Take one down and pass it around
Kyle Collins, Senior Reporter
Issue date: 10/18/07 Section: Campus News
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Staff from Public Safety, University Housing and Student Affairs make up a small portion of the numerous campus sponsors working together this week.
“It’s easy for us to work together because we’ve done it on other initiatives before,” Gina Peavy, executive assistant to the vice president of Student Affairs, said.
The events range from speakers affected by drunk driving to live music on Front Campus.
Wellness Program Coordinator Amy Whatley said the words “alcohol awareness” may not entice some students to come.
“Students get the AlcoholEdu course in addition to what they may have had in high school,” Whatley said. “You want students to realize there are consequences to their actions.”
About 15 students took part in the Public Safety forum held at Magnolia Ballroom Monday. Students were treated to several car chase videos recorded by GCSU Public Safety and Milledgeville Police.
The videos got the crowd chatting as suspects under the influence of drugs or alcohol sped around the city.
Lt. Joe Grant with GCSU Public Safety opened the discussion with information about their department.
Public Safety works closely with the Milledgeville Police and Baldwin County Sheriff agencies to protect the area.
“We have 16 officers to cover 500 acres within our jurisdiction which usually leaves us underhanded,” Grant said.
The highlight of the night was the sobriety tests administered to several GCSU staff and two coaches. All of the subjects drank for at least an hour on empty stomachs.
Officer Justin Gaines discussed three methods to test a subject’s blood alcohol level. These include the one-leg stand, the walk and turn, and the nystagmus test.
The nystagmus test uses a lighted pen which the officer moves side to side and up and down. The eyes of those under the influence have an uncontrollable twitch as the person tries to follow the pen.
Some handled their alcohol better than others as over half of the drinkers tested beyond the legal .08 limit for adults over 21.
“I think there is a huge misconception about how alcohol affects people,” Whatley said. “College aged people don’t realize tolerances differ based on body type and how the drinks are mixed.”
Junior Michael George, attorney general for the Student Judicial Board, said he hoped students learn responsibility about drinking.
“I feel like this event was a success even though we didn’t get a huge turnout,” George said.
The following Tuesday night Eric Krug and his mother, Joyce, came to the Arts and Sciences auditorium to discuss the dangers of drunk driving.
Over ten years ago, Krug hopped into a car after celebrating his 21 birthday with his baseball team. The female driver was drunk at the time, and she crashed into a tree not far from their destination at Oglethorpe University.
Krug’s best friend died while he remained in a coma for over a year. Krug suffered severe brain damage affecting long term memory and motor skills.
Krug remains bound to his walker and wheel chair at the age of 30. Speech left him that fateful night as well.
His mother delivered his message to a room full of students.
Krug lost the things he loved most including a girlfriend and the active life he used to enjoy. He trained for six months to walk his sister down the aisle at her wedding.
Despite all the sadness, Krug still interacted with the crowd as students asked questions about his favorite baseball team and movie.
His smile warmed the crowd as everyone gave Krug a standing ovation after the program.
Freshman undecided major Alana Baker felt a connection because her brother recently received a DUI.
“He is a very motivational person,” Baker said. “I will definitely think twice about my choices from now on.”
Peavy hopes this week educates students about the possible consequences involved with alcohol.
“I hope students realize that it’s not somebody else that it could happen to because it can be any one of us,” Peavy said.
Alcohol Awareness Week ends on Oct. 20 with a Mocktails “bar” at Fallfest.
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