SHREVEPORT, LA -- Instead of a bash, there will be a crash this Sunday (Oct. 10). Centenary College's observance of National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week will open with a crash at 7 p.m., with all the attendant law enforcement and emergency vehicle response one would expect at the scene of a major accident.
The scene, which will remain through most of the week, will unfold in the form of a car wrapped around a tree at the college's main entrance. The wreck's aftereffects will continue later in the week as with a trial that considers the tragedy and the offenses committed by the drunk driver.
According to Nancy Bushnell, director of counseling services at Centenary, the purpose of this week is "to heighten awareness of the far-reaching aspects of alcohol." The focus will be put on understanding the consequences of drinking, with hopes of promoting more responsible drinking.
The Alcohol Awareness steering committee, co-chaired by Bushnell, and Mark Miller, director of housing at Centenary has been in the planning stage throughout the month of September. Alcohol Awareness Week was "thought-out, planned, and implemented by students," said Miller. The activities are sponsored by many different student organizations. This strategy, used nationwide, has resulted in major growth of NCAAW, which is in its second decade.
Sunday's mock DWI wreck is sponsored by the Centenary Activities Board. It will include a simulated crash, complete with fire department, ambulance and police officer response. To make this event even more realistic, the follow-up trial will be held at 4:30 p.m. Thursday in the Student Union Building.
Other events include the return of "Beer Goggles," which proved to be a big success last year, and a Candlelight Vigil where members of the Centenary Community can share with each other how alcohol abuse has effected them.
The funds for this project are provided by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospital's Office of Addictive Disorders, with a $20,000 grant awarded to Centenary for alcohol education.
Among the week's events are:
Ongoing Events
* Save-A-Life Cards--Students pass out cards with tips on how to identify someone suffering from an alcohol overdose, sponsored by Residence Hall Association (RHA).
* Role Plays--Students randomly perform role plays demonstrating real-life after effects of alcohol throughout the week, sponsored by RHA and Residence Life.
* Awareness Ribbons--Students can pick up a ribbon the in Student Union Building (SUB) and wear it to show support for the observance of AAW, sponsored by Panhellenic Council.
Sunday, October 10
* Mock DWI Wreck--performed on the lawn between the campus entrance and the Hargrove Bandshell at 7 p.m., sponsored by Centenary Activities Board (CAB).
Monday, October 11
* Dead for a Day--students wear a fact sheet of an actual death by alcohol incident, sponsored by Residence Life.
Tuesday, October 12
* Beer Goggles--students can experience simulated impairment, which occurs when consuming alcohol, in the SUB between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., sponsored by the Department of Public Safety.
* "It could happen to you"--12-step speaker, held in the SUB at 7 p.m., sponsored by Outreach.
Wednesday, October 13
* Beer Goggles--in the SUB from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., sponsored by DPS.
* Candlelight Vigil--an opportunity for students to share the effects alcohol has had on their lives, in the Band Shell, sponsored by IFC and Panhellenic Council.
Thursday, October 14
* Mock DWI Trial--the follow-up to the DWI wreck earlier in the week, in the SUB at 4:30 p.m.
Friday, October 15
* Tailgate party and Beer Goggles--in the Gold Dome Parking Lot at 10:15 p.m., sponsored by SAAC.
* Midnight Madness--first official Gents Basketball practice of the season, held in the Gold Dome, sponsored by CAB.
Saturday, October 16
* Ladies Soccer--Soccer Field at 1 p.m.
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