The Southeastern chapter of Peer Educators Educating Peers (PEEPS) along with the Tangipahoa–Reducing Alcohol Consumption and Consequences (TRACC) initiative hosted a roundtable discussion of the subject of alcohol and drugs, specifically their presence and effects on Southeastern’s students and campus. The event was sponsored and coordinated by the Office of Student Conduct and held in the Student Union Ballroom on March 13 at 5 p.m.
Following the opening remarks by Antoinette Alack, coordinator for Student Conduct, guest speaker Matthew Newell took the stage. Newell is a recovering addict who shared his life experiences with drugs and alcohol. According to Newell, he decided to share this so that others will not repeat his mistakes.
“I’ve been arrested six times, and I’ve overdosed twice,” said Newell “I will always be fighting my demons.”
Following Newell was a presentation by PEEPS Representative Veronica Wynne that revealed campus alcohol statistics, the beginnings of PEEPS, her involvement with the Bacchus Network and Greeks Advocating Mature Management of Alcohol. During a portion of her presentation, Wynne addressed the audience for solutions to solve alcohol-related problems on campus. Among the students that responded was PEEPS President Ryan Pattison.
“I think we need a safe ride program,” said Pattison. “About a year ago, I was at a conference with 50 other schools. I got up in front of everybody and asked who has had an alcohol-related death in the past five years. Nobody raised their hand and I thought, ‘Yeah right.’ Then I asked who had a safe ride program and everybody raised their hand.”
After Wynne’s presentation, the panel for the discussion was assembled. In all, there were 10 members: Alack, Wynne, District Attorney Scott Perrilloux, University Counseling Center Counselor Annette Baldwin, Student Government President David Cavell, Lieutenant Patrick Gipson of the University Police Department, Miss Baton Rouge and senior communication student Heather Gonzales, Interfraternity Council president and senior nursing student Keith Rosenbach and Housing Area Coordinators Aerial Leary and Bevann McCartney.
Questions were written on post-it notes by students and mediated to the panel by TRACC Project Director Bridget Bailey. Questions asked were related to the affect alcohol and drugs have had on each panelist and their departments.
The final portion of the gathering was an evaluation of the event by the audience, who were handed sheets listing aspects of the event. All were asked to rank parts of the program on a scale of one to five, five being excellent and one being bad, and to provide additional comments.
“Generally, the responses were very good. They averaged around threes and fives,” said Alack. “Most of the comments suggested more late night programs and safe rides to clubs. The audience really liked the panel discussion. We had a very good turn out of about 56 people; I would say it is a success.”