On Sept. 18, Hampton University’s
own Dr. Linda Kirkland-Harris, director of the HU’s Student Counseling Center
had the honor of being a panelist at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
Annual Legislative Conference. As a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy
research and educational institute, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
aims to help improve the socioeconomic circumstances of African Americans and
other underserved communities.
The panel, which was sponsored by
Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II (Missouri) was on a topic Kirkland-Harris was
familiar with, alcohol consumption/ binge drinking among African-American students.
Recently working with the
Virginia Dept. of Alcoholic Beverage Control with “Operation Undergrad
1023-2013”, a grant in which they entitled “SOBER
CHILL”, Kirkland-Harris spoke on the many collaborations that took place
with the university on regards to alcohol education. “SOBER CHILL”, explained by Kirkland-Harris had 5 objectives: To
provide face to face fun without the ‘aid’ of alcohol, to develop engaging
formats for alcohol education, to create a culturally competent educational
DVD, to promote awareness of HU’s Police Department’s (HUPD) use of
AlcoSensors, and to reduce by 25 percent the number of alcohol offenses
recorded by HUPD.
Many may think that alcohol
consumption is not that big of an issue, but the abuse of alcohol in younger
communities is getting more serious.
“With regard to the younger community,
published research consistently indicates that throughout the country, first
year (followed by second year) students are most at risk of alcohol
abuse/binge drinking, explained Dr. Kirkland-Harris.”
“In
addition, the most vulnerable time in the academic year is the first few weeks
because of the combination of being released from parental monitoring and a lot
of free and low pressure time on students’ hands. Young ladies are of special
concern because older male students and community members “prey” (student
language) upon their naïveté and desire to demonstrate “I know what I’m doing”
leading them to dangerous decision-making.”
Other advocates on the panel included Dr.
Shaquille O’Neal who has partnered with the Century Council (a group of
distillers fighting drinking drunk driving and underage drinking) for the
purpose of reducing binge drinking among young people. Many of you may be
thinking “Shaq, An advocate of stopping underage drinking? Really?” O’neal has
seen that social media and comedy are effective strategies for conveying
prevention education and on the panel displayed a clip of a Godfrey the
Comedian video clip. He wants to reach younger adults with an “It’s not ok”
message.
Others on the panel included, Ralph Blackman,
director of the Century Council (alcohol education) and Dr. Linda Loubert of
Morgan State University, director of a study on binge drinking at HBCUs.
Dr. Linda Kirkland-Harris with Dr. Shaquille O'Neal
Mechala Simpson
Hampton University 15’
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