FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                

April 1, 2004      

Contact: Shirley Melikian Armbruster

(559) 278-2795 or (559) 593-1815   
 

Fresno State Secret Revealed

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The “best kept secret at Fresno State,” revealed as students prepare to begin their spring break next Monday, is that Fresno State is a “party school” – but one where students care about friends and family, and are moderate and safe when they party.

Roberto Vaca, a senior and chair of the Student Subcommittee of the campus Alcohol Advisory Council, revealed the secret today (Wednesday) during a lively program that included music, salsa dancers and a Q-A session about spring break plans.

Vaca said a recent survey indicates Fresno State students don’t fit the stereotypical hard-partying image of college spring break. The survey found the majority of Fresno State students will use spring break week, April 5-9, to relax, socialize with friends and family, travel in California. Most plan to consume alcohol once, twice or not at all.

See full release on the spring break survey below.
 

Spring Break Survey: No Wild Partying for Fresno State Students

Campus’ Best Kept Secret to be revealed at noon today (April 1)

The stereotypical spring break – a week of wild partying in Cancun or other exotic locations – is not the reality of most Fresno State students, according to a recent survey.  The majority of Fresno State students will use spring break week, April 5-9, to relax, socialize and travel in California. Most plan to consume alcohol once, twice or not at all.

Fresno State’s social norms project surveyed 192 students on March 12 and 15 in the Free Speech Area about their spring break plans.  The survey included men and women of all class levels.

Sixty percent of Fresno State students surveyed said they plan to travel during the break, most within California. Only 7 percent will travel outside the United States.

Many students will take time off from work. Although 74 percent of Fresno State students surveyed said they ordinarily work, only 32 percent plan to work during spring break. 

For most students surveyed, spring break will be a time to relax to enjoy simple pleasures.  About one third plan to stay at home and 44 percent plan to spend the time with family or friends.  Thirty percent said they will catch up on school work.  Five percent will do volunteer work.

Asked about how often they expect to drink alcohol during the week, 32 percent said they won’t drink any, and 42 percent said they’ll drink once or twice.                  

Seven percent said they will drink every day – up from the 0.5 percent who typically drink that often.

Fresno State senior Roberto Vaca, Social Norms Project assistant, summed up: “This informal survey supports other findings of our project – namely that Fresno State students care about friends and family, and are moderate and safe when they party.”

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Editors: “The best-kept secret at Fresno State” will be revealed during a program from    12:15-12:45 p.m.  in The Pit at the University Student Union. Vaca will emcee the program, which will feature a DJ, salsa dancers and an audience interaction session about students’ plans for spring break, April 5-9.

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.