By Michelle Westgate
A week-long series educating students on how to relax and have a safe spring break was held by the Office of Student Leadership and Activities (OSLA).
“I was the kid who decided not to drink,” Matthew Bellace said on Monday night as he spoke to a crowd of University students about making a choice to avoid the use of alcohol.
Bellace is a motivational speaker and comedian. He has been influenced by performers like Bill Cosby and Jerry Seinfeld. Bellace attended Montclair High School in New Jersey, where he became involved in the Teen Institute of the Garden State, a state program to provide students with alternatives to substance abuse. His message is “How to Get High, Naturally.”
Bellace has been speaking to students on this subject for more than 15 years.
“I tell students to be leaders in their own lives,” Bellace said. “I talk about making healthy decisions now and for the future.”
Bellace emphasized the importance of having friends who encourage good choices. He said that having “positive supportive people” around is the key to being successful.
Bellace spoke to students about the crazy things he did in college, but those things did not include alcohol. He suggested alternatives to alcohol, such as running, creating art or music, paint-ball and even taping a friend to a wall. He told students to be creative and to laugh.
Katie Lambert and Alexis Movtady, both freshmen Sigma Delta Tau pledges, thought the presentation was interesting and entertaining.
“I think alcohol abuse is a problem on every campus,” Movtady said. “Students go to college and start partying a lot more.”
“It is important that our kids don’t rely on alcohol for fun,” Lambert said. She thought that finding a passion or a hobby was most important. “They should get involved in activities and sports instead,” she added.
The week of March 5 though March 12 has been dubbed “Safe Spring Break Week” at the University. Students have been involved in activities ranging from yoga to a competition to determine which student is the strongest.
The goal of the University is to provide ideas for alternative choices to alcohol and drugs. However, up until now, the University has not used a method for tracking the effectiveness of alcohol education programs on campus.
Kimberly Rhyan, the assistant director of OSLA, said she planned to e-mail surveys to students attending events this week. OSLA has also considered using an independent survey group to track student responses during future events. Getting feedback from attendees will help these groups plan more events that motivate students to make better choices.
Matt Bellace reminded students that it takes a lot more energy, time and money to get high on alcohol and drugs than it does to get high naturally.
“No natural high will make you feel bad the next day,” Bellace said.