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New Alcohol Advisory Council named

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By Shirley Melikian Armbruster

President Welty has named a 16-member Alcohol Advisory Council of campus and community members who will review and make recommendations on policies, programs and goals regarding alcohol use at Fresno State.

The new council is an outgrowth of the systemwide CSU Alcohol Policies and Prevention Programs Committee. Welty chaired the committee, whose main recommendation was to develop comprehensive alcohol policies and programs. Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Judy Sakaki will chair Fresno State's council, including subcommittees on policies and compliance; educational programs and publicity; and assessment.

Vice chairman Sam Gitchel, health educator with the University Health and Psychological Services, said he's pleased that the CSU system is addressing the issue and using the "social norms" approach. Social norms uses information campaigns to correct student misperceptions of peers' drinking habits.

For example, at Fresno State most students drink moderately or not at all, according to a survey last spring. But when asked, students believe their peers are heavy drinkers.

That's a false norm, and students will conform to that unless they get information to the contrary, Gitchel said.

"This is about getting out correct information, not wagging a finger at students," he said.

For years people have been looking at what changes student drinking behavior. Not much of what has been tried has made a difference in behavior.

"Social norms holds hope of making a difference," Gitchell said. "Successful campuses have seen roughly 20 percent reductions in heavy drinking after a couple of years."

The spring study found student drinking norms at Fresno State are healthier than those of students nationwide. It found 80 percent of students here were legally sober the last time they partied, compared with 61 percent of college students in a national reference group.

President Welty's Opinion Page piece in The Fresno Bee Oct. 22 can be read in full at www.FresnoStateNews.com.

Alcohol Advisory Council

Chairman, Judy Sakaki, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students; Vice chair, Sam Gitchel, Health Educator, University Health and Psychological Services;

Members: Mark Aydelotte, Assistant Vice President, University Relations; Lynn Button, Chief, University Police; Connan Campbell, Student Activities and Leadership Development; Benjamin Cuellar, Dean, College of Health and Human Services; Ken Dodd, Fresno Police Department; Ryan Donaghy, Donaghy Sales; Suzan Griffin, Parents Association; Robert Hernandez, Executive Director and Officer, Judicial Affairs; Ryan Jacobsen, President, Associated Students Inc.; Karen Johnson, Director, University Courtyard; Scott Johnson, Interim Director, Athletics; John Shegarian, Bulldog Brewery; Sandra Witte, Academic Senate, Student Affairs Committee; Susan Thompson, Fresno County Human Services System.

Back to University Journal, 11/12/01 Issue