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consolation. Thus, win or lose, it is natural to drink in the aftermath of athletic
competition.
Drinking in College: At a Western University
In October of 2000, an 18-year-old freshman died of alcohol poisoning at his
fraternity house. Within the calendar year, two more university students died when they
were hit by trains while under the influence of alcohol (Smith, 2001). In 2005, another
student was killed in a hazing ritual that included drinking large amounts of water in a
very cold room. Two of the fraternity brothers hazed the pledge much longer than had
originally been planned after one of them allegedly came home visibly intoxicated (Lore,
2005). A 22-year-old student was beaten to death outside of a local bar while trying to
break up an alcohol-induced fight (Welter, 2005). And in 2006, the University’s softball
season was cancelled when a 17-year-old recruit was taken to the local hospital for
alcohol overdose (Powers, 2006).
At the university where this study took place, the misuse of alcohol has led to
a host of tragedies. These are just a few examples. These problems are clear indicators
that the problem is widespread. During the 2004-05 academic year: “Several students,
including one with a blood alcohol content six times over the legal limit, were transported
to Enloe Hospital for the emergency treatment of alcohol poisoning” (Zingg, 2005b, p.
2).
In his 2005 opening convocation address, the president had this to say:
We are embarked on an effort to transform the Greek system on this campus into a
national model and to demonstrate that (this) is the place to watch in order to
witness the resolve and to find the strategies to change the alcohol culture that has
plagued this campus and many others.... (Zingg, 2005a)
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