|
|
Assumption Receives $40,000 for Alcohol Education Worcester, MA (September 27, 2006) - Assumption College has announced the receipt of a $40,000 grant for the prevention of alcohol abuse, to be implemented during the course of the 2006-2007 academic year. This grant was funded by the Department of Juvenile Justice, through the Governor’s Highway Safety Bureau, a program of the Executive Office of Public Safety. The money will allow for the development of two initiatives: a peer education program and the Greyhound Alcohol Partnership (GAP). The peer education program will enlist motivated students within the Assumption community, who will use their leadership skills in a variety of ways to help combat both casual and heavy-episodic drinking amongst their classmates. These peer educators will plan and produce programs such as guest speakers, an awareness week, and educational film screenings. In addition, and in keeping with the College’s esteemed community outreach work, these students will also conduct presentations at area high schools and will be responsible for compiling a booklet, “101 Things to Do in Worcester,” which will provide listings of safe, non-alcohol related activities that students can engage in, both on and off campus. Initiated by President Thomas R. Plough, Ph.D., the Greyhound Alcohol Partnership (GAP) is a committee that will seek to combat the environmental factors surrounding binge drinking on the Assumption campus. This committee will be made up of a wide range of campus representatives, including both students and administrators, while also enlisting relevant experts from the surrounding community. Some of the college departments participating in this committee include Residential Life, Campus Police, Health Services, Athletics and Campus Ministry. Local participation is expected to come from liquor store and bar owners, area high school principals and representatives from the Worcester Police Department, who will help assess the problem on a greater, more community-focused level. In addition to running a media campaign on campus, this committee will provide both President Plough and the Governor’s Highway Safety Bureau with its findings at various stages in the campaign, with the hopes that these efforts will lead to a more clear understanding of the environmental issues contributing to unsafe drinking habits on local campuses. Although Assumption College will lead this initiative, it is expected that all colleges and universities in Central Massachusetts will benefit from the committee’s findings. For more information, please contact Tracey Pakstis-Claiborne, M.Ed., Director of Drug and Alcohol Education and administrator of the grant, at (508) 767-7308.
|