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Campus alcohol policies and prevention practices

As students stroll through campus they are bombarded with numerous flyers and posters, vying to catch the wandering student’s attention. The posters regarding student’s alcohol use certainly aim to grasp student interest.

The posters, which proclaim the moderate to nonexistent alcohol practices of California State University, Fresno students, are funded through various grants awarded to the school in recent years to educate students about alcohol use.

On Sept. 23 CSU trustees were presented with CSU’s Alcohol Policies and Prevention fourth biennial report. The results from the report indicated that, in general, student alcohol abuse such as drinking and driving decreased as student awareness of the risks associated with alcohol consumption increased.

“In 2001, the CSU board of trustees passed an alcohol policy for the entire system,” said Dr. Paul M. Oliaro, vice president for Students Affairs and chair of the campus Alcohol Safety Council. “It was the first system in the country that had a policy which was designed to be administered to all campuses. There were several components all designed to create an environment which would address the use of alcohol and reduce the problems related to alcohol misuse.”

Part of the policy requires that every two years CSU campuses report to trustees and highlight the alcohol education initiatives it’s implemented.

“What I think programs like this do are one, keep the issue of responsible use of alcohol in front of students in a variety of ways. Secondly, maybe most importantly, programs like this reinforce student’s very moderate and responsible behavior because they know that’s the norm,” Oliaro said.

Some students may doubt the accuracy of the facts and percentages on the posters and how accurate it correlates with actual student behavior.

Oliaro explained the statistics are based on surveys, which were given to students over the past seven years, and are used to generalize student’s overall alcohol use. The survey has been administered to as little as 1,500 students to as many as 3,800 students. The average response rate has been about 30 percent or more, which are fairly good response rates, he said.

“For a stratified random sample, you don’t need many to generalize it to the whole population even if you just take a small sample,” Oliaro said. “The data has been pretty consistent over time.”

Kathy Yarmo, coordinator of health promotion and wellness services for the university health and psychological Services, said the posters are all initiatives paid for by a social norms grant. The signs are generated to show students what activities their peers engage in.

“I would have to say it’s a multitude of things that we do on campus to put this information out there for students.” Yarmo said, “We’re interjecting this type of information making sure that students know the realities of student behavior in a fun, interactive sort of way.”

Graphic design major Carlos Garcia, said the posters around campus caught his attention but isn’t sold on the accuracy of the surveys.

“Some students probably don’t give the whole truth,” he said. “They might not consider one or two drinks as drinking and driving.”

Garcia said three or more of his friends have a DUI, which make the consequences associated with alcohol very much a reality to him. The programs and information regarding alcohol are important for students to be aware of.

The third week in October is the National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, which Fresno State celebrates by putting on an annual event. With various themes throughout the years, this year’s theme is Fall Harvest Festival.

The atmosphere aims to be an interactive way to educate students about different areas of wellness, including alcohol safety. The event will be host to various games such as alcohol jeopardy and will serve “mocktails”, non-alcoholic beverages. It hopes to show that fun and alcohol do not go hand in hand.

“I think that’s where the social norms theory comes in is that if you perceive your peers are acting in one way, it’s kind of like that peer pressure,” said graduate student Elizabeth Echeveste, student coordinator for the social norms grants and co-chair of the alcohol safety student subcommittee. “It’s the idea that if we change the misconception, then hopefully the behaviors will follow suit.”

The Fall Harvest Festival is on Wednesday, Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. by the fountain, located across from the Kennel Bookstore.

The effects of too much

Overindulgence. For some reason this word has been on my mind lately. It seems to be all around us, from the comical or pathetic to the misleading and corrupt. In the simplest forms, it’s that thing that makes you simultaneously chubby and poor: too much pizza and beer, too much money spent on pizza and beer. Read more

Alpha Gamma Omega back on campus since ’90s

For Bryan Barsness, founder and Chapter Adviser of the Eta Chapter of Alpha Gamma Omega (AGO), it started out as a vision to bring back a Christian-based fraternity to California State University, Fresno.

Due to a shortage of good rushes in the late ‘90s, AGO became inactive.

This semester, after a successful Rush event, AGO initiated 11 men into their fraternity, receiving their Charter on Aug. 29.

“A lot of people see ‘Christian’ and ‘fraternity’ but they don’t know how it mixes,” said founding President Jorge Martinez, a third year student at Fresno State.

