Sober Saturdays plan pushed back

If all goes as planned, University students may be presented with another alternative to weekend drinking as early as January.

The implementation of a proposal by the Residence Hall Association to provide an alcohol-free environment through a program called "Sober Saturdays" has been pushed back until next semester.

The program had been tentatively suggested to begin this month, but lack of participation and involvement delayed its commencement, RHA Vice President for State Communications and Relations James Christie said.

"We're thinking about it and building up steam," Christie said.

Christie, coordinator for the program, said he had considered the idea of an alternative to weekend drinking since early last summer. The recent attention to binge drinking and the death of LSA first-year student Courtney Cantor, he said, gave him incentive to present it publicly.

"In my mind, the formation of the program and (Cantor's death) are independent," Christie said. "But there has been more of a push behind it because of the incident."

Cantor died Oct. 16 after falling from her sixth-floor Markley Residence Hall window. She was seen drinking at a party at the Phi Delta Theta fraternity the previous night.

"The media often focuses on those who drink in a way that puts them at risk, so it makes it look like the whole campus is an animal house," said Alcohol and Other Drug Education Coordinator Marsha Benz, who said she applauds the RHA effort to implement a program that addresses the reality of binge drinking on a college campus.

"I think it's great that students are organizing to take action," Benz said. "Any real change ... ultimately must come from students."

Benz said the University was denied a what kind of? grant several years ago to sponsor an alcohol-free night club in the Michigan Union.

The RHA suggested that the Sober Saturdays program put on activities once every two weeks.

"It seems like it would be a good idea to have this sort of event on a regular basis," Benz said. "It would be nice to have a regular hang-out that is interesting to students and alcohol-free."

Other colleges have sponsored the Sober Saturdays program.

"The input we have gotten from other universities is that the idea works, but often the people at the program still want to be with their friends who are drinking," Christie said.

The program would bring a comedian, hypnotist or other headliner to the a University building and provide door prizes for students between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. - the hours Christie said encompass the prominent party time.

"Basically there is a lot of drinking on the weekends, and if there is somewhere else to go, close by, that is alcohol-free, it will be a good alternative," Christie said.

Although the RHA has managed to garner limited commitment for corporate sponsorship of the program and the support of University Housing, administrators have not been presented the idea officially.

"We're focusing on the residence halls right now, trying to give students something other than drunken partying," Christie said, adding that RHA is hoping for a tremendous turnout to the event once it begins early next semester.

Engineering first-year student Brian Dowty said the program, while not flawless, would probably gain the support of most students.

"If you want to drink, you're going to drink anyway," Dowty said. "But if you can get a few people to stop drinking for the night, that's great."

The frequency of Sober Saturdays will be determined by overall student response following its trial run.

"It's probably better to have it once a month," Dowty said. "I don't think people would go every week."

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