pendulum
NEWS
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2009 11 PAGE 9
Blackout Elon campaign adds events to teach
students about drinking misconceptions
[jura Smith
Neiw Editor
For the second year, Elon
University’s Office of Substance
Education will promote its
Blackout Elon campaign, with
some new events in addition
to posters, magnets and other
publicity.
Blackout Elon strives
to educate students on
1 drinking habits and eliminate
misconceptions about these
habits on Elon's campus.
This year, the campaign
will feature the first “What
Does Blackout Mean to You?”
competition.
At 2 p.m. Friday, May 1, in
front of Moseley, students will
perform three-minute pieces
addressing Elon’s drinking
habits and how they are
helping to change their peers’
drinking misconceptions. The
performances will include
dances, songs, art, music pieces
and videos.
During these performances,
students and faculty will
receive Blackout Elon prizes
and information from SPARKS
Peer Educators.
All performances will be
recorded by Elon Student
Televisionandthetopfivepieces,
voted on by fans and SPARKS
educators, will be uploaded
to the Office of Substance
Education’s Web site (www.elon.
edu/substanceducation).
Students will have until
May 6 to vote for their favorite
performance.
The top three performances
will be shown at Blackout Elon’s
other new event for this year’s
campaign, the first annual
“Blacklight” party, taking place
at Lighthouse Tavern.
First place will win a S200
prize, second place will win a
$100 prize and third place will
win a $50 prize.
Lauren Martin, coordinator
of Substance Education, said
she thought students of the Live
Oak Communications agency
working on the campaign
wanted to be more creative this
year.
“We’re just trying to keep
things fresh and new and get
students' attention in different
ways,” said Chelsea Peabody,
Live Oak team leader for
Blackout Elon.
Live Oak held focus groups
and conducted research to get
a better understanding of what
students want to see in the
campaign.
The focus groups were
held with underclassmen
and SPARKS peer educators.
One more will be held with
upperclassmen.
Blackout Elon originated
in fall 2007 from a corporate
campaigns class and started in
spring 2008.
Now spearheaded by Live
Oak, statistics on Blackout
Elon campaign materials came
from the 2008 core survey from
the National College Health
Assessment that surveys
students on drug use, nutrition
and mental and physical
health.
Ideas for the new campaign
events all came from students,
Martin said.
“They give students a chance
to ask what (blackout) means
to them," Martin said. “The
whole point is to lose that gap
between perception and reality.
Students tend to overestimate
alcohol use."
Peabody said she agrees.
“We want people to think
about it,” she said. “More of a
conversation. We want to make
it personal.”
Martin said she is hoping the
campaign will have an impact
on the campus community.
“The closer you get for
students to realize the statistics,
the more likely it will be to get
the students to change their
behaviors," she said.
The “What Does Blackout
Mean to You” competition
is open to all students, and
entry forms are available in
the Substance Education office
in KOBC 154 and the Moseley
Center front desk. They are due
at 5 p.m. Thursday.
2008 Blackout Elon
Statistics
88% of Elon students who drink
use a designated driver.
66% of Elon students who drink
keep track of how many drinks
they have consumed.
85% of Elon students who
drink eat before and/or during
drinking.
The Blackout Elon campaign is in its second year now, and will
The program aims to educate students on drinking habits.
BRYCE LITTLE | Staff photographer
host a new event Friday.
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