

I’d like to share some highlights from that Webinar with you because I think it’s important that everyone is informed of how seriously FSU has taken on the issue alcohol abuse. While there is no magic solution – something I emphasized during my presentation—with a comprehensive approach, progress is possible.
FSU recognizes that binge drinking among college students is a multi-faceted issue, and as a result we’re addressing it from many different angles. Students, faculty, staff members representing FSU’s counseling center, activities and athletics, law enforcement, alcohol servers, parents landlords and local residents all have a part to play.
FSU students have been extremely proactive in helping the University address binge drinking. They created and provide the staffing for a SafeRide program that offers free transportation for students on weekend nights. Last year, SafeRide provided over 5,000 rides. Students also are involved in efforts such as the BURG Peer Education Network, whose members encourage healthy choices through educational programming.
The University has implemented 9 out of the 11 alcohol prevention strategies that are shown to be most effective in national data. They include AlcoholEdu, an online education program; social norms and social marketing, substance-free housing, peer engagement and even parental notification of alcohol-related infractions. We also support responsible beverage service training—in fact, we even paid for local bar owners and their servers to have this training.
FSU also created an Alcohol Task Force in 2006, which brings together students, faculty, staff and people from the local community to take a collaborative, community-based approach to binge drinking. This helped us identify key groups we need to interface with, like the Liquor Control Board and local law enforcement agencies, neighborhood groups and bar owners.
As president of FSU, I also believe that presidential leadership is a key part of the multi-faceted approach to dealing with binge drinking. I am very public and very open about my concern by writing letters to parents, publishing my thoughts in the student newspaper, and meeting with our students. In fact, last September I was awarded the very first Presidential Leadership Award from Outside the Classroom and six other higher education organizations for my success in promoting a vibrant intellectual and social campus climate that de-emphasizes the role of alcohol.
Addressing alcohol abuse is an ongoing process, and I am glad we’ve inroads in providing resources and programming and by encouraging dialogue with our community (check out charts documenting FSU's progress, above). I’d like to invite all of you to share your thoughts with me on this issue by posting comments on Blog From the ‘BURG. I will also provide a link to the Webinar at a later date, so you can learn more about this significant part of how we intend to help our students lead healthier lives. Additionally, you can listen to my President's Dispatch broadcast about alcohol abuse here.
Here is some info about our student leaders who are participating in tonight's 









