CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY COALITION ON ALCOHOL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AND BEGIN IMPLEMENTING PLAN

Educational Component An Important Element to Curbing Underage Binge Drinking

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- The report generated by the Campus and Community Coalition on Alcohol, formed with persons representing the University of Arkansas and the city of Fayetteville, outlines five broad areas of action to curb underage and binge drinking.

"I feel confident that these recommendations, as they are carried forth, will provide positive results in our efforts to curb underage binge drinking among our students and throughout the community," said Chancellor John A. White. "We have developed an important partnership with the city of Fayetteville -- one in which I think is serving to find solutions and is bringing together both the campus and Fayetteville for a common goal.

"The need for ongoing education came forth as a vital aspect in all five areas of action," said Mary Alice Serafini, UA Health Center director and member of the coalition. "This is a proactive process that requires time and patience, much discussion and certainly a partnership between the University and community.

"In addressing the issue of underage and binge drinking, we listened carefully to the perspectives from all concerned parties. This allowed us to hear points-of-view and ideas we weren't familiar with. This in itself was a huge educational process. By coming together to address a common goal, we've developed recommendations that representatives of both the campus and Fayetteville endorse," Serafini said.

The coalition was formed in August with 23 members of the campus community and 16 members representing Fayetteville.

The report, finalized in mid-November, is in the hands of UA Chancellor John A. White and Fayetteville Mayor Fred Hanna for their review. Further public discussion and work among the coalition members to carry forth the recommendations is expected.

Chancellor White also wrote a letter to parents of UA students this fall, encouraging them to speak with their children about the dangers of alcohol and outlining the national problem of underage and binge drinking.

Campus and Community Coalition
Recommendations and Summary 1998

The Campus and Community Coalition, appointed by Fayetteville Mayor Fred Hanna and University Chancellor John White in August 1998, focused on the issues of underage and binge drinking by the youth and students of the community of Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas. The purpose of the coalition was to address problems of excessive, abusive, and illegal use of alcohol and associated uncivil behaviors on the part of university students and community youth; to promote responsible, low risk, and legal use of alcohol; and to support personal abstinence.

The Coalition met over the course of two months to organize and develop recommendations for Mayor Hanna and Chancellor White. Collaborating together, the group identified five objectives and areas for action:

1. Educate our communities about the effects and consequences of legal, illegal, and abusive use of alcohol; and establish structures for continuous communication between campus and community civilian and law enforcement agencies.

2. Create an atmosphere and attitude of safe, supportive, and healthy social environments with the campus and community.

3. Create a community-wide program for responsible alcoholic beverage service which would eliminate mixed messages: address happy hours, low-price promotions and high-risk service to intoxicated patrons in establishments that serve alcoholic beverages.

4. Provide safe care for the intoxicated person experiencing an unknown and/or potentially dangerous level of alcohol intoxication through dissemination of accurate information about access to a local care facility.

5. Provide safe transportation for university students between the hours of 10:00pm and 2:30am.

Five subcommittees were formed to address these areas. It was determined that the subcommittees are interrelated. One can not be done without the other. The final recommendations are the result of their work.

It is the belief and hope of the Coalition that these recommendations will assist in providing direction for the issues we currently face. One of the chief lessons of our work was the need for a comprehensive approach - one that not only addresses specific educational needs of individuals, but
also seeks to bring about basic environmental changes at the university and community level.

We also recognize that this coalition's work is only the beginning, that genuine cultural change for the welfare of our young people will require four to five years of enduring effort by our community and campus. This effort can occur only if our leaders translate these initiatives into enduring programs of action involving all segments of the city and the university.

Subcommittee chairs and Coalition co-chairs have volunteered to work with Mayor Hanna and Chancellor White to assure completion of recommendations. We also offer to meet with Mayor Hanna and Chancellor White to answer questions and, if appropriate, provide clarification, as well as receive feedback regarding this document