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Few drink in Utah and at USU, but those who do, do a lot By
Bart McKinnon
The issue of alcohol as a part of college life is apparent on almost all college campuses. Studies show that the freedom of college life directly affects the use of alcohol. This is true for most campuses, and at Utah State University there are other issues that contribute to the use of alcohol. USU's alcohol use reflects the state of Utah's statistics on alcohol use. Utah is ranked 39th in the nation for the number of people who drink. Not many people drink in Utah, but the ones who do drink a lot. Utah is 16th in the nation for alcohol consumed. The problem that colleges face is not just drinking, it's binge drinking. The college environment indirectly contributes to the problem of binge drinking, which happens when a person has more than five drinks at one sitting. JoAnn Autry, a counselor for 15 years for USU at the Student Wellness Center, agrees that the problem is binge drinking. Asked if USU had a problem with alcohol she replied, "No, but the problem is reflective of the state's problem." USU and the surrounding community are predominantly Mormon, and that influences the environment on campus. Although the environment doesn't promote drinking, alcohol is consumed by approximately 20 percent of the student body. "Certain cultural properties, such as traditions, may interact with social-psychological properties, such as peer pressure. In addition, the external environment, although it is not a category in the conceptual framework, influences student attitudes and behavior," according to government statistics. Autry agrees that environment plays a role in binge drinking. "Once members of the dominant religion drink they don't just have a drink, they drink to get drunk," Autry said. "I guess there is a direct connection there." "It's not allowed to have the occasional drink, so if I have one I just as well have 10, and make it worth breaking rules," said one LDS college student who wishes to remain anonymous. On the other hand, "students will drink or just hold a beer can so that they are not identified with the LDS religion," said Autry. The problem of binge drinking can be attributed in part to the transition from adolescence to adulthood that students face when going to college. There are cases that show the college environment has an affect, due to traditions of partying and drinking. USU has a different problem than other campuses, since the environment discourages alcohol use. "The main thing that drives heavy drinking is the myth that everyone is doing it and that it's the only way to drink, and that is a myth," said Autry. USU adopted "dry campus" legislation in 1995 that banned drinking on campus and school-related institutions such as fraternities. Studies show that binge drinking takes place at fraternity functions. Out of the seven fraternities that existed in 1995, only five are left. The fraternities that are left are doing well under the new guidelines, although not all members like it. If you're caught drinking on campus the penalty is a substantial fine and a month of counseling. The Student Wellness Center is on campus to help people who have problems with alcohol. There are also many web sites that contain lots of information on the subject, and can help you decide if a problem exists, including a college student's guide to alcohol.
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