SUBSTANCE ABUSE TAKES CAMPUS TOLL

On college campuses across America, a killer lurks. This predator often
overtakes its victims unsuspectingly, inflicting injury on young people who
believe they are invincible. The effects are long-lasting. The scars are real.

Alcohol abuse is arguably one of the biggest problems facing college
administrators today. In an effort to find answers to this age-old
perplexity, representatives from all of West Virginia's colleges and
universities along with city leaders and law enforcement personnel will
gather next year for a meeting of the minds. West Virginia University
welcomes this summit on underage and high-risk drinking, and looks forward
to the sharing of successful initiatives and new ideas.

At WVU, education, alcohol and substance abuse treatment and intervention,
and alternative activities are all part of the university's long-term
commitment to changing a collegiate culture that often views excessive
drinking as acceptable. A number of programs, many of which have been
initiated by students, are working to combat what many dub a right of passage.

WVU's nationally acclaimed WVUp All Night attracts several thousand
students every Thursday through Saturday night in the student union for a
weekend package of safe, fun and healthy activities offered free -- or at
little cost -- to WVU students and their guests.

The impact of the new Student Recreation Center that opened in fall 2001
has been positive. In its first year of operation, students used the Rec
Center more than 700,000 times. It's a safe, healthy place for students to
work out and spend free time, and serves as another healthy alternative to
the social scene.

Another popular campus activity initiated several years ago is FallFest --
an outdoor concert with headlining acts that is held on the first night of
the fall semester. Some 14,000 students annually attend the extravaganza,
which also includes comedy clubs and movies in the student center, rather
than a former off-campus and unsanctioned block party.

Those are the headliners that have drawn interest from other colleges
within the state and nation eager to learn more about our programs and
concepts. But much more is going on behind the scenes.

WVU offers University 101, a highly recommended and recently restructured
orientation course for first-year students, which includes alcohol
education as a course component. Residence Life provides resident assistant
and staff training on alcohol issues and how to discuss the topic with
students. University Health Services works closely with other campus units
to provide integrated programming on the use and abuse of alcohol and other
drugs. The Department of Public Safety routinely distributes and displays
alcohol awareness brochures at various locations around campus. All WVU and
national fraternity and sorority chapters are required to hold programs
educating members on alcohol/substance abuse.

UHS has a Student Assistance Program for assessment, treatment and referral
of individuals with drug and alcohol problems. The Carruth Center for
Counseling and Psychological Services Center provides individual counseling
sessions that are confidential, voluntary and unlimited, with licensed
psychologists. The WVU Advisory Council for Alcohol and Other Drugs
evaluates and supports efforts impacting the university community relative
to alcohol and other drugs.

Despite all the programs and initiatives already in place, excessive and
underage drinking still exists. No college, big or small, is immune from
this behavior -- which many students develop even before embarking on their
higher education experience. And, we realize more can and should be done.

Bringing other college representatives, law enforcement officials and
community leaders to the table can only serve to bolster town-gown
relations and spawn new ideas. Working together, positive changes can occur.

We understand we cannot legislate responsibility. Students make their own
choices. But ensuring that our leaders of tomorrow are made aware of the
consequences of their decisions and have a safe environment to learn are
responsibilities we take very seriously. This planned summit -- the
brainchild of ABCA Commissioner Tom Keeley -- can advance those objectives.
WVU looks forward to working with all parties revolved.

KENNETH D. Gray and Mary L. Collins co-chair ACAOD. This commentary should
be considered another point of view and not necessarily the opinion or
editorial policy of The Dominion Post.