John Horn
Staff Writer

Photo by Eric Bell

Alcohol Road Game - Brooke Standridge, first-year student, asks Jacqueline Brewer, first-year student, about drinking, which Brewer must answer correctly to get out of jail. Student 2 Student hosted the game.

   At UAM students created the group Students 2 Students to help inform other students about how to make right choices when it comes to drinking.

   The group wants to empower students and administrators to voice their opinions and needs to create healthier and safer campus community.

   "Students always learn more by listening to their peers," said sponsor Laura Hughes, director of Counseling, Testing and Career Services. "Our mission is to actively promote to students academic leadership and to make healthy lifestyle decisions." 

    The group plays games and holds special events periodically.  Hughes wants many students to be involved and have fun while learning with their peers. 

   The Student 2 Student group sponsored the Alcohol Road Game Oct. 22 with the National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Committee. Participants received prizes at the event.

   "We want to provide fun events and educational information to UAM," said sponsor Rachel Carter, office manager and residence program coordinator.

   Students 2 Students held a mock college party Oct. 23 at the University of Arkansas at Monticello to teach students how to have a safe party.

Photo by Eric Bell

B.Y.O.B. - Bendrick Williams, junior, gets a cup from Britney Forrest, first-year student. S2S hosted the party in the U.C.

  Such practices as designating a driver when you are out drinking were covered.

   The students who showed up at the party in the University Center were handed plastic cups at the door by the group sponsors to fill them with lemonade to represent alcohol. Students then played drinking games and enjoy themselves at the mixer.   

   As the party went on, the Monticello Police Department and the UAM’s campus police help raid the fake party by pretending to arrest the Students 2 Students members who were all ready in on the hoax. 

  John Carter, a Monticello police officer, enjoyed the overall experience.  He noted that Monticello has an average of 50 DWI’s a year and six fatalities last year due to drinking and driving.       

  Guest speakers Steve Brantley, Arkansas state volunteer for Mothers Against Drunk Driving who lost his wife to a drunk driver, and Clifford Hawkins, prevention resource coordinator for Phoenix Youth and Family Services, Inc., spoke to the students after the raid ended. 

  “If I reach to just one person out of a crowd, it was worth while,” Brantley said.

    Hawkins said, “Prevent them, (if you see a minor drinking).”  

   The Students 2 Students sponsors Hughes and Carter said they were very pleased with the turnout.