Palm - Spring 2008 - (Page 11) F E AT U R E ATOs were asked to evaluate their AlcoholEdu experience: Stimulated talk with friends about college drinking Found the course interesting Would recommend the course Found the course helpful Paid attention to the course 58% 69% 77% 79% 91% >> To learn more, visit: www.outsidetheclassroom.com In fact, guys in a chapter more fervently protect a brother’s choice not to drink. Even within pledge classes where conventional wisdom suggests that pledges are forced to drink even when they don’t want to, generally fraternity members simply do not force alcohol on a pledge or brother. Busteed believes that dynamic opens the door to a growing and increasingly important campus demographic. “I’m not suggesting that a chapter become a bunch of abstainers, but getting a mix would be a very positive move for the future strength of any chapter.” NEXT STEPS AlcoholEdu is the most commonly used alcohol prevention program in the country. Based on its success and non-antagonistic view of alcohol consumption among greeks, Smiley, Wiese and Delta Delta Delta executive Cari Cook were invited to spend the day with a variety of AlcoholEdu creators and behavioral experts to provide some additional insight into what’s next. GreekLifeEdu will roll out this fall with a comprehensive online course incorporating AlcoholEdu and information on hazing and sexual assault. It will use the same scientific driven, non judgmental approach that has made AlcoholEdu successful. “The timing could not be better,” said Smiley. “We had just begun discussions about developing online hazing and risk management education. The fact that we can now rely on the experts who created AlcoholEdu allows us to use our creative energies in other important areas.” Busteed, who is a 2005 ATO honor initiate, sees the great benefit of fraternity life. “If you can turn the tide - even slightly,” says Busteed, “you can make a very strong case that there is a renaissance taking place among greek membership ranks that students are speaking for themselves and standing up against the problems asking for a better way of life.” ß Which describes your experience with AlcoholEdu? I am very unenthusiastic: I am somewhat unenthusiastic: I am neutral: I am somewhat enthusiastic: I am very enthusiastic: Before the course: 23% After: 16% Before the course: 23% After: 19% Before: 43% After: 46% Before: 7% After: 14% Before: 4% After: 5% Knowledge Gains: Pre-Test: 73% passed Post Test: 84% passed Three in four students said they knew more about Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) More about BAC: 72% Less about BAC: 2% The same about BAC: 26% 53% said they knew more about the ways alcohol affects someone’s ability to give consent for sex after taking AlcoholEdu I know more after the course: I know less: The same: members who are not looking for a chapter house that doubles as a campus bar. “Clearly, recruiting guys who are not joining for the alcohol gives any chapter a leg up in being a more well-rounded and healthier chapter,” said Smiley. “It is infinitely easier to recruit men who are more likely to not misuse alcohol then to recruit Bluto and hope he sees the light.” One AlcoholEdu statistic that would fall in the “really?” category is 53% 2% 45% this: Fraternity men are more comfortable around their brothers who choose not to drink than the general campus population. 11 AT O . O RG http://www.outsidetheclassroom.com
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