Alpha Gamma Omega has been established in many different schools throughout California campuses for quite some time, including: University of Southern California, University of California, Davis, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and has now made its way back to Fresno State.

Barness said after realizing the seed that God was planting for him, he knew it was time for AGO to present itself at Fresno State once again.

“I knew God would bring back AGO to the Bulldogs, I just didn’t know it would be through me,” said Barsness in an e-mail interview.

Now, being an AGO alumnus it is Barsness’ job to teach pledges what it means to be in AGO, the ways of the fraternity and its principles.

Alejandro Vidal, founding Chaplin of the fraternity said, “When you sprinkle Christianity on the regular workings of a fraternity, people are confused yet interested.”

This is what makes this fraternity different from the others.

The fraternity’s name says a lot about what it is and what it stands for. Alpha means the beginning, while Gamma corresponds with the third letter of the Latin alphabet. The letter, C, stands for Christ which is the organization’s purpose. Lastly, Omega stands for ending, referring to Revelations.

Martinez explained that Jesus is the beginning and the end and the fraternity is a representation of that.

“When [people] think of a fraternity they think of the typical stereotype, party, drugs, sex,” Martinez said.

The AGO house is a “dry house,” which means no alcohol is allowed inside.

Nick Calderon co-chair adviser alongside Barsness said that funding comes directly through the members and not through Fresno State.

The first rush event, which was an invitation into the fraternity, was fully funded by AGO alumni.

The second Rush event was funded through the fraternity’s monthly dues and from fundraising. Calderon says it is up to the members to decide which fundraisers they want to do and exactly how they want to do them.

AGO is a social fraternity and invites all, so you don’t have to be Christian to join. Other activities include volunteer work for Youth for Christ, which is a non-profit organization, dedicated to providing a safe place for at-risk youth in downtown Fresno.

“I want people to know we are there and we’re making an impact,” Martinez said.

Freshman 15 can be beat

After graduating high school, it seems as if you’re not only receiving your diploma but also an extra 15 pounds.

According to a study done by David A. Levitsky, professor of nutritional sciences and of psychology at Cornell University, college freshmen gain approximately 4.2 pounds during their first 12 weeks of school. Read more

Let’s just get ‘em a beer

As many of us travel to class today with blurry green memories, we are doubly bummed. Not only are we nursing painful hangovers, we are doing so on a Wednesday.

We should take this time to think about exactly what it is St. Patrick’s Day is about and why it is so dubious.

Christmas is always hailed as an important religious holiday that has been stripped of its meaning by popular culture. But St. Patrick’s Day makes Christmas look as tame and sober as a Good Friday service at Ben Stein’s house.

Believe it or not, yesterday was technically a religious holiday. Luckily, almost no one knows about it or cares.

It’s a day for alcohol. And, now that it’s over, let’s reflect on that subject.

Contrary to popular belief, Americans aren’t unique in our greed, our undying embrace of capitalism, or our love of 50-inch plasma televisions.

Where we are unique, is in our paranoia over drinking.

We have the highest drinking age in the developed world (as well as the highest teen pregnancy rate), and it’s normal here to see 60-year-old men get carded at a restaurant and refused service if they can’t provide proper identification.

Have you ever really wondered what’s up with that? If there really is some 20-year-old guy walking around with deep wrinkles, gray hair and a huge bald spot, he’s got way bigger problems to solve. Get that man a beer!

Here at Fresno State we’ve seen American alcohol paranoia a lot this past year, most prominently in the ASI scandals that have rocked the campus.

The first involved Mackee Mason and Sandra Flores, who were of age themselves, but didn’t prevent others who were underage from drinking in their presence at a retreat in July. Thus, they violated ASI’s “substance free” policy and lost their positions.

Don’t kid yourself. The violation wasn’t the issue, it was the alcohol. Would they have gotten scolded for not stopping other drivers from breaking the speed limit en route to the conference? Of course not.
Mason was really screwed after they found out he had bought alcohol twice with an ASI credit card. Students were outraged at how their student fees were being spent.

But it wasn’t the money either, it was the alcohol. He was fully expected to pay for his dinner on the card, just not the drinks his party had with it. Had the same amount of money been spent on a few extra slices of cheesecake we’d never have heard about it.

This semester, new ASI president Graham Wahlberg’s refrigerator incriminated him when it was randomly searched and found to contain (gasp!) beer cans. Wahlberg is of age, but some of his roommates aren’t.

