tl19890928-000 "Vol. 84 No. 4 ""Required Reading"" September 28, 1989 The Towel:ell Published weekly by the students of Towson State University, Towson Alcohol Awareness TSU joins anti-abuse network; activities planned for mid-October by Tracey Brown News Editor According to Jim Henschen, Towson State University's certified drug and alcohol abuse counselor, 1 in every 10 People who drinks is alcoholic. In an effort to bring a greater understanding of the potential danger of alcohol, Tow-son State is joining a network of colleges nationwide gearing up for National Col-lege Alcohol Awareness Week to be held October 15-October 21. Two of the central forces behind this effort on Towson State's campus are Jim Henschen and Brian Pearson, substance abuse education assistant. According to Pearson, concern over alcohol abuse has taken a back seat because of the recent national campaign aimed at eradicating drug abuse. ""Alcohol is just as much of a drug as cocaine and its power to destroy lives is just as profound,"" Numerous groups on campus are in-yolved in the planning for the week including the Student Government As-sociation, Student Activities Board and the Residence department. From an al-cohol fair, to a trip to shock trauma to the possible alcohol-free dance, the week will be filled with activities aimed at bringing about an awareness of alcohol abuse and the impact that it has on People's lives. ""We're launching a cam- Pas-wide campaign and we want to get as many different factions involved as We can,"" said Henschen. Colleges across the nation have been participating in NCAAW for years and there is a strong network of schools committed to stopping alcohol abuse on campuses. ""We're involved in NCAAW because alcoholism is a concern to us as a nation, and because it's a great concern to us as a University,"" said Pearson. Participating in the NCAAW is only part of the University's ongoing effort to encourage responsible use of alcohol and awareness of the dangers that abuse can pose. Although many campuses are start-ing to have drug and alcohol counselors on their staff, Towson State is one of the few universities to have a state certified counselor and a state certified drug and alcohol abuse program. Jim Henschen developed the drug and alcohol program at Towson State in October of 1987. The program received state certification in January of this year and its services are free to students, faculty and staff. ""We're hoping that NCAAW will help students to become aware of the services that are available to them,"" said Henschen. Both Pearson and Henschen feel that many students rely on alcohol to relieve the stress of school pressures and for social enhancement. ""With alcohol you're dealing with a strong psychological de-pendence. I think people need to realize that they have a lot to offer without being drunk,"" said Henschen. Pearson and Henschen also feel that it is imperative that students realize that alcohol abuse affects not only the indi-vidual, but the community as well. Ac-photo by Ivan Freedman Skizz, of WCVT, ""Baltimore's only Progressive alternative."" Both Skizz and WCVT have been named ""Baltimore's Best"" by the City Paper. cording to Jan Sherrill, director of the Center for the Study and Prevention of Campus Violence, 80% of campus vio-lence is alcohol related. ""Alcohol abuse causes all kinds of damage: damage to dorms that costs everyone money, loud music out in the halls when you have an exam the next day. Alcohol abuse affects everyone,"" said Henschen. Pearson, a strong advocate of the use of theatre in education, received a grant from the University to support his efforts to create an educational entertainment production aimed at aiding the nations campaign to stop drug and alcohol abuse. While his efforts are primarily greared toward helping middle school students cope with pressures and curiosities about drugs and alcohol, Pearson was also instrumental in implementing the first drug and alcohol section at TRIAD this year. Soviet musician seeks asylum by Andrea Gidlund News Reporter A 19-year-old performer visiting from the Leningrad State Conserva-tory is seeking to defect. ""The State Department has con-firmed that he is at an Immigration and Naturalization Service location holding discussions,"" stated Univer-sity President Hoke Smith at a news conference Friday. Pyotor Zaytsev, a participant in the exchange program between Len-ingrad State Conservatory and Tow-son State University, was reported to police as a missing person after he failed to show up for a scheduled bus trip Friday morning. Police were notified of the intended defection that evening by State Department officials. Immigration and Naturalization Service and State Department offi-cials refuse to comment on the case. ""The Soviet delegation has been very understanding in this matter,"" commented University official Dan McCarthy. ""We feel that this is an isolated incident and it will not have an impact on future exchanges be-tween the two institutions. This case is not between the Conservatory and See DEFECTION, page 5 htMD 21204 Minority student enrollment increases. Amnesty International seeks affiliation. Page 2 Football drops third straight. TSU volleyball splits in Invitational. Page 6 Leningrad State Conservatory dancers perform. ""The New Rat."" Page 14 Towerlight endorses heavy drinking? You haven't written mel Free advice. Page 22 "
