Student Wellness Center encourages safe Olympic break
Whether it’s an Olympic Break or a Spring Break, students are going to be traveling and trying to have as much fun as a week of no school will allow.
“Safe Olympic Break” was put together by the Student Wellness Center and the Peer Counseling Center to make students aware of the dangers during the upcoming break.
The purpose of “Safe Olympic Break,” said Janna Carling, prevention specialist at the Student Wellness Center, is to encourage Utah State University students to be responsible with alcohol use, to not drink and drive or drive tired, and to wear a seat belt. Carling said she hopes to encourage safety over the break.
“We see some students who drink, drink, drink during their break,” Carling said. “That’s not such a problem on our campus but there are those who do drink.”
She said the problem is mostly tired drivers.
“Students will get done with classes, then drive all night tired,” she said.
Studies have been done that show tired drivers are just as dangerous as drunk drivers, Carling said. Many students don’t realize the consequences of driving sleepy, she said.
Ben Young, a senior majoring in psychology and a peer counselor in the Peer Counseling Center, said the main problem at USU is driving tired.
“Students want to take advantage of their break and pull all-nighters to get back to Logan,” Young said. “Your judgment is just as impaired as driving under the influence.”
The Student Wellness Center and the Peer Counseling Center want to help inform people of the dangers of driving tired or under the influence of alcohol, Young said.
To make students aware of their choices and the consequences of them, the two organizations have paired up for “Safe Olympic Break.” For this event, they want students to promise they won’t be irresponsible during the upcoming break.
“We want students to sign a pledge card stating that they won’t drink and drive, that they won’t drive tired, they’ll wear a seat belt and that they will watch out for their friends,” Carling said.
A table will be set up in the basement of the Taggart Student Center Tuesday and Wednesday for students to sign a pledge card. After signing a card, the signer is automatically entered in a drawing for prizes such as free Cinafour Theatre passes, free ski and snowboard rentals from Al’s Sporting Goods, free tanning at Hair Studio 170 and much more.
“There are literally 50 prizes to give away,” Carling said.
Signing a pledge card also gets the signer a free mug full of samples and coupons and entrance in a national drawing for a chance to win a Jeep Wrangler. Carling said there will be beer goggles and activities going on at their booth until 2 or 3 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday. Both Young and Carling said the sponsors who donated their products were very generous.
“One of the reasons we wanted to have local sponsors was to show the students that there are many things to do in Cache Valley without the use of drugs or alcohol,” she said.
Carling said she hopes this “Safe Olympic Break” will make the students aware and will encourage them to “have fun but not ignore the negative consequences of irresponsible choices.”