Field Sobriety tests take the stage
Annual event at Lied Center educates students on the dangerous side of alcohol abuse.
Michelle Sprehe
Thursday, September 4th, 2008
Missy Lightner, Leawood freshman, went to the Lied Center Wednesday night for a lecture about the dangers of alcohol. She had heard alcohol education talks before and thought she knew what to expect. But last night was more than a talk. Last night, Lightner and others in attendance at the annual alcohol education event “Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself” saw what happened when a police officer gives a field sobriety test.
“I didn’t realize how obvious the signs the officers look for are,” Lightner said. “I didn’t know something little mattered.”
Arnold Phommavong, Springdale, Ark., senior, Bill Walberg, El Dorado, Ca., senior, Kevin Campbell, Overland Park senior, Leslie Rhoton, Lawrence senior, and Alex Rock, Lawrence senior, demonstrate the effects of alcohol during “Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself,” a program aimed at educating students about the grave consequences of drunken driving. In addition to field sobriety tests, representatives from KUPD, Lawrence Memorial Hospital and KU Legal Services spoke at the event.
Student leaders from Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Association and Student Union Activities appeared on stage to perform field sobriety tests. Four were intoxicated under police supervision and one was sober. A leader from the Department of Student Housing was scheduled to participate in the tests but became ill during the supervised drinking in preparation for the sobriety test. Nurses cared for her backstage.
In addition to the field sobriety tests, a registered nurse from Lawrence Memorial Hospital presented a graphic slide show of three emergency room cases — all were the result of alcohol.
“It was kind of scary because you never see the dangerous side,” Lightner said.
Lightner, a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority, was one of almost 1,000 members of the greek community in attendance.
The event was open to all University of Kansas students. However, non-greek attendance seemed to be very low.
Morgan Cheeseman, Columbus sophomore, lives in Douthart Scholarship Hall. She said she saw only four people she knew were not part of the greek community.
“There’s a definite rift between housing and the greek community,” Cheeseman said. “But this event wasn’t a good place to see it because they’re [the fraternity and sorority members] required to go.”
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