CATAWBA: A NEW CULTURE ON CAMPUS

With new leadership and strong enrollment numbers this fall, Catawba
College officials are taking a hard look at binge drinking and
substance abuse on the campus.

The issue of underage drinking and substance abuse is a problem on
campuses across the nation. College students are "kid brains in big
bodies," said Geoffrey Georgi, a senior clinician and trainer for the
Duke Additions Program at Duke University Medical Center in Durham. He
addressed the faculty of Catawba this past week.

Georgi complimented the faculty on the time they took to address the
issue during the first week of school.

But it's not just faculty members who are concerned, according to
newly hired Director of Public Safety Sylvia Chillcott. "The whole
campus is ready for a change," she said.

Following the tragedies of last year, President Dr. Robert Knott said
he is ready for "a new campus culture."

Four Catawba students died last year in incidents related to drugs and
alcohol in some way.

In February, the Board of Trustees pulled together a Task Force on the
Enrichment of Student Life to address changing students attitudes
toward binge drinking.

Catawba College Trustee Sara Cook oversees the task force, which
worked through the spring and summer on several recommendations to
reduce problems associated with high-risk drinking and drug use on
campus.

The task force's first new project targeted freshman on move-in
day.

Operation Six-Pack aimed to educate students and parents about the
campus alcohol policy in a non-threatening way.

Cook said the idea came out of the student subcommittee of the task
force. "We wanted to do something they (the students) took ownership
of."

Freshmen and their parents were greeted on moving day by a six-pack of
soft drinks, along with a flyer about the college's alcohol policy.

"If you are under 21 years of age, a six-pack of soda is the only
six-pack you may have on campus," the flyer attached to the cans of
soda stated. "This six-pack keeps you out of trouble -- another kind
is trouble. This six-pack is free -- another kind will cost you. You
don't care if your parents know you are drinking this six-pack."

In addition to Operation Six-Pack, the task force held a comprehensive
awareness and education seminar targeting not only students, but the
college administration, faculty and staff.

Georgi, from Duke University, presented a series of lectures and
discussions to students, faculty and staff Wednesday.

Cook said they wanted someone to have the ability to talk to both
students and faculty.

Georgi met separately with freshmen, athletes, faculty and staff and
resident assistants during his visit.

"We made a tremendous mistake in the prevention field in thinking we
could scare kids away from drugs," he said. Georgi spoke about the
effects of drugs and alcohol on the adolescent mind and ability to
learn and retain knowledge.

"The Catawba College community is grateful for the efforts of the task
force in helping put into place two strategies we hope will help set
the tone for our upcoming academic year," Knott said. "I think the
initiatives conceived by the task force are well thought out and are
being well received."

Knott was pleased with the student and faculty participation in
Georgi's sessions.

Part of the change in campus culture includes the addition of two
members to Knott's staff -- both with backgrounds in dealing with
substance abuse issues.

Earlier this month, Knott named Roy Baker as vice president and dean
of students and Chillcott as director of campus safety.

Baker, who came to Catawba from Bucknell University, was hired there
to clean up the substance abuse in the Greek fraternity system, which
he termed "out of control."

Chillcott comes to the college from Guilford College, where she helped
implement a program through the North Carolina Collaborate Alcohol
Management Project for University Success.

Both agree consistency, fairness and accountability are vital
components to a positive campus culture.

"Believe it or not, college students want structure," Baker said. He
said young people want limits and want rules enforced fairly and
consistently.

"It's not about a dry campus," Chillcott said.

Baker and Chillcott agree they cannot stop drinking on campus, but
that they can set expectations. They expect students 21 and older to
drink responsibly. They expect underaged students not to drink. They
expect no one to use illegal drugs.

And when the rules are broken students can expect to suffer the
consequences, Baker said.

Students may consume legal alcoholic beverages only in the privacy of
their residence hall room. Alcoholic beverages or containers may not
be consumed or displayed in any public area on campus.

It is Catawba's policy to notify parents or guardians of students
found to be in violation of the college's policies regarding the
possession or use of alcohol or other drugs.

On the first offense the student must pay a fine of $50, complete five
hours of community service and have a conversation regarding policies,
expectations, sanctions for subsequent infractions.

On the second offense, the student is fined $100, must complete 10
hours of community service and must receive counseling and assessment
and pay for the cost.

The student is suspended on the third violation.

Using, possessing, distributing or selling any illegal drugs or
controlled substances is strictly prohibited. Violation of this policy
will subject the student to the possibility of immediate suspension
from the college. Sanctions for violation of the campus drug policy
range from a minimum of community service hours, combined with random
drug testing at the student's expense and notification of parents, to
expulsion from the college and referral for criminal
prosecution.

But Baker and Chillcott see their jobs as much more than simply
enforcing rules.

"I like to consider my department part of the educational process,"
Chillcott said.

They agreed their job is to build a relationship with the
students.

Baker said the college needs to establish a better relationship with
the student body and gain their trust. "These kids are ready for anything."

Students who feel "marginal" are not students who respect the college,
its property or faculty, Baker said.

Baker and Chillcott both plan to be visible on campus and at Catawba
events. They plan to get to know students on a personal level.

"We are part of their lives, not them part of ours," Chillcott
said.

Baker said he does not want his only interaction with students to be
when they have done something wrong. But when students do break the
rules, he will enforce them.

Another initiative for this year is the work of Dr. Kenneth Clapp,
senior vice president and chaplain.

Each month, Clapp will host a birthday dinner for students who turn 21
that month. Each celebrant will be allowed to invite a professor to
accompany him or her to the dinner.

The professor will be invited to speak briefly about the student and
the potential he or she sees in the student and to challenge the
student to realize that potential.

The parents of the student turning 21 will be invited to send a letter
of congratulations and encouragement that will be read at the dinner.

Cook said the initiatives that have been implemented so far seem to
have been successful. The task force will continue to meet and plans
to form a community task force to strengthen communication and support
between community and college.

Cook said another critical strategy that is planned will include a
review of the campus alcohol and drug policy and its enforcement, and
the development of campus-wide support for this policy.