WConn Promotes Alcohol Awareness

DANBURY – Western Connecticut State University will join over 3,000 colleges and universities in North America in recognizing the importance of campus alcohol prevention by participating in National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week (NCAAW) October 17 through 23.

Sigma Chi fraternity is sponsoring two events on October 20 to heighten awareness of the problems associated with the consumption of alcohol. The first will be a candlelight vigil, which will begin on the Danbury green at 7 pm and end at the university, where refreshments will be served. The vigil is being co-sponsored by Western’s Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD).

The second event planned will be the fraternity’s annual mock trial, which will take place at 8 pm in the Student Center Theater, located on the midtown campus. The topic of this year’s mock arrest and trial, which always focuses on the ramifications of alcohol consumption, will be rape. The lawyers who will be arguing the case will be James Diamond, Ridgefield attorney and adjunct professor at the university, and Attorney Ray Lubis, an alumnus of WCSU. Dr Harold Schramm, professor of justice and law at Western, will act as the trial judge.

The goal of NCAAW is to promote and support personal responsibility and respect for the law when it comes to the consumption of alcoholic beverages. NCAAW, which started in 1983 with 25 schools, has grown to become one of the largest college events because students take ownership in designing and implementing their own programs and events for their fellow students and university communities. This week gives campuses the opportunity to showcase healthy lifestyles free from the abuse or illegal use of alcohol and to combat negative stereotypes of college drinking behavior.