Jessica Merturi
Staff Writer
The Counseling Center welcomed expert consultant Dr. John Irvine to review Pepperdine’s alcohol and substance abuse policies and programs last Wednesday. His visit is part of a routine review that occurs about every five years that analyzes how well current programs are working and what can be improved upon, according to Alcohol Education Coordinator Robert Scholz.
During his three-day visit, Irvine met with everyone from top administrators to students to discuss current alcohol and substance abuse programs and policies.
Although he will not be able to completely assess his findings until he reviews and reflects on his visit, Irvine said one of the most interesting points of view came from students who said they view Pepperdine’s current policies as good and bad.
“[Students] don’t like the restrictions, but they do like that Pepperdine has fewer problems,” Irvine said. Some of these problems, Irvine added, include having their roommates throw up from alcohol, noise and parties. “It’s a double-edged sword.”
While Irvine’s overall report on campus has yet to be disclosed, Wednesday morning Convocation was a topic he was able to comment on.
“Wednesday morning Convocation allows students to party Tuesday night,” Irvine said. Irvine suggested that if students had a class to go to on Wednesday morning, they would be less likely to be out partying the night before.
Ki’Jhana Friday, a sophomore, said replacing Convocation with class will not change a student’s behavior, no matter what day of the week it is. Fellow sophomore Joe Torres agreed.
“A lot of my friends go out regardless of if they have class,” Torres said.
However, freshman Alyssa Wilson said the responsibility of a class may prevent some students from going out all night.
“If [students] have something due, have a test, or have to wake up early, then going out and partying would be unappealing,” Wilson said.
All three students agreed that while Pepperdine’s policies are restrictive when compared to other schools, they do have a positive effect.
“[The rules] keep students from doing stupid things,” Torres said. “They do help.”
Wilson agreed the rules keep campus more peaceful.
“I don’t want to see beer cans, or people drunk, or hear them in the middle of the night,” Wilson added.
Wilson also said she believes more educational programs and the sharing of personal experiences could have a positive effect, as well.
Recently, the Counseling Center added Peers Educating Peers (PEP) for Healthy Choices to their outreach programs. PEP for Healthy Choices is an outlet for students to talk to other students about pressing issues, which has been quite effective, according to Scholz.
While Pepperdine’s policy is one effort to curb alcohol and drug use, the ultimate goal is to establish programs that educate students in a “non-confrontational” way, Scholz said.
“Alcohol is a problem on every campus, and Pepperdine is not exempt from that,” Scholz said. “We want to get [students] thinking, not tell them what to do.”
Irvine is a licensed psychologist who earned his doctorate in education, counseling and education psychology from Western Michigan University. He serves as director of the Center for Counseling and Student Development at New Mexico State University. At NMSU, Irvine established the outreach program Wellness, Alcohol, and Violence Education programs (WAVE) that won two Automobile Association awards.
Irvine has also had numerous years of experience reviewing substance abuse programs and policies on various college campuses for both the U.S. Department of Education and the International Association of Counceling Services, of which he is also a board member. Some of his reviews include Loyola Marymount University, Gonzaga University, and University of California Santa Barbara, Scholz said.
03-29-2007