“The Anti Alcohol-abuse Week is a fantastic initiative and I have thoroughly enjoyed events like the Dean’s variety show,” said afirst year student who says she does not conform to the drinking culture of some Rhodes University students.
“The Anti Alcohol-abuse Week is a fantastic initiative and I have thoroughly enjoyed events like the Dean’s variety show,” said afirst year student who says she does not conform to the drinking culture of some Rhodes University students.
The Dean of Students office invited Rhodes University staff, students and those in the greater Grahamstown community to participate in the week’s programme running from 15 to 19 February which encouraged a responsible approach to alcohol consumption.
De Klerk and her team worked closely with the Student Representative Council to provide events which promoted a moderate, safe approach to consuming alcohol.
The Dean of Student’s office announced that Anti Alcohol-abuse Week was initiated as a response to the culture of binge drinking which is damaging students’ health and the institution’s reputation.
“Rather than ban alcohol or preach abstinence, we took a measured approach, educating students about the harmful consequences of binge-drinking while supporting healthy alternative forms of entertainment,” said a representative from the Dean’s office.
During the week, Students HIV/Aids resistance Campaign (Sharc) hosted a forum on intoxication and HIV. The forum was split by gender, with the groups divided between an Eden Grove lecture theatre and a seminar room.
The focus of the forum was on the link between intoxication and contracting HIV through unprotected sex. The aim of the forum was to emphasise that intoxication decreases the ability to make safe responsible decisions regarding sex.
Sharc was interested to get both the male and female students’ perspectives on this issue to better understand the motivations and consequences of intoxication.
“This will assist us in better delivering our messages cautioning students to avoid, as much as possible, situations which increase their risk of contracting HIV,” said Sharc president, Nicole Viljoen.
