Page 8.
The Clarion
Tuesday, Septemt
Alcoholism: A Major Problem Of Today’s Society
by Lisa Atkins
One of the most serious pro
blems encountered by our society
today is alcoholism. The disease
of alcoholism may be en
countered by young and old, male
and female, black and white. In
short, alcoholism knows no boun
daries, and unfortunately, this in
cludes the college student. This
two-part series will attempt to
focus first on the problem of
alcoholism, and second on the
solution to the problem.
In looking at the issue, the first
question that needs to be
answered is why alcohol is con
sidered such a serious problem in
our society. According to Mr.
Charles Gibbons, Alcohol Educa
tion Counselor at Brevard Col
lege, “Alcohol is the source of the
single greatest amount of suffer
ing our society endures today.
(It) is directly and indirectly
associated with the greatest
percentage of deaths that occur
among college age people, not
just in the U.S., but in the whole
world.”
A second question that must be
answered is why people drink.
There are many reasons, but Mr.
Gibbons cited the main one as
“societal pressures.” He com
mented, “The cocktail party,
etc., are social norms.” Along
these lines, he gave some
statistics: “while alcohol use in
the over-25 group is fairly consis
tent, there has been a very
decisive increase in the use of
alcohol among teenagers and
pre-teenagers.” He stressed,
“Alcohol is a depressive, addic
tive drug. The more you drink,
the more you’re likely to
drink—Alcohol kills.”
Before going any further, it is
important to define the concept of
an alcoholic. Mr. Gibbons defined
an alcoholic as a person who is
constantly drunk and who ex
periences a loss of control over
his drinking. This includes the
quantity of alcohol consumed, the
location in which it is consumed,
and the frequency of consump
tion. He stated, “You do not have
to drink seven days a week to be
an alcoholic.”
Just what can be done, then,
once a person takes the all-
important first step of admitting
that he has a drinking problem
(or that he is a full-fledged
alcohol)? There are several steps
which follow, but Mr. Gibbons
focused on the ability to say no to
drinking, to avoid places which
focus on drinking, and to control
the amount consumed. He said,
“If one can go without alcohol for
one month, (that person) get(s)
an A—.” But he added, “Many
young people are appalled to
discover that they cannot go for
four weeks without alcohol. (That
person) is in trouble. (Such) con
sistent problems are inviting
chronic alcohol-related pro
blems. These may be long-range
and do not have to occur right
away. Teens and young adults
may drink for many years, and
we have no way of knowing when
that disease will develop into full
pathology.”
When asked if he felt that there
was an obvious alcohol problem
on the Brevard College campus,
Mr. Gibbons replied, “There are
students on this campus who
have problems with alcohol.
(Brevard) is probably about as
normal as we can be (when com
pared to the colleges). There are
no more (problems), no less.”
“Brevard has its proportionate
share of students with alcohol-
related problems,” he pointed
out. “Alcohol can be considered a
problem if a person (who con
sistently drinks) is constantly in
trouble.” Another point stressed
by Mr. Gibbons is that alcohol
must be identified as the cause of
problems. Among these pro
blems, where college students
are concerned, are tardiness,
truancy, absence from classes,
and traffic problems. Another
problem which may be alcohol-
related is a general attitude of
total apathy toward anything not
associated with alcohol. The per
son who feels that he cannot
make it through the day without
that first drink, or who lives and
breathes for the sole purpose of
consuming large amounts of
alcohol, definitely has a problem.
When the alcohol cannot be con
sumed with reasonable modera
tion, that person — be it a college
student, school teacher, doctor,
lawyer, or gentle old man - needs
help.
Just what kinds of help are
available, and what steps are
taken to rehabilitate the
alcoholic, will be examined in the
next issue. Also in the next issue
will be the alcohol situation as it
exists on the Brevard College
campus, including a look at the
changes in the Uniform
Guidelines concerning alcohol,
and a focus on the Alcohol Educa
tion Seminars which were in
troduced during summer school.
Singers Tackle Rafts, Falls
by Regina Wortman
Exciting ... COLD ... fun ...
COLD ... scary ... COLD ... scenic
... COLD ... adventuresome ...
COLD! September 19th was all of
this and more for the forty-one
members of the Brevard College
Collegiate Singers and their
director Mr. Lee Bratton, and his
wife Wendy, as they all attempt
ed to tackle eight miles of the
Nantahala River near Bryson Ci
ty, NC. This memorable rafting
excursion lasted three and one-
half hours!
A caravan of eight rafts, each
carrying four or five singers,
began the trip in smooth water.
Three guides accompanied the
group for safety reasons. The
singers tried to get the feel of raf
ting and controlling the boat at
the beginning because they knew
that near the end thy would face
THE FALLS.
But, before the small caravan
made it that far, they had to
avoid rocks and in some cases the
bank of the river. Most of the
singers steered their rafts away
from the rocks by skill or luck. A
few others, though, managed to
get their rafts stuck.
The merry party rode down the
river talking, laughing, singing,
and waving at different people on
the river bank. When they stop
ped to pour excess water out of
the rafts, they discovered that
they could not feet their feet,
although they could see them. It
was a relatively cool day and the
water was a cold 42° F.
Then, the caravan passed the
sign which read “Hazardous
Falls Ahead.” The singers stop
ped to listen to one of the guides
give them some helpful hints
about hows to safely take on THE
FALLS. The caravan of rafts
then proceeded toward THE
FALLS. There were a few
screams as each raft went over;
however, not one person fell out
of his raft as it bounced down the
falls.
4"-
* *
Whether the problem is within yourself, a family
member or friend, alcoholism is a lonely diesease.
(Photo by Steve Rabye).
PTK Vital Part Of B.C.
One or two rafts went down the
falls straight, but most of the
singers seemed to enjoy going
down sideways. The group then
finished the remainder of the trip
and changed into some warm,
dry clothes.
The Nantahala River is a dam
controlled river that can be en
joyed by even the most inex
perienced raftsman. The only re
quirements are to be in good
physical conditon and not be
afraid of water.
op£A/ For
00(^0
by Sandra Hulbert
What group on Brevard’s cam
pus tries to expose the active in
tellectual segment of the student
body? PTK does! Phi Theta Kap
pa is the national honorary
scholastic fraternity for Com
munity and Junior Colleges and a
vital part of B.C. life. PTK got of
to an excellent start this year by
conducting one of the most suc
cessful book Sales in years. A
cookout at Dr. Wood’s house pro
vided a warm welcome for
freshmen provisionals also.
Refeal Gasti, President of PTK,
stated that he wants “to make
PTK visible on campus this
year.” He hopes to achieve this
through future PTK projects
which will be carried out through
the school year.
One of the projects PTK spon
sors and hopes will continue is
Staff Appreciation Day. During
this day “in order to show ap
preciation toward the ad-
ministration, faculty, and
maintenance,” PTK will serve
them doughnuts and apple cider,
Another project which PTK spon
sors goes along with their theme
for the year-The Short Story;
Mirror of Humanity. A short
story contest for all interested
students will be held later in the
year.
When asked what he hopes for
PTK this year, Rafeal Gasti
stated, “We don’t want to be
depicted as an elite group, but in
stead a group that wants to have
fun and serve the Brevard Col
lege Community.”
PTK Officers and Sponsors
1981-1882;
Rafeal Gasti, President
Luann Ham, Vice President
George Helton, Treasurer
Tracy Kohring, Secretary
Beth Parker, Historian
Sponsors-Clara Wood
Randy Jackson
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Beverages
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Late Nite
Snacks