A new report created by the Alcohol Abuse Prevention Taskforce is calling for students to reexamine their drinking habits based on statistics that Tech students on average consume more alcohol than state and national averages. The report, known as the Virginia Tech Plan, recommends the administration implement policy and programming changes to foster a campus environment that is welcoming to students who don't like to drink.
The study also found the amount of alcohol some students are consuming to be troubling. Tech students reported consuming 13.2 drinks per week, more than double the state average and 25 percent more than the national average. Tech also shatters state and national averages when it comes to the amount of alcohol consumed on individual occasions of drinking. The study gathered its results from a survey distributed to 2,000 students in 2005.
The report cites that students view their drinking "as normal and acceptable, despite the abundance of medical and social research to the contrary," and while we may be similar to other state universities in terms of alcohol consumption, that doesn't mean we should just be satisfied with that status.
Outcomes of the study contain a few helpful recommendations that might give incoming freshmen a better impression of the drinking habits of college students in Blacksburg.
For many prospective students and parents visiting Blacksburg in the fall, behavior at football games is a powerful indicator of the kind of environment we offer. While Hokie spirit is certainly prevalent- no one packs a stadium quite like us; students have an obligation to represent Tech with a positive image. While tailgating is a fun part of the football season, it's important to make sure that partaking in such activities does not cause one to get so inebriated that they make fools out of themselves and represent our school poorly. Especially when parents and alumni are in town, it's important that we represent Tech as the kind of school that parents want to send their kids to. We're not about drinking all the time, and it's important that we show it.
Additionally, putting weekend programs in place for students who may not like drinking provides a source of alternative entertainment. These programs might also be a potential draw for prospective students considering attending Tech for academic purposes but who just aren't sure that the social scene is the right fit for them. Setting up programs in Squires Student Center on Friday and Saturday nights, where nonalcoholic fun is had would likely draw a large turnout. The student center would attract a large crowd for one for the same reasons downtown Blacksburg does: the chance to meet and interact with new people.
You might be skeptical as to how a program like this could work, but with 20 percent of students reporting that they don't drink, and 54 percent drinking once a week or less, this kind of programming might be just what we need to redefine our party school image for incoming freshman and shape a culture of student interaction consisting of more than drinking.
This sort of thing has worked out really well at a number of our peer institutions. The University of Michigan's UMix program hosts a number of events each semester on Friday nights, drawing in 400 to 600 students for each event.
Penn State University first began offering a similar alternative twelve years ago. Known as "Late Night Penn State," students can partake in alcohol-free entertainment Friday and Saturday evenings. According to the Michigan Daily, these events draw more than 7,000 students per year, and activities include movies, crafts and board games.
These activities also are not just aimed at people who never drink, but also those looking for a more low-key evening. This type of setting would help students feel comfortable interacting with others, without alcohol.
Broadening the sources from which college students get their entertainment is not only safer - it fosters more of an inclusive environment and doesn't make students feel like they have to drink in order to have weekend plans.
The editorial board is composed of David Grant, David Harries, Laurel Colella, Jenna Marson and Alexandra Kaufmann.