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Campus-Community Coalition committed to reducing underage and high-risk drinking
“Basically, having programs to reduce binge drinking on college campuses in the absence of broadbased community interventions to do likewise may be a bit like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic." - Timothy S. Naimi, M.D. (CDC's National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Alcohol Team)
2008-2009 Highlights Significant increase in outreach to and participation from CWU students continued Teams of students went to neighborhoods around Ellensburg as part of our Good Neighbor outreach and education, concentrating in areas with frequent noise complaints and „party houses.‟ Students participated in Hospitality Resource Alliance meetings as we grappled with late night issues in the downtown and worked on solutions. Students also went back to businesses surveyed last spring as part of the Alcohol Business Survey, to assist businesses with remaining in compliance with liquor law. The CCC coordinator began teaching Prime for Life this year, exposing more students to the work of the CCC. A student member was added to the Ellensburg Downtown Association board of directors, to help bridge the gap between the downtown community and students. Students with noise complaint citations are now referred to the CCC coordinator to discuss the impact of their behaviors and ways to be good a neighbor and avoid future legal problems. About 150 students, faculty and staff attended the fall CCC meeting, to learn about The Impact of Alcohol on Adolescent Brain Development and Developmental Tasks. Presented by Planned Parenthood Community Health Educator Jennifer Estroff and Morgan Middle School Science Teacher Kevin Dwight, participants learned why alcohol has a different impact on the adolescent brain than on that of an adult. This was part of a new educational emphasis for the coalition requested by the membership last summer.
Hospitality Resource Alliance (HRA) The HRA has been working in four important areas to help address late night downtown concerns related to overconsumption, in collaboration with the Ellensburg City Council and Ellensburg Downtown Association: Increasing education, prevention and awareness campaigns, on- and off -campus, promoting low-risk choices and being a good neighbor in the downtown. These activities are taking place in coordination with the Neighborhood Relations Committee. Supporting the increase of downtown, late night enforcement activities by the Ellensburg Police Department and the Liquor Control Board. Increasing the number of training sessions on ID check and overservice presented for downtown businesses with alcohol licenses, from once a year to once each quarter. Supporting the ASCWU BOD in attempts to develop a pilot transportation project for students, providing safe, efficient late night transportation from the downtown back to students‟ residences.
Responsible Consumption Club Students are providing leadership and peer support through the Responsible Consumption Club, a new student organization on campus. With Laci Knudson at the helm, students will be conducting awareness campaigns for issues related to alcohol abuse on campus and in the local community. They will support the efforts of the Campus-Community Coalition with educational efforts to address problems relating to overconsumption, and help prevent high-risk choices, sexual assault, drunk driving, and underage drinking through education and peer modeling.