President's Letter

When a new student comes to our campus, that college freshman leaves his family and friends and steps into a new lifestyle. In the absence of parental authority, the new arrival is free to decide when to get up in the morning, what to have for breakfast, how late to stay out at night ­ and whether or not to drink alcohol.

Last spring Ferris State University commissioned a statewide survey* to determine whether alcohol abuse is more prevalent among young adults in a university setting than among their non-college counterparts. We wanted to measure whether we are dealing with a special population regarding alcohol abuse.
Survey results surprised me in that, while alcohol abuse is a pervasive problem throughout society, college students drink more and more often. They also

• are more likely to get sick from drinking and miss classes or work;

• drink more than their parents did at their age or do now;

• participate in group drinking activities;

• and are more aware of, yet less influenced by, tragedies related to student drinking.

Special Concerns on Campus
Prior to conducting the survey, I thought alcohol abuse was an equally pervasive problem throughout society. However, these results clearly indicate that universities have some special work to do. There is a more significant problem among the university population than the non-university population, and we have a special responsibility to act on this information. Leaving the security of their home environment may make some students more susceptible to negative peer pressures. We need to help more students build a strong sense of community at Ferris.

Many students find their "campus community" by participating in University athletics and student organizations. The Student Leadership and Activities office oversees more than 180 Recognized Student Organizations covering interests from Karate to computers. This year hundreds of students found a sense of purpose and belonging through service to others through the Student Volunteer Center.

President William Sederburg at a Lansing press conference

We Offer Alternatives
One of the difficulties faced by university officials is that most of the drinking by college students is done off campus, leaving little recourse for discipline. Universities can, however, offer more non-alcoholic events and activities. Ferris State already was taking steps to address this issue ­ commissioning the survey was one step ­ and since reviewing the results, we have increased our efforts.

An on-campus Prevention Resource Center uses peer education teams to help educate Ferris students on the risks associated with alcohol use and other lifestyle choices. The University's Student Leadership and Activities Office works with Big Rapids police officers to offer risk management education programs. Ferris offers an alcohol-free residence hall and free counseling and referral services to student

We'll continue to focus our efforts on education. That includes education on the risks of alcohol abuse.

* Editor's Note: EPIC/MRA in Lansing conducted the research for the University. The sample of 600 respondents, all between the ages of 17 ­ 24, includes 300 college students and 300 individuals who are not in a college setting. Of the college group, more than half (54 percent) report their grade point averages are 3.0 or above. The study was conducted April 15 ­ 26, 1999. Copies of the study are available by calling (231) 591-2065.