The University’s HERO Campaign Committee hosted their 5th annual event at Jack’s Goal Line Stand on Thursday, April 17 to raise awareness about the need for sober drivers.
Gary Mejia, a designated driver and recipient of the HERO Campaign award in 2011, said it is important to make people conscious of the effects of drinking and driving, and what they can do to prevent it.
“The group is important because it raises awareness for a serious issue, which is drinking and driving, especially on college campuses where drinking is a part of the culture,” Mejia said. “The more people that can get involved, the better the message can be transmitted.”
During the event, members of the HERO Campaign asked guests to sign a pledge stating that they would not drink and drive. If participants signed, they were given a free slice of pizza from Jack’s. The group also handed out wristbands, stickers, t-shirts and cab vouchers as prizes for games like skee ball.
Steve Dowens, a University graduate assistant working for the Office of Substance Awareness, said the group has a close relationship with Jack’s Goal Line Stand, which helps the office to support their cause.
“When someone makes the pledge, the HERO Campaign honors that support with items or prizes that further promotes designated driving,” Dowens said. “Jack’s also offers free soft drinks for anyone who mentions they are the designated driver for the night and the drinks come in a HERO Campaign cup.”
Dowens believes the event at Jack’s Goal Line Stand is one that has a positive influence on college students. “Promoting designated drivers at a bar has a different and hopefully stronger effect on people than if it were on campus,” added Dowens.
Katey McElroy, a senior psychology major, agrees that having the event at a bar is beneficial. “Most of the time people are going to need a ride home because they’ve been drinking, and having the event at the place where it actually happens just reiterates the fact that we need to be smart about our decisions,” she said. “It’s right in our faces – if you drink, you need a sober driver.”
The HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers is a non-profit organization that reaches farther than just the University’s campus. In the past few years, the University’s Office of Substance Awareness has worked to promote this campaign on campus through efforts such as the HERO awards, collaborating with local high schools and sharing the stories of designated drivers in the area.
The organization was created in honor of John Elliot, a graduate of the Naval Academy, who was killed in 2011 by a drunk driver that was previously arrested on DUI charges, herocampaign.org states.
The website explains, “The HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers seeks to end drunk driving tragedies nationwide by promoting the use of safe and sober designated drivers. Our goal is simple: to register one million designated drivers and make having a designated driver be as automatic as wearing a seatbelt.”
The University’s HERO Campaign group began in 2007. The students who join must comply with a lifestyle that includes driving sober, being a designated driver, and not letting friends drive drunk. The HERO Campaign committee on campus meets Wednesday’s at 3:30 in the Student Center.
Suanne Schaad, Substance Awareness Coordinator, said she believes the group has made an impact on students drinking and driving since the group’s start in Fall 2007.
Schaad said, “It is hard to capture the exact number of students who have changed their behavior, but we are hopeful the messages we promote do make a difference.” She added, “…we’re seeing students being more mindful and aware of drunk driving and wanting designated drivers.”
“No one really thinks [a drunk driving accident] will happen to them, but you never know, which is why it’s so important to be safe,” McElroy said.
PHOTO TAKEN from herocampaign.org
