Wartburg College Trumpet, IA

10-24-06

Dead Drunk

1,700 college students die every year

KRYSTAL FOWLER

MANAGING EDITOR

Some Wartburg students struggle with alcohol-related problems every year, but no Wartburg student has died—yet.

Nationally, approximately 1,700 college students die every year due to alcohol-related injuries, including motor-vehicle accidents and serious alcohol-related incidents continue to increase on campuses.

Last week, Alcohol Wisdom and Real Education, a campus-based organization, attempted to raise students’ awareness of over-indulgence.

The organization placed a table in the student center. They encouraged students to sign a declaration that affirmed the students’ awareness of the dangers of alcohol. Students were also asked to wear fatal vision goggles, which are goggles that simulate the experience of being drunk.

AWARE president, Stephanie King, was happy with the response and felt the week was a success.

“I feel that the week is important because to many college students do take part in activities that involve alcohol. This week is a time to draw awareness to this popular college activity and let people know that alcohol is not all fun and games. It has the possibility to be very dangerous and possibly fatal.”

Unsafe sex, vandalism and academic problems can all result from alcohol abuse.

College Students 18-24:

1,700 die each year from alcohol-related unintentional injuries, including motor vehicle crashes

More than 97,000 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape

599,000 are injured under the influence of alcohol

More than 150,000 develop an alcohol-related health problem and 1.2 - 1.5 percent indicate that they tried to commit suicide within the past year due to drinking or drug use

2.1 million drove under the influence of alcohol last year

110,000 are arrested for an alcohol-related violation such as public drunkenness or driving under the influence

Alcohol

About 25 percent of college students report having academic problems because of their drinking, including missing classes and doing poorly on exams or papers.

However, many myths still exist about alcohol use. According to the American Council for Drug Education, one in five college students doesn’t drink at all.

A 2002 survey conducted by Wartburg’s counseling services and Iowa State University’s department of public health and safety determined 29.6 percent of Wartburg freshmen had chosen not to drink and 24 percent of all Wartburg students had not drunk alcohol during the previous year.

CJ Yerington, residence hall director for Clinton and Founders, doesn’t think Wartburg has very many serious alcohol-related problems. Most incidents in the dorms are noise disturbances. However, there have been a few serious incidents, he said

“Probably, the most severe thing that we’ve dealt with is incidents of alcohol poisoning,” Yerington said. “In my experience, I’ve never had any fights, any incidents where it really got out of hand.”

A violation of the alcohol policy is usually handled in the residence hall where it occurred.

“The philosophy among the hall directors is, if it happens in your building, then it’s your concern,” he said.

If another incident occurs or the student or students involved want to appeal the decision, the matter is taken to Pete Armstrong, director of residential life.

Armstrong said he felt overall, Wartburg had a below average number of problems with alcohol. Armstrong said this year there had been fewer than 10 cases referred to him.

At the end of each fall term, Armstrong compiles a summary of conduct infractions. During fall 2005, 53 of the 54 cases referred to the student conduct process were alcohol or drug-related.

Almost all were given a warning and fined. Some students were recommended for assessment and counseling. No one was suspended, and the most severe punishment imposed was probation.

According to Wartburg’s alcohol policy, there are three levels of alcohol violations, minor, significant and major. Students can receive warnings, fines and several other punishments, depending on the severity of the violation and the number of times a students has violated the policy.

Fines collected from alcohol violations help fund programs like AWARE. The 2005 student conduct report indicated that $2,500 in fines had been given to several campus organizations and service trips.

“AWARE wants to provide activities so that Wartburg students have something to do other than taking part in drinking,” King said.