Spring Break
The Daily OrangeAlcohol Awareness Week improves image and stature of SU greeks
By Ryan Lilly
Posted: 10/17/07, 11:28 PM EST Section: Opinion
Greek communities on campuses around the country are constantly striving to achieve a new image, one that represents them with responsibility, maturity and dignity. These chapters are pushing away from the alcoholic, demoralizing stereotype they have been given and forging to make some change. Syracuse University is one of those campuses.
Alcohol Awareness Week spans this week from Monday to Friday. Fraternity and sorority members are encouraged to attend all events and create a strong presence in promoting mature and safe management of alcohol through this week and beyond. Some of these events, such as an open forum discussing binge drinking and potential emergencies, as well as a mocktail competition, are mandatory for members to attend.
A recent study cited on the Web site collegedrinkingprevention.gov estimated that more than 1,400 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die annually from alcohol-related injuries. Additionally, 500,000 students in the same age range sustain non-fatal alcohol-related injuries each year.
On Monday evening, several members from the Interfraternity Council (IFC) and Panhellenic Association executive boards held an open forum for more than 100 fraternity and sorority members to discuss the grim realities of drinking on college campuses and ways to prevent such dangers.
The highlight of the week will be this Friday when fraternities and sororities team up and compete against one another in a mocktail (a social event with no alcohol) competition. Fraternity and sorority members participating in mocktails are prohibited from drinking for the duration of the day to promote having fun without getting drunk.
This is what greek life is actually about - building strong ties with fellow greeks and showing that our numbers can help us collectively deal with the issue of alcohol management.
Unfortunately, part of breaking the stereotype will require others to have an open mind to greek life. Yes, we are normal college students and as such, drinking is a part of many of our lives. Many fraternities and sororities have taken this overboard in the past, and pledges and brothers/sisters have been sent to the hospital as a result of consuming too much alcohol. However, this is a part of college life that can happen to anyone, not just fraternities and sororities.
As the GAMMA (Greeks Advocating the Mature Management of Alcohol) chair on the IFC executive board, it is important to me to separate the immediate association of greeks with alcohol. Additionally, I hope that the greek community is fully equipped to prevent any dangerous situations from occurring, and in the event that they do, all members are prepared to responsibly handle that situation by informing the authorities.
But the scope spans beyond the greek community. This week is a stepping stone for the promotion of alcohol awareness on the SU campus. All students should be willing to be safe and responsible in their partying habits.
Ryan Lilly is the GAMMA Chair of IFC. He can be reached at ralilly@syr.edu.
Alcohol Awareness Week spans this week from Monday to Friday. Fraternity and sorority members are encouraged to attend all events and create a strong presence in promoting mature and safe management of alcohol through this week and beyond. Some of these events, such as an open forum discussing binge drinking and potential emergencies, as well as a mocktail competition, are mandatory for members to attend.
A recent study cited on the Web site collegedrinkingprevention.gov estimated that more than 1,400 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die annually from alcohol-related injuries. Additionally, 500,000 students in the same age range sustain non-fatal alcohol-related injuries each year.
On Monday evening, several members from the Interfraternity Council (IFC) and Panhellenic Association executive boards held an open forum for more than 100 fraternity and sorority members to discuss the grim realities of drinking on college campuses and ways to prevent such dangers.
The highlight of the week will be this Friday when fraternities and sororities team up and compete against one another in a mocktail (a social event with no alcohol) competition. Fraternity and sorority members participating in mocktails are prohibited from drinking for the duration of the day to promote having fun without getting drunk.
This is what greek life is actually about - building strong ties with fellow greeks and showing that our numbers can help us collectively deal with the issue of alcohol management.
Unfortunately, part of breaking the stereotype will require others to have an open mind to greek life. Yes, we are normal college students and as such, drinking is a part of many of our lives. Many fraternities and sororities have taken this overboard in the past, and pledges and brothers/sisters have been sent to the hospital as a result of consuming too much alcohol. However, this is a part of college life that can happen to anyone, not just fraternities and sororities.
As the GAMMA (Greeks Advocating the Mature Management of Alcohol) chair on the IFC executive board, it is important to me to separate the immediate association of greeks with alcohol. Additionally, I hope that the greek community is fully equipped to prevent any dangerous situations from occurring, and in the event that they do, all members are prepared to responsibly handle that situation by informing the authorities.
But the scope spans beyond the greek community. This week is a stepping stone for the promotion of alcohol awareness on the SU campus. All students should be willing to be safe and responsible in their partying habits.
Ryan Lilly is the GAMMA Chair of IFC. He can be reached at ralilly@syr.edu.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Jim
posted 10/18/07 @ 7:31 PM EST
Well, be still my weary heart. Surely, it's impossible for human beings to go 24 entire hours without alcohol! No, say it isn't so!
I commend the Panhelsinki council for really going out on a limb here and delaying the massive alcohol consumption gatherings lower-case greeks usually engage in for an entire day. (Continued…)
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