Responsible fun
Aug. 26, 2002
KALAMAZOO -- Students Socializing Sober, or S3, is a social mentoring program emphasizing healthy lifestyle choices and serving as a support system for students who are looking to have a great time at college without the use of alcohol.
Led by WMU students and funded through a grant from the Michigan Department of Community Health with support from the Prevention Network, S3 is aggressive in addressing the public's misperception about the level of drinking on campus. The program targets freshmen who seek social alternatives to drinking alcohol, encouraging them to preserve these values throughout their college careers.
This fall, the program will match a small group of incoming students with a group of returning WMU students who have volunteered to assist the newcomers in making a smooth transition into the campus community. S3 mentors maintain constant contact with the new students, and have planned several social activities for the first month of the new semester.
The kickoff event will be "Jungle Boogie," a picnic from 5 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 4, between the Student Recreation Center and Read Field House, near the sand volleyball courts.
Once the new semester gets under way, free social events will be scheduled each week. WMU works with parents, students, orientation leaders and high school counselors across Michigan to encourage new students to take part in the program. For more information about S3, contact Victor Manzon or Beth Schwartz in the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention at (269) 387-2260.
Media contact: Jeanne Baron, 269 387-8400, jeanne.baron@wmich.edu