February 5, 1999
"This is all about educating our young people so they can make smart and safe decisions about alcohol," KU Chancellor Robert E. Hemenway said. "We are ready to start working on this campaign today."
The grant is part of a $1.5 million Kansas Campus Awareness Campaign to Prevent College Student High-Risk Drinking financed by the private Wichita-based foundation. The campaign -- which uses positive, effective social intervention designed to make the campus and students safer -- will be implemented over four-and-a-half years at KU, Fort Hays State University and two other college sites yet to be announced.
"The Kansas Health Foundation's goal through this program is to reduce harm related to drinking on college campuses so the campus is made safer and healthier," said Mary Campuzano, vice president for programs at the foundation.
The health foundation role will led by Michael P. Haines, coordinator of health-enhancement services at Northern Illinois University. Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett, associate provost at KU, will direct the project on the KU campus.
"I am grateful to the foundation for making this possible," McCluskey-Fawcett said. "This is an opportunity to take a strong, smart approach to a problem that all colleges and universities share. It will have a positive effect on our students."
KU applied for the grant as part of an ongoing coordinated community effort to prevent alcohol abuse by primary, secondary and college students in the Lawrence area. A task force formed last year by KU, Haskell Indian Nations University and the City of Lawrence recently issued a report and 11 recommendations for action. In addition, KU established a $25,000 challenge grant for student groups who submit ideas for the prevention of alcohol abuse, curtailed sales of alcohol at the student union and encouraged KU fraternities to be alcohol-free.
"At KU our approach is to reduce illegal consumption, regulate alcohol more effectively and teach students to make intelligent choices," Hemenway said. "This is a positive approach that I think students will respect and respond to. It's an exciting opportunity."
Story by Todd Cohen, University Relations, (785) 864-8858, or tcohen@ukans.edu