Alcohol Beverage Control Administration Commission Tom Keeley, speaking to over 200 participants in a statewide summit on alcohol abuse among college students, said his agency has adopted a two-pronged approach to the issue: stricter enforcement of state and federal laws and education/prevention initiatives. The ABCA was a co-sponsor of the summit, being hosted by West Virginia University.



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NO. 1 SOCIAL PROBLEM FACING COLLEGES – Substance abuse, alcohol in particular, is the No. 1 social problem facing college administrators today, said Bill DeJong, director of the U.S. Department of Education’s Higher Education Center on Alcohol and Other Drug Preventions. While many students are using alcohol in a responsible way, DeJong said heavy drinkers still make up over 20 percent of the student body, affecting grade-point averages, study and sleep patterns, and leading to unwanted sexual advances and property damage. He outlined a number of prevention strategies and also called upon college presidents to adopt a comprehensive approach to curbing alcohol abuse. He said West Virginia University and Morgantown were”national leaders”in working together to improve the overall safety and health on campus and in the community. The ABCA -led summit was held on the WVU campus.






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STATEWIDE COALITION Representatives from 22 colleges and universities across the state, including five college and university presidents, gathered at the West Virginia University Mountainlair for a statewide summit on alcohol abuse among college students. While in attendance, they signed a proclamation of their commitment to support a Statewide College Coalition Plan to ensure that the prevention of alcohol and other drugs remains a priority of their campus student life and health promotion programs.






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SUCCESSFUL LEADERS At the ABCA summit on the WVU campus, President David C. Hardesty, Jr., left, and Fairmont State College President Daniel Bradley share”best practices”for preventing alcohol and other substance abuse on their respective campuses. A Student Recreation Center, alternative weekend programming, orientation programs, improved residence halls and other initiatives are in the works at both institutions.






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COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH WVU President David C. Hardesty, Jr. noted that WVU was recently ranked first in the nation for its alcohol prevention programs in the residence halls. Coupled with weekend programming in the student union known as WVUp All Night, plus health conscious options at the new Student Recreation Center, a campus-wide task force on drug and alcohol prevention, orientation programs and other initiatives, WVU is taking a comprehensive approach to combating high-risk drinking and unhealthy lifestyles.