Program raises awareness, offers fun

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Written by Andrew Call

Tuesday, 21 October 2008 11:40

A participant toes the line in a sobriety test as part of a demonstration presented by Cowboy Choices 180 Proof Peer Education

This week is Alcohol Awareness Week and Cowboy Choices 180 Proof Peer Education has a few things planned to help students make intelligent decisions.

Cowboy Choices is a University of Wyoming Recognized Student Organization that is one-third of the university’s AWARE program, the other two being SexPERTS and STEP Up. All three focus on different topics (alcohol, sex and violence) but are held together by the common thread of safe alcohol consumption.

The Cowboy Choices mission statement best describes what this particular RSO is all about: “The Cowboy Choices 180 Proof Peer Education program takes a ‘harm reduction’ approach and is designed to help support students in making healthy and safe decisions regarding the responsible use of alcohol. We recognize that many University of Wyoming students regularly face choices related to alcohol. Our goal is to provide our peers with information to help them make the most informed decisions, and to support them in those decisions,” according to the Web site.

This week, Cowboy Choices will have a table in the Wyoming Union Breezeway from noon to 2 p.m. in recognition of Alcohol Awareness Week.

Students can learn more about alcohol and its effects on the body, laws regarding alcohol consumption and have a chance to win prizes following a few alcohol related questions.

The main attraction of Alcohol Awareness Week is Friday Night Fever. Cowboy Choices has teamed with FNF to co-host this week’s activity.

“It’s called ‘Thrill the World’ and it’s actually an international competition to see how many people we can get to do the Michael Jackson ‘Thriller’ dance,” Cowboy Choices member Angela Barrett said. Students who attend this week’s FNF will learn the dance from 9 p.m. to midnight, with “mocktails” and food available.

“The competition is seeing who can break the Guinness record for the most people to perform the ‘Thriller’ dance at the same time,” Barrett said.

Students who learned the moves the night before will meet at 9:30 a.m. Saturday to rehearse and apply zombie make-up. The official dance will be at noon. To register for the competition students can either sign up at the Cowboy Choices booth in the union or at the door on Friday night.

This week is only the beginning of what Cowboy Choices has planned this year to help educate students. Starting sometime next month they will offer “party packs,” which are trash bins filled with essentials necessary for a safe and responsible party host.

“ASUW gave us $950 for our party packs,” Barrett said. “They come with tons of stuff to throw a safe party like cups, water, paper towels and also all of our brochures that outline the laws and your rights when it comes to drinking.”

Cowboy Choices will also be a part of the university’s Safe Spring Break event. The week before spring break a number of RSOs will be hosting activities to promote a safe and fun experience during the break.

Cowboy Choices will have an impaired-driving obstacle course set up where students will put on a pair of “drunk driving glasses” and attempt to navigate the course “under the influence.” The course is meant to simulate the effects of drinking alcohol and how it can impair your hand-eye coordination.

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