Greeks to Host Alcohol Education Session April 12

April 7, 2006 -- Wyoming First Lady Nancy Freudenthal will be among panelists during a University of Wyoming Greek Town Hall Meeting on the risks and liabilities associated with underage and high risk drinking. Open to the public, the meeting will be held Wednesday, April 12, at 6 p.m. in the Wyoming Union ballroom.

Matt Caires, assistant dean of students, says the town hall meeting "is an excellent opportunity for our students to learn more about how issues surrounding alcohol are affecting our local communities, university, and our state."

Freudenthal has spearheaded a statewide initiative on underage drinking in an effort to help keep kids safe from alcohol.

"Dave and I believe that keeping our children safe and sober is a collective responsibility," she says. "I believe that our kids truly do want to grow up and succeed -- but alcohol gets in their way. Parents need to pay attention to the world in which our children are growing up."

Also on the panel is Lena Edmunds, coordinator of UW's AWARE (Alcohol, Wellness Alternatives, Research and Education) program that offers numerous educational initiatives to promote safe, legal, and responsible use of alcohol.

She says AWARE provides skills training and alcohol education to numerous organizations, including members of the Greek community, residence halls, and other university departments.

"We recognize that college students are young adults who have the intellectual capacity to make responsible, informed decisions about their substance use," she says. "Our role is to provide students with accurate information regarding substance use and the skills necessary to reduce or eliminate harm."

Other panelists are attorney Kathy Hunt, former UW Board of Trustees president; Mark Holder, director of Ivinson Memorial Hospital's Emergency Room; Mo Sheng, Sigma Chi president; and Stacia Berry, Tri Delta president. Program facilitators will be students Jeremy Zilmer and Dixie Thoman, Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Judicial chairs.

For more information, e-mail Caires at caires@uwyo.edu or call (307) 766-3296.

Photo

Nancy Freudenthal.

Posted on Friday, April 07, 2006

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