Greeks to host alcohol seminar

College comes with more then just an academic education.

For most students, college deals with living independently for the first time in their lives. This comes with a responsibility to not only wake up on time for class or learn how to make a meal other then ramen noodles, but to have an understanding of alcohol awareness.

Pi Delta Psi fraternity and Delta Phi Lambda sorority are teaming up to give students an opportunity to learn more about the effects of alcohol.

The organizations will be hosting an Alcohol Awareness Workshop in the Student Union in the third-floor ballroom (316AB) on Friday, Sept. 30, at 9 p.m.

The workshop, which is open to all students, will consist of playing games, listening to guest speakers and attending a presentation on the effects that alcohol has on the body.

According to the Century Council, an organization that prevents drunk driving and underage drinking, 73 percent of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in Florida were cause by driver with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .15 or higher.

This results from the kind of partying that most people relate to college: taking multiple shots, not eating before drinking and mixing liquors.

Brittany Tai, president of Delta Phi Lambda, said the group is aware that alcohol is a recurring issue among UCF and the Greek community.

The reason behind hosting this event is not to sway students away from drinking but rather to show them how to do so responsibly.

"We're doing it because we don't want to take the risk that something unfortunate could possibly happen to someone because of alcohol," Tai said in an email.

The growing presensce of alcohol on college campuses also adds to the cause.

"The issue of alcohol has been circulating UCF, and undoubtedly other campuses across the nation through time, so we just want this event to remind students that there is a way to party and drink responsibly. By no means is this event preaching that we mustn't drink. It's college," Tai said.

In April, UCF was ranked as No. 9 on Playboy's list of party schools. Tai, however, believes that the majority of students come here for an education and the fact that UCF is one of the largest-populated schools could have something do with that ranking.

Pi Delta Psi fraternity leader John Nguyen said that hosting this alcohol awareness workshop is a good tool in teaching students how to drink responsibly, especially since most students are likely to experience it.

"We know drinking is a big issue on campus, and we're all college students. However, it wouldn't hurt to know what you're putting into your body and the effects it will have," Nguyen said.

Currently, UCF's alcohol policy is like that of any other university. It prohibits the sale, service, possession and consumption of alcohol except in designated areas or at preapproved events.

For this reason, UCF also has the Alcohol and Other Drugs Prevention Program that is open to all students Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The program provides education on alcohol through many different means such as seminars, screenings and educational presentations.

Also, AOD provides interventions for those who feel that they need help. These interventions can be done in person by a trained graduate student or even online through e-CHUG.

Tai was at first unaware of UCF's alcohol program until she came across AOD and found it to be a helpful service for all students.

"This shows that our campus cares about the health and wellness of its students," Tai said.

Though Delta Phi Lambda has risk-management events every year, they are not always on the same subject as the year before. However, if the Alcohol Awareness Workshop is a success, it could be open to UCF students every year.

Nguyen encourages students to join them on Friday and said that it would be good to teach students to drink more responsibly.

"Come out to the workshop," Nguyen said. "Hopefully you can learn more about alcohol awareness."