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News

Alcohol programs get funding boost

Donation will fund alcohol safety program, peer education, responsibility and prevention

by Deanna Mendoza
The Daily Cougar

The UH Campus and Recreation and Wellness Center is set to receive a donation of $20,000 from Robby Gordon Motorsports aimed at funding various alcohol awareness programs.

UH Wellness plans are not finalized, but the money is expected to be used to expand three programs: Alcohol 101 Plus, Choices Program, and Personalized Feedback, Dr. Gail Hudson-Gillan, director of the Wellness Center, said.

"We plan to implement programs that are basically recommended by the state, programs that are believed to make a difference," Gillan said. 

Programs such as The Century Council’s Alcohol 101 Plus, an interactive CD-ROM that helps college students learn how to make responsible and safe decisions about alcohol, will be available to students. The program takes place on a virtual campus and targets specific at-risk populations, including first-year students, sorority and fraternity members, athletes and judicial policy offenders.

"In addition to programs, we also want to raise prevention," Gillan said. "Wellness, in conjunction with our peer educators, really wants to promote healthy choices among UH students."

Gillan said the donation will also be central in expanding and enhancing new student groups that use peer education, such as the already existing UMADD, the University’s chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. The money will help UMADD and UH Wellness put together events like the candlelight vigil and victim memorial for victims of drunken driving held Nov. 1 at the University Center.

That event had some lasting effects on the more than 400 students who attended, including pre-business senior Kathleen Brannan. 

"The MADD national victim’s memorial was really moving," she said, "It showed kids and infants all the way to adult victims." 

The donation could also help fund programs presented to UH students through Residential Life and Housing, Bates Hall Resident Assistant Vanessa Hall said. 

"We’re in charge of students and their health; we help students learn how to protect themselves against the negative effects of alcohol," she said. "I think it will help out a lot by enabling us to have more effective presentations and be able to get the word out to residents." 

The donation from Robby Gordon Motorsports is part of a larger $100,000 grant given to them by Beam Global Spirits and Wine Inc. to support Beam Global’s Drink Smart campaign. Drink Smart serves to assist consumers in making responsible choices when it comes to alcohol. 

Beam Global helps to fund The Century Council, a non-profit organization that helps fight underage drinking and drunken driving through programs like Alcohol 101 Plus. UH has had a close relationship with The Century Council for many years and was therefore chosen as one of the schools to receive the gift.

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