news
the oracle, december 2, 2003
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Check Yourself before You Reck Yourself Awareness and Provent
The second annual "Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself" program was held on Monday November 3rd in Budig 120 Auditorium. The program was geared towards educating new members in the greek community about alcohol awareness, drunk driving,and the consequences of alcohol consumption.
Representatives from Watkins Memorial Health Center, the KU Police Department, KU Legal Services, IFC and Panhellenic, and members of the greek community all attended the event to inform students of the risks involved with drinking.
"The program works towards showing the down sides of drinking and how to be safe if you make the decision to go ahead and do so." said Kellen Duryea the IFC appointed GAMMA (Greeks Advocating the Mature Management of Alcohol) Officer. "I have a greater respect for people who work towards the goal of alcohol awareness."
Duryea worked with the Panhellenic Association appointed GAMMA Officer Mollie Asrat, the IFC Vice President for Risk
Management Michael Dalbom, and Panhellenic Association Vice President for Risk Management Katie Crnkovich who together
story by chris kaufman
I have a greater respect for people who work towards the goal of alcohol awareness.
66
Kellen Duryea
coordinated the event.
"I felt it was a unique way of showing the consequences of drunk driving." Asrat said. "It was different being on the other side of it and seeing things from the KUPD and KU legal services perspectives."
Prominent and respected leaders in the greek community were asked to volunteer to participate in the program by drinking alcohol in a controlled environment in order to provide actual proof of what can happen while under the influence. They were asked by the KUPD to perform sobriety tests identical to those given to suspected drunk drivers. These tests included following a pen with their eyes, walking in a straight line heel to toe, reciting the alphabet, and balance tests.
The volunteers were given a physical by Dr. Myra Strother, Watkins Health Center Chief of Staff, who then determined how much each participant would consume and of what type. Participants drank either only beer, only mixed drinks, or both. They were monitored by the KUPD and Dr. Strother throughout the process.
Andrew Wymore of Sigma Alpha Epsilon was a volunteer in the program who consumed nine drinks, both beer and mixed. "The educational program provided real life examples of how alcohol affects you. It provided to the audience in living color what happens when you are intoxicated," Wymore said.
"My opinion of drunk driving hasn't changed because I don't drink and drive, but it really showed the new members the negative effects of doing so," said Steven Meyer member of Delta Chi who volunteered to participate. "I have never been put through those tests so it was interesting to see how I would respond. I definitely did not pass."
After the event the volunteers were escorted by the KUPD, and GAMMA Officers to Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity where they were monitored until they recorded a .02 blood alcohol level. Participants had to pledge to not drink twenty-four hours before or after the program
Representatives from KU 66
I have never been put through those tests so it was interesting to see how I would respond. I definitely did not pass. 99
Steven Meyer
legal services also attended to provide information what options were available to someone caught drinking and driving. They discussed the costs of receiving both a DUI and an MIP.