CAL STUDENTS TACKLE ALCOHOL ABUSE IN UNUSUAL PUBLIC HEALTH COURSE

It's not every day that you walk past a class at the University of
California-Berkeley and see students squatting beneath a beer bong. But
hoping to curb alcohol abuse, the university has authorized fraternity and
sorority students to teach a course on responsible drinking to their peers.

Berkeley Educates on Alcohol Responsibility Seminars -- or BEARS -- is in
its third semester at Cal. The popular two-unit course, which is offered for
credit through the School of Public Health, covers the physiological,
chemical and social aspects of alcohol use and misuse. The class is
innovative because it takes a frank approach: College students drink. Why
not teach them to do so responsibly?

Binge drinking -- defined as more than five drinks in a row for men and four
for women -- has been a part of college culture for years. Recent surveys
have elevated binge drinking to the most serious drug problem facing the
nation's college campuses. College students spend nearly $4.2 billion a year
on alcohol.

A 1997 Harvard study found that 43 percent of college students nationwide
are binge drinkers. It also concluded that residents of fraternities or
sororities were four times as likely to be binge drinkers than non-Greek
students.

BEARS was founded by students involved in fraternities and sororities, and
for now the course is open only to other students at fraternities and
sororities. The course trains students to be peer educators, who will then
spread what they've learned to residence halls and incoming freshman.

But the course's success may mean that it will soon be offered all over
campus. University officials have also discussed the possibility of
replicating it throughout the UC system, and other colleges have made inquiries.

"Alcohol and drugs are such a complex problem on college campuses," said
Aida Cerda, a lecturer in the School of Public Health who serves as a BEARS
faculty adviser. "BEARS is unique because it is student-initiated and
student-run. It's every health educator's dream to have students volunteer
like this. There is enormous potential for the program."

Most people don't think of Cal as being a party school: The academically
rigorous environment is a far cry from the keg-drenched rowdiness captured
in the movie "Animal House." University health officials say they have
conducted surveys of drinking and drug use on campus and find that Cal is on
a par with drinking behavior across the country. Exact numbers are kept
confidential by the university.

"This is a high-pressure campus," said Tom Durein, a Greek adviser in the
office of student activities and services. "Many students are feeling a
level of pressure that they are unaccustomed to. When they play, I believe
they play harder than most students."

Relieve stress

Playing means many things: skiing, dancing, rock climbing, or getting out of
town for the weekend. But many students say that the intensity of Cal often
means that students drink primarily to relieve stress.

"It's amazing how much drinking goes on here," said Tracy Wilcoxen, 18.
Wilcoxen, a freshman, lives in a residence hall and said that beer is
readily available on most nights. "A lot of students have fake IDs. When you
get to college, drinking is a part of life."

Cal's small but active Greek community organized BEARS in part to improve
the relationship between itself and the university -- and change the
perception that being Greek at Cal means celebrating alcoholism.

"There is a lot of binge drinking on campus," said Mike Morse, 20. Morse, a
junior, is a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and is taking the BEARS
course this fall. "But I don't think it's just in fraternities and sororities."

Just 2,100, or 10 percent, of Cal's 21,000 undergraduate students are
involved in the Greek system. Many say that Greek life has helped to
mitigate the overwhelming effect of attending such a large university. Cal
has 33 fraternities and 13 sororities, most of which have houses on or close
to campus. The house atmosphere usually lends itself to parties where
alcohol is served.

"e saw a problem and decided to take the issue into our own hands," said
Lindsey Mercer, president of the College Panhellenic Association at
UC-Berkeley. "Alcohol impairs people's judgment, which can sometimes lead to
trouble. Students get into fights, experience blackouts and, in some cases,
suffer from alcohol poisoning or become victims of sexual assault."

Mercer and her advisers have applied for a grant to expand the program. They
hope to use the funding to quantify just how successful the program has been
in changing values and behaviors.

Twenty-five students are enrolled in the BEARS course this semester. But
dozens more applied to take the course, which required a rigorous
application process. A hundred students are expected to apply for BEARS
slots in the spring.

In recent weeks, groups of students have presented skits -- about blood
alcohol content, date rape, drunken driving -- to their classmates. The
skits each send a clear message: We know you are going to drink. Please
drink responsibly.

Parties re-enacted

Many groups presented their skits with the help of party paraphernalia: beer
bongs, shot glasses, empty cans of beer, bottles of tequila. Out-of-control
frat parties were re-enacted, complete with vomiting and passing out.

Many students said they were surprised at how much they've learned so far in
the course.

"There are serious repercussions to irresponsible drinking," said Katie
Hutchins. "Usually, it's something that is just joked about."

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED For more information about the BEARS program at
UC-Berkeley, contact Lindsey Mercer at (510) 643-6916. Contact Dana Hull at
dhull@sjmercury.com or (510) 790-7311.