Small turnout for 'Game of Life'

By Edddie Maez

More than 30 students gathered in Dunne basement Oct. 23, with red cups full of virgin jungle juice and daquiries, to mingle and drink with the resident assistants, resident directors and the Santa Clara Police Department.

Sponsored by the housing department, Tuesday night's the "Game of Life," kicked off one of several educational and social alternatives to drinking during Alcohol Awareness Week, Oct. 22-26.

"It's a fun way for students to stay on campus and have fun in a safe environment," Nyrene Badal said. She was one of the four assistant resident directors responsible for the planning of the week-long series of events, which included the display of a wrecked car outside of Swig.

Expecting a 50 student turnout, the assistant resident directors budgeted $150 for drinks and snacks, according to Jenna Doot, ARD for Dunne. Though from the 50 student turnout, only 30 students made it out to the program. And according to Dunne Resident Director Cathy Justl, half of these were required to be there as an alternative to the traditional alcohol sanction of SCRUPLEs, an alcohol education workshop for students caught drinking in the dorms.

"Most students are not looking forward to an alcohol education program - it takes up their time," Justl said.

Sophomore Chris Nelson, who attended the mocktail program due to an alcohol-related incident, agreed, though he admitted that the hour and a half long program certainly beat out the three-hour SCRUPLEs.

"The goal is not to get a huge turnout," Peter DeRego, assistant resident director of Graham Hall, said, "but to try and make a difference in one person."

Alcohol Awareness Week comes at an appropriate time in light of the recent police crackdown on off-campus parties. Traditionally, the police department had an enforcement team to find minors in possession.

However, since no major problems and complaints emerged over the past three years, the department had abandoned the concept.

According to Officer Norm Henry of the SCPD, an uncanny amount of reckless behavior and underage drinking has forced the department to re-adopt the enforcement team.

"We don't like having to interfere with students' lives," Henry said. "Each time one of us gets a call we roll our eyes because we don't want to go out there."

The "Game of Life" sought to give students a reason not to go out and party. Despite the fact that students were required to be there, more smiles filled the room than not.

After individuals took their desired drinks from the "bar," a hole was punched onto their drink card so they could compare the amount they drank with a large chart showing their current blood alcohol content level.

Speakers for the evening included: Rape Education Prevention Program (REPP), Santa Clarans Against Drunk Driving (SCADD), the SCPD, Laurie Lang from the Wellness Center, Assistant Dean of Student Life Matthew Duncan and Ayllon, a certified emergency medical services (EMS) representative.

While Duncan informed students about the disciplinary consequences of drinking on campus and Lang warned about health issues, members of SCADD humanized the consequences of drinking by sharing personal anecdotes of loved ones that had lost their lives.

"Santa Clara University is not a party school," said Ayllon, "it's a drinking school."

Very few calls relate to on-campus violence or rape, according to Ayllon, who says that over 25 percent of all EMS calls at Santa Clara are alcohol related - only 10 percent less than infamous party school California State University, Chico.

Other events for the week included karaoke nights sponsored by Swig and Dunne, an open mic in Graham and games/movie nights at Unity House and McLaughlin. Sanfilippo put on an awareness program and Campisi held a "keg" party (root beer) and a s'more night was put on by the Alamedas.