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EDITORS and NEWS/PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIRECTORS: Press releases can be downloaded at www.fresnostatenews.com. University Relations also provides releases for news media companies via e-mail. To be added to the distribution list, send your e-mail address to tomu@csufresno.edu. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Tom Uribes March 20, 2002(559) 278-5366 or 261-6189 CSU Chancellor Reed, President Welty named to Presidents Leadership Group in fight against student substance abuse NEWTON, MASS. (March 20) — California State University, Fresno President Dr. John D. Welty and CSU Chancellor Dr. Charles B. Reed have been named to the prestigious Presidents Leadership Group, a body of higher education presidents and chancellors who have declared their commitment to student substance abuse prevention. The U.S. Department of Education's Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention announced today the expansion of the Presidents Leadership Group to 31 campuses representing 22 states. Welty and Reed are among 26 new PLG members chosen based on their previous leadership and their plans for future leadership in alcohol and other drug prevention. Also appointed was San Diego State University President Stephen Weber. This newly expanded group represents a renewed effort by the Higher Education Center to involve presidents and chancellors in alcohol and other drug prevention, stated Higher Education Center Director William DeJong. The rigorous selection process required applicants to submit personal statements, letters of support from people within their institution and their surrounding community, and biennial review reports — a federal reporting requirement under the Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Regulations. Welty said substance abuse by college students has been a major problem for many years on college campuses. “We are now learning that there are steps which campuses can take that will reduce substance abuse," Welty said. “I am pleased to be part of a group that is committed to adopting programs and practices that make a difference.” Among the accomplishments by Reed and Welty is the CSU Alcohol Policies and Prevention Programs Committee of 21 CSU presidents, vice presidents of student affairs, students, faculty, staff and alumni that Welty chaired. The committee, formed following the alcohol-induced death of an 18-year-old Chico State student and incidents of alcohol poisoning at San Diego State, gained national recognition with what was called the most comprehensive alcohol policy of any university system. After consulting experts from around the country about responsible ways to implement alcohol abuse prevention policies, the committee made systemwide recommendations to Reed that the CSU Board of trustees adopted in July and supported with a $1.1 million budget. The new CSU policy calls for education, especially using the social norms model, and paid training for those who provide this education; intervention and treatment for students; limits on alcohol vendor advertising; data-gathering and regular reviews of policies; collaborative efforts between campuses and communities; and partnerships with local police. “We believe that if we — chancellors, presidents, faculty, staff, and students — make the prevention of alcohol abuse a priority, we can make a difference,” Reed said in a speech at the National Conference on the Social Norms Model when the policy was adopted. “We believe that if we help students understand what is safe, what is reasonable, and what is social, we can prevent more tragedies from occurring on our campuses. And if we save the life of just one student, we will be successful.” The CSU policy also calls for each campus to gather data every two years to determine if its policies and programs are achieving the desired outcomes, and report findings to the chancellor and trustees. From that, Welty established a 16-member Alcohol Advisory Council at Fresno State consisting of university and community members who review and make recommendations to him on policies, programs and goals regarding alcohol use. The council, chaired by Dr. Judy Sakaki, vice president for student affairs and dean of students, includes subcommittees on policies and compliance, educational programs and prevention, and assessment. The subcommittees add another 28 members to the effort. In a survey last spring, the committee discovered that the social norms approach of using information campaigns was essential not only to promote responsibility but also to correct student misperceptions of peers' drinking habits, said Sam Gitchel, health educator with the University Health and Psychological Services, who is vice chairman of the Fresno State council. The survey showed that at Fresno State most students drink moderately or not at all. But when asked, students believe their peers are heavy drinkers. “That’s a false norm, and students tend to conform to it unless they get accurate information,” Gitchel said. One way Fresno State is using a social norms approach is through a specially designed birthday card that students receive a week prior to their 21st birthday. The card urges responsibility as the students celebrate reaching the state’s legal drinking age and informs them of the survey’s findings in an effort to alleviate peer pressure to over consume. Sakaki said since it was implemented in February, about 350 of the special greeting cards have been sent to students with positive feedback. Another 145 are scheduled to go out in April. The Presidents Leadership Group was originally formed by the Higher Education Center in 1997 with support from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to bring national attention to alcohol and other drug prevention on college and university campuses. That year, the then six-member group published an alcohol prevention report urging college presidents to become more active leaders on this issue on their campuses and in their surrounding communities. The expanded group will build upon the activities of the original group, with members serving as prevention spokespersons, change agents and models for other presidents. Members will also serve to further statewide and regional alcohol and other drug prevention efforts, with members adopting leadership roles in existing regional initiatives or taking the lead in states where statewide efforts have not yet taken hold. "Presidential leadership is a critical component of successful prevention efforts on college and university campuses, and of effective partnerships between these institutions and their surrounding communities," said DeJong. "We are looking forward to seeing these presidents serve as change agents in their campus communities and also as models for other presidents who are looking to take action." The following college and university leaders have been selected to be part of the new PLG: Institution President/Chancellor StateBloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Jessica Kozloff PA California State University, Fresno John Welty CA California State University System Charles B. Reed CA Clarkson College J. W. Upright NE College of Santa Fe Linda Hanson NM Edgewood College James Ebben WI Frederick Community College Patricia Stanley MD Gustavus Adolphus College Axel Steuer MN Lehigh University Gregory Farrington PA The Ohio State University William Kirwan OH SUNY, Potsdam John Fallon NY San Diego State University Stephen Weber CA Southeastern Louisiana University Randy Moffett LA University at Albany, SUNY Karen Hitchcock NY University of Bridgeport Neil Salonen CT University of California, Santa Barbara Henry Yang CA University of Delaware David Roselle DE University of Kentucky Lee Todd KY University of Puget Sound Susan Pierce WA University of Missouri, Rolla Gary Thomas MO University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg Frank Cassell PA University of San Diego Alice Hayes CA University of Wyoming Philip Dubois WY Weber State University Paul Thompson UT West Virginia University, Parkersburg Erik Bitterbaum WV Western Washington University Karen Morse WA Additionally, the following original PLG members have reaffirmed their commitment to this effort by continuing their membership: Institution President/Chancellor StatePrairie View A&M University Charles A. Hines TX Tennessee Wesleyan College B. James Dawson TN University of Iowa Mary Sue Coleman IA University of Rhode Island Robert Carothers RI Vanderbilt University Gordon Gee TN |