MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES

BILOXI - Fights and parties with underage drinking and drug abuse caused
Nick Dunlap to worry about his friends and classmates at Biloxi High.

He decided to join Students Against Destructive Decisions, a national
organization he became aware of through advertisements and news reports.
When he learned his school didn't have a chapter, he decided to start one.

"Even though this is my last year in high school, this is what I want to
leave my classmates with," he said. "I want this to be something that keeps
on challenging students to make the right choices."

Nick, who is enrolled in ROTC, is considering enrollment at the Air Force
Academy or studying for a law degree after his high school graduation.

Plans for a SADD chapter began falling into place after he discussed it with
Darby Fayard, also a senior. She and Nick are co-presidents. They wrote the
bylaws to require that the vice president be several years away from
graduating so the club will keep going after they graduate, said Nick.

"We're just a bunch of friends that want to make a difference," Nick said.
"It's important to have friends to call on so you won't do something
stupid."

SADD members challenge their peers to avoid all types of destructive
decisions, including violence and suicide.

The national organization supports projects that catch students' attention,
such as a mock car crash held before prom night. Another project, Grim
Reaper Day, shows how drunken driving kills someone every 33 minutes. A
designated "grim reaper" selects a "dead" student every 33 minutes, paints
his face white, and hands him a sign declaring him the victim of a drunk
driver.

SADD also supports Red Ribbon Week, a Newspapers In Education program that
informs students about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.

The Biloxi High chapter has 30 members.

SADD was founded nationally in 1981 as Students Against Drunk Driving. Its
name changed in 1997 to broaden its focus to all types of destructive
behavior.