Alcohol Awareness on campus

Nov. 4, 2004
By Jesse Virgil
Staff Writer

Every 32 minutes a person dies because of alcohol, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  This is the message that Residence Life, CAB, IMPACT, and SGA wanted to hammer home to SAU students two weeks ago during the docudrama 32 Minutes.

“The goal of 32 minutes is to shatter the belief that they (students) are invisible to the consequences of alcohol,” coordinator Brooke Evans said.  “We also wanted to let them know they are responsible for their actions and the decisions they make.”

‘32 Minutes’ originated at Kansas State University in 1998.  Since then, colleges across the country have used the program as an effective tool for alcohol awareness.

“I used the program in 1999 at Southwest Missouri State University,” Evans said.  “I’ve done it almost every year since.”

The night kicked-off in the Rogalski Center Ballroom with students partying at a nightclub.  In the nightclub students were watched over by bouncers, made frequent trips to the bar for root beer, and danced for an hour.

Later, the students were escorted to the Rohlman Hall parking lot for the main event.  A car was uncovered with four students inside.  They recently left the nightclub to head home.  However, the driver had too much to drink and crashed into a cement barrier.

One student did not wear her seat belt and flew through the window.  Another had multiple abrasions on her face and arms.  The students involved in the docudrama wore special makeup done by Director of Security, Robert Christopher, who created the illusion of real injuries.

The driver climbed out the vehicle and called 911.  At that moment the drama unfolded.  Fire trucks, police cruisers, and ambulances swarmed the parking lot attending to the victims.  The victim who flew through the glass was pronounced 'Dead on Arrival.'  The driver was questioned by the police and eventually was arrested.  The other critical victim was flown away by helicopter to Iowa City while the last victim was rushed to Genesis West.

The participation of Davenport officials was crucial to the operation Evans said.  The Davenport Police Department, Fire Department, and Med Force all participated to give the much-needed realism of the accident.

“With their help we were able to give that realistic view of the car crash and what happens during a car crash scene,” Evans said.

At the end of the reenactment, a coroner arrived to take away the deceased victim.  Students were in awe of the moment as “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” by Boyz II Men played in the background.  Some students began to tear up while others consoled each other.

The impact of the mock accident did not only touch the students, but it also had a lasting effect on the participants.

“It was really realistic and eye-opening and scary because they come in with the Jaws of Life and chop the top of the car off,” participant Rita Dziedzic said.  “It was really impactful and makes you realize how real it is.”

The students ended the night going through four incidents that may occur while drinking alcohol.  They participated in the Game of Life, in which they tried to make it to the end without dying or becoming an alcoholic.  They also learned how much of a role alcohol plays in sexual assault, death, and alcohol poisoning.

Back to the NEWS-PAGE or "The Buzz" HOMEPAGE