Did they expect him to hide beer under his bed? In a closet? Even more terrifying, did they expect him to drink it warm!?

All the while, alcohol-related posters on campus don’t even attempt to discourage underage drinking, because people know better.

Why are we so paranoid about this subject? What are we afraid of? Obviously Wahlberg, Flores and Mason’s alcohol consumption didn’t stop them from reaching the top of student government, and it didn’t stop the underage senators on the trip from reaching their positions.

Yes, drunk driving ruins lives and so does teenage pregnancy, but these are not the issues at hand. Education is the key here, not unrealistic legal consumption ages and overblown media reactions to the very mention of the “A” word.

America, it’s time to go to class, nurse our hangovers and relax. Get this country a beer!

Wahlberg’s alcohol violation appeal denied

After an appeal to University Courtyard was denied last week, Associated Student, Inc. (ASI) President Graham Wahlberg said he will continue to fight a citation that charges him with violating the residence halls’ alcohol policy.

Wahlberg was cited on Dec. 19 after University Courtyard conducted a random room inspection.

In his personal refrigerator, which had been located in a common area of his suite, alcoholic beverages were present.

University Courtyard Staff Director Erin Boele stated via e-mail, “Typically, you are informed at least 24 hours in advance of a room check, unless an emergency arises, when no notice may be given.”

Wahlberg, however, said that neither he nor his roommates were given any notice.

He said that he has been told by University Courtyard officials that he signed a letter at the beginning of the semester agreeing to any random inspection without any notice necessary.

“This is absolutely a personal matter. The fact that it happened on campus and because of my position it puts me out there,” said Wahlberg.

“I’m just like everyone else.”

Appeals process

Wahlberg said the most frustrating aspect of the situation has been the appeals process and the investment of 15-20 hours of his personal time to solving the matter.

The University Courtyard Web site states that appeals can only be submitted due to “lack of due process, sanction too severe for the violation or new evidence that comes to light after the decision is made.”

Students who believe they have just reason to appeal must give a written statement for why they are appealing. Then five to ten days later, a student will appear in front of an appeals committee to plea their case.

Wahlberg: Citation too vague

The most aggravating part of the process is that Wahlberg felt he didn’t even understand why he was being cited.

“We didn’t even know what we were being charged of,” said Wahlberg.

“The U.S. Constitution says you can’t be charged for something and not know what you are being charged of. So how on earth can you appeal something if you don’t even know what you are appealing?”

Wahlberg appealed his case last week and on Thursday received notice that his appeal had been denied.

But he has stated that he will continue to appeal the citation as a means of saving his character.

“What is unfortunate for me is by admitting I’m wrong, I’m lowering my character and integrity,” said Wahlberg.

“I am essentially accepting their punishment and admitting I am wrong.”

Routine search finds beer cans

Boele said that these types of inspections are routine and occur for each room once a semester.

The University Courtyard staff and the resident advisory staff conduct them.

If Wahlberg’s second appeal doesn’t go through and he accepts the punishment he will be forced, alongside his roommates, to enroll in a $30 alcohol health class.

“I was given a written notice because they decided to stretch the rules rather than looking at them as they are directly stated, so that I am guilty,” Wahlberg said.

There are 12 ways in which students residing at University Courtyard can violate the alcohol policy.

Wahlberg received a written notice that he was being cited for furnishing alcoholic beverages to people under the age of 21 by having alcohol in his personal refrigerator, which was located in a common area of the suite. Wahlberg’s suite includes some residents under the age of 21.

Even though he says he was not physically giving alcohol to minors or advocating his possession of it, the University Courtyard saw it as enough reason to issue the citation.

In addition, Wahlberg said that he and his roommates had filled a couple of black plastic bags with recycling.

The bags were in a corner and tightly sealed, and those inspecting his room went through the bags and found several beer cans that contributed to the issuing of the citation.

“This is a question of probable cause. There is this thing called preponderance of evidence, which is a standard not even close to those outlined in the Constitution,” said Wahlberg.

“Their standard of evidence is a preponderance, where if there is a perception of something they feel they have the right to investigate it.”

Boele said that due to confidentiality of the case, housing officials were unable to comment on the specifics of the situation.

She issued a statement that said, “Because of FERPA privacy regulations, University Courtyard cannot confirm or deny any rumors or allegations.”

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