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On November 14, the Sam Houston
State University (SHSU) Alcohol and Drug Abuse Initiative (ADAI) sponsored a
discussion titled, “Playing with the Wrong Odds,” at which students and faculty
discussed responsibility while drinking alcohol and practicing safe sex. The
ADAI, Alpha Delta Phi, and the Dean of Students Office hosted the event, which
drew approximately 80 students.
ADAI Coordinator Eddie Gisemba
emphasized the social roles that alcohol and sex play in students’ lives and
the consequences of each. He demonstrated a spinning wheel game depicting how
peer pressure greatly influences a person’s choice to consume more alcohol or
engage in sex. “Socially, alcohol plays a huge role. We often connect it to the
meals we eat and how we socialize,” declared Gisemba. He added that ADAI had
hosted similar discussions for students in the past, but this one approached
the topic differently, focusing on responsibility rather than prevention.
“Oftentimes, telling students ‘don’t do it’ is not effective because it’s not
realistic. So what I try to do is focus more on the responsibility and health
and legal consequences of these actions,” explained Gisemba.
The students viewed the presentation
as a learning experience. One student lamented that a lot of people get caught
up in drinking and sex because these are the “cool” things to do. However,
another student acknowledged that the discussion convinced her not to
participate in drinking, as it affects both students and the people around
them.
For more information, visit the ADAI
program on the SHSU website at http://shsu.edu/dept/adai/programs/.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
