Student Alcohol Death Prompts Changes at CSU June 2, 2005
News Summary
Colorado State University is launching a "social norms" campaign and stepping up counseling efforts to fight dangerous drinking on campus, after a female sophomore died of alcohol poisoning last fall.The Denver Post reported May 30 that the plan announced last week includes a campaign to emphasize the dangers of binge drinking, a student-led group focusing on alcohol poisoning, expanded addiction treatment programs, and a community outreach program targeting neighborhoods affected by student parties. Fraternities and sororities will staff their houses with grad students who will monitor student behavior, much as resident advisors do in dorm rooms.
An alcohol task force recommended many of the steps in the plan; the group was set up after the alcohol death of sophomore Samantha Spady last September, which in turn occurred after two nights of alcohol-related rioting on campus.
"Among certain groups of students, abuse of alcohol has gotten to the point where it is actually life-threatening," said Linda Kuk, CSU's vice president of student affairs.
On the other hand, school officials have lifted a ban on beer sales at CSU's Hughes Stadium, despite the opposition of some task-force members.
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