Ryan Smith, a junior broadcasting major, started his car after a party. Holding his half-finished cocktail, he began to drive home. Thankfully, this was merely a simulation. The University Health Center, along with other advocacy groups, put together a display in the Nebraska Union on Monday for National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Day. With beer goggles and a drunk driving simulator, the groups spread alcohol awareness information.
"If I was going to do a drinking and driving simulation, I might as well have a drink," Smith said. Drinking a "mocktail" from a booth near the simulation, he spoke about the event. "I didn't find the simulator that convincing, but it is more important that people know the dangers."
Fred Zwonechek, administrator of the Nebraska Department of Highway Safety, said the simulator was a means to convince people to not drink while driving.
"It makes it seem real, people take the ability to drive for granted and they don't realize how difficult it is," he said.
Contrasting with the light tone of the booth, Mothers Against Drunk Driving had a car involved in a drunk-driving accident, its passenger side crushed, parked near Broyhill Fountain.
Sara Magnus, a MADD spokesperson, said the Beller family donated the car to MADD after it lost members in an accident in January of 2002.
"I could talk about how bad drunk driving is all day, but actually seeing what it can do makes it seem more real," she said.
Although the advocacy groups were present, the event focused on information rather than a didactic approach. The University Police set up a beer goggle obstacle course that students stumbled through, including Molly Mahannah, a junior secondary education major.
"I actually think I'm more coordinated when I'm drunk, but this is just a simulation," Mahannah said.
After drinking to excess and blacking out in her senior year in high school, Mahanna said she now makes it a point to only have a few drinks.
"I personally think that people have to make a mistake before they realize what their limits are," Mahannah said.
Terry Thomas, an Advanced Nurse Practitioner at the Health Center, stood at a booth serving "mocktails" of soda and grenadine and distributing information about standard drink sizes. She explained that a standard drink is a "dose of alcohol," which is equivalent to three ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer or one shot. She had the quantities on display. The beer glass wasn't completely full, so a typical beer at a restaurant is actually more than one standard drink.
"Me, I only have two drinks," Thomas said.
Thomas gives presentations on how alcohol affects the body, and she said she is aware of the culture of drinking on campus.
"It seems that younger students tend to make the larger mistakes," Thomas said. She and the other booths cited the lack of knowledge of alcohol among those new to drinking. The goal of the event was to promote awareness, and students were often surprised at the reality.
"I had no idea Jungle Juice was three standard drinks," Mahannah said.
Student Legal Services and the Psychological Consultation Center distributed information about their services. Student Legal Services assists students in trouble with the law for any reason.
"Our goal is to not let bad decisions keep people from school," said Director Shelley Stall.
The Psychological Consultation Center also provides services for students who need someone to talk to after a traumatic experience. Dennis McChargue, an associate professor of psychology said, "Hopefully the big mistake isn't too big."
Students also were advocating responsibility. Smith is a member of Healthy Huskers, a group that is an extension of the Health Center. He is a peer educator, explaining the realities of drinking to other students.
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