A national tour that travels across the country with the aim of educating students on the dangers of alcohol abuse and drunk driving will be on campus tomorrow.
The Save A Life Tour travels to campuses across the U.S. and provides a high-tech drunk driving simulator and information on alcohol abuse to students. CSUN has expanded the event into Get The Matador Buzz, which will include activities, prizes, giveaways, food and “mocktails,” which are cocktails made without alcohol.
“We hope that this opportunity for students to learn about the risks of drinking and driving and alcohol overuse and abuse will keep our students healthy, and prevent a heartbreaking tragedy,” said Linda Reid Chassiakos, director of the Klotz Student Health Center, in a press release about the event.
The drunk driving simulator will be one of the main attractions. It has the look and feel of the interior of a car, and participants can sit in the drivers seat while a screen allows a sober person to see and feel what happens when alcohol takes effect. This interactive method has allowed students across the United States to have a better understanding of alcohol impairment.
Fatal Vision goggles will also be available. The goggles provide another interactive experience, this time showing how everyday activities are inhibited by alcohol.
“Performing normal activities with the goggles on shows the person who uses them that they aren’t as in charge as they think they are,” said Sharon Aronoff, health educator for Student Health Outreach at the Klotz Student Health Center. “There will also be other activities, which includes footage of the dangers of drunk driving and games like Alcohol Jeopardy.”
The event, which will be held in the Northridge Center, USU from 2 to 8 p.m., will be divided into sections. Visitors can move among the different stations so as to get the most information. There will be talks by the Department of Public Safety, who will discuss alcohol policy and law, and registered dietitians will show how the body metabolizes alcohol.
Janis Martin, CSUN’s wellness coach, will hold role playing activities that demonstrate different techniques in dealing with alcohol-related scenarios. The campus will also host groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the school’s own peer and nutrition counselors, who will offer tips and advice along with information regarding alcohol use and abuse.
The Save A Life Tour and Matador Buzz were made possible as part of the grant that CSUN was awarded by the California Office of Traffic Safety.
“We’ve made this into a much bigger program,” said Aronoff. “It’s a partnership between the Health Center, Athletics, the USU, the Office of Traffic Safety and the Department of Public Safety.”
