As part of Alcohol Awareness Week, the Office of Student Life and the UTEP Police Department held the annual “Raise the Bar Resource Fair” at the Union Plaza on Wednesday.
“Every year alcoholism can be an issue, so as an organization we show students resources that can help them,” said Kelsie Vasquez, who is a representative from the Office of Student Life.
Different organizations attended the event and provided information through pamphlets and their respective representatives.
One of the main resources available was UTEP’s Rehabilitation Counseling Center.
“We have rehab counselors to help with any kind of substance abuse so victims can achieve the best quality of life possible,” Priscilla Gallegos, a member of the program, said.
Substance abuse cases could also determine certain statuses for those affected by the drug.
“Victims are discriminated against in work environments, so we also help them get jobs,” Gallegos said.
Additionally, the organizations presented different activities for students, such as the UTEP Police Department presenting “impaired vision cornhole,” and a variant of beer pong presented by the Fraternities Values Society.
The Police Department advocated for designated drivers, safer environments during University events, and putting a halt to underage drinking.
Social organizations, such as the Fraternities Values Society also advocated for fraternities and sororities to be seen as a helping hand, as opposed to a detriment in substance abuse situations.
“We want to show we’re not about partying, or a set up for drinking,” Daniel Garcia, a member of Omega Delta Phi, said. “We provide members with a career path after graduation, and we try to help the community.”
This is the full list of organizations who were in attendance:
Emergence Health Network
MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving)
West Texas Driving School, AA (Alcoholics Anonymous)
UTEP Wellness Program
El Paso Municipal Court
Rio Grande Safe Communities
UTEP Police Department
El Paso Police Safe Communities
UTEP Rehabilitation Center
University Community
Aliviane
UTEP Office of Student Conflict and Conflict Resolution
UTEP Office of Student Life
LAHDR (Latino Alcohol and Health Disparities Research Center)
Fraternities Values Society
UTEP Student Engagement Leadership Center
Texas Alcoholic Beverages Commission
Alcohol Awareness Week will continue Thursday with BASICS (Brief Alcohol Screening Intervention for College Students), Mindfulness Meditation for Alcohol Workshop, Dizzy in love: Are you having sex on the rocks? and The A-Game Alcohol Awareness Interactive Game Workshop.
For more information, OSL can be reached at: http://sa.utep.edu/osl/.
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