Seeking to promote alcohol awareness on campus, the University of Hawai‘i's Mānoa Alcohol Project is providing daily planners to students, free of charge.
Designed by undergraduates participating in UH's graphic arts program, the planners, which cost approximately $2,000 to produce and distribute, include an academic calendar for the 2008-2009 school year, campus map and telephone directory, as well as information about alcohol poisoning, liquor-related health facts and tips about drinking responsibly.
According to MAP campaign coordinator Pedro Haro, the planners are meant to serve as organizational tools that drive home messages about high-risk drinking on campus, such as the idea that students often overestimate the amount of alcohol consumed by their peers.
"Because you're carrying the planners every day, you can see multiple messages every day," said Haro, who hopes to promote the belief that "there is room between being a drinker and a non-drinker to drink in a healthy way."
Part of UHM's health promotion program, MAP was initiated as a social marketing program under a federal Department of Education grant, in 2005. Intended to combat underage drinking in UHM residence halls by dispensing information about alcohol prevention, drinking norms and the consequences of over-consumption, the project is currently funded by a grant received from Anheuser-Busch, which expires in 2011.
For Haro, one of the project's primary functions is to provide members of different segments of the UH community with a forum for expressing their views about drug and alcohol policies.
"We have our own coordinating committee, in which representatives from student affairs organizations, campus security, instructional faculty and other groups can participate," said Haro.
In previous semesters, MAP's coordinating committee has issued policy advisories, created a safe ride program, organized campus events and assisted with curriculum infusion, according to the project's website.
"In conjunction with other programs, like the Lokahi Program and Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students, MAP tries to correct misperceptions about alcohol use before abuse begins," said Dede Howa, an Alcohol and Drug Education Program counselor. "Hopefully, the planners will help communicate that message across campus."
So far, the new planners have been popular with students, who previously relied on planners sold by the Board of Publications for a dollar or less. Due to revenue shortages, however, the BOP discontinued its production of daily planners for the fall semester, forcing many students to purchase more expensive calendars at the UH Bookstore or off-campus locations.
"The BOP, faced with budgetary constraints, was forced to cut back on the daily planner," said BOP chairperson Grant Chartrand. "I personally would have liked to have seen this service for M?noa continued, but the BOP did not have the capability to continue to provide daily planners at a financial loss without cutting back on its other programs."
Some students feel that the new planners not only fill the void left by the BOP, but also are an innovative way to raise awareness with the student body.
"They're nicer than the old organizers and the statements contained inside aren't preachy," said sophomore Joseph Teague. "College kids appreciate that, so they're more likely to pay attention."
Though MAP ran out of planners during their first day of tabling, a second distribution day is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 9, at Campus Center. Nearly 700 planners have been provided to the Hale Aloha dormitories, as well, and will be available for residents beginning this week.
Be the first to comment on this article! Log in to Comment
You must be logged in to comment on an article. Not already a member? Register now