, as we reach Ellsworth. "There's bound to be a party next weekend."
There's bound to be a party next weeka.
"That'll be great," I say, "but we're taking separate cars. I don't think mine can take much more of this."
Sam Rockwell is famished, even though he's been scarfing down hors d'oeuvres all afternoon.
It's not that the finger food isn't substantial. Today's script requires the 28-year-old actor to nibble only while the cameras roll. No swallowing.
Actor takes indie center stage
The Associated Press
Such is life on the set of a low-budget, independent film.
"I've been trained well," laughs the amiable Rockwell, who stars opposite John Turturro in the sweetly unpretentious Box of Moonlight, directed by Tom DiCillo of cult-hit Johnny Suede fame.
Rockwell was still relatively
unproven when DiCillo took a shine to the boyish actor, casting him four years ago as the oddball, Davy Crockett costume-wearing Kid.
Even when the project stalled in 1994, DiCillo never wavered from his choice. "His loyalty is such a rarity," Rockwell says with genuine fondness. "He could have gone with so many different people. He just stuck with me."
"It's a dream role," Rockwell says. "There's no question."
Viewers will understand why. Rockwell is captivating as Kid, who owns neither credit card nor driver's license, lives "off the grid" in a trailer out in the woods and makes his living stealing and reselling lawn ornaments.
BINGE
Continued from Page 1D
system has been trying to change their animal house image. They have decreased the number of people allowed to attend their social functions and support many programs to promote alcohol awareness on campus.
In the future, Tessier said he would like to see all fraternity chapters substance-free. Sigma Nu and Phi Delta Theta have agreed. He said this would create a cleaner, safer, quieter house with lower liability.
"By having alcohol out of the house, you decrease the amount of drinking per person," he said.
Newville said alcohol eventually would not be allowed in fraternities.
"I think it's going to be inevitable in time, but the enforcement of a rule like that is going to be really
hard," he said.
Danny Chezem, Olathe junior and non-greek, that greets get bad publicity because they are in the spotlight.
"Everyone else is drinking too, you just don't hear about it as much," he said.
Brady Womboit, Overland Park senior and a friend of Mike's, said going out was normal for most college students.
"All my friends are big partiers," he said, "We just enjoy ourselves, but no more than others."
Julie Francis of the Health Promotions and Education department at Watkins Memorial Health Center said that there were many programs to help students become aware of alcohol abuse.
During October and March, her department sponsors week-long events which focus on educating students about alcohol dangers. Francis said these programs were designed to prevent careless
use of alcohol.
"I think the whole attitude needs to change regarding alcohol," she said. "We are never going to get rid of alcohol. There are so many people who are able to drink alcohol and not suffer any problems."
Francis said she would like to reach the 10 percent to 15 percent of the college population considered alcoholics.
By the end of the night, Mike seems more relaxed. He leans up at the bar and laughs while he talks to his buddies. When some girls approach, his smile widens and he runs his hand through his messy hair as he swallows the rest of his brew. He sets his glass down while talking. The bartender, knowing what he wants, fills it up.
Mike believes that when he finishes school he won't drink like he does now.
"Basically, it's the atmosphere that has the biggest affect on how much I drink," he said.
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