University of South Carolina Libraries
To o n JLO WU ] 'Binge' < of peer j From Staff Reports It began as a typical college escapade. According to newspaper reports, Larry Wooten, a University of Florida junior, sat with his friends at an off-campus bar in Gainesville last November, betting who could drink more. Wooten beat the record, downing 23 shots of liquor in an hour. He walked from the bar, but later passed out and began turning blue. He died on the way to the hospital. Wooten's death made headlines, but college counselors say alcohol poisoning is not news. It is happening with increasing frequency on campuses around the country. In September 1991, Wayne Parsons, a sophomore at Virginia Tech, gulped beer at a party and then drank 32 ounces of tequila. About an hour later, he collapsed. He died of alcohol poisoning the next morning in the hospital. Early on Nov. 1, Alan Brodwater, a University of Idaho junior, died after a bout of drinking from three off-campus Halloween parties. "Binge" drinking, defined by the National Institute of Drug Abuse consuming five or more drinks at one sitting, is as much an image of college life as ivy-covered halls or football, and college officials in use Press From Staff Reports From books on Southern culture and folklore to titles on international relations and religious studies, the USC Press generates volumes of good press and good will for USC. USC Press, the publishing arm of the university, ranks as the Fifthlargest university press in the South with a list of 50 new books each year. Last year alone, the press sold more than 150,000 books, or SI.2 million in sales, to libraries, bookstores and individuals. In the last five years, the press has won 25 national awards for excellence in ui* L: puuiisiuug. Established in 1944, USC Press publishes primarily scholarly material and titles of regional interest. The press does not publish original poems or fiction. Books about the South, from South Carolina ghosts to Confederate soldiers, are the press' Aerobics at By SARAH HANLON Staff Writer USC's Sol Blatt P.E. Center offers 25 classes a week for those who want to burn some fat. The four aerobic classes offered are step bench, high and low impact, Aqua Aerobics and body conditioning. About 80 students attend each class. The classes are taught by certified instructors and are free to students. They are recommended by students desiring to get away from the normal day to day activities. illec c ilrinkii >ressur rnanv nlaees sav the trerw nter neip stuaen p ^ ~ _ / . Ks*A Kelly Johnson/The Gi History junior Matt decided to teach for the e he gets out of it, while Ke! advertising senior, has tau< es to keep his heart health) The program has genera tive responses. Accordin teachers, students have enj classes and the way the have been scheduled. ing. Medical experts at the of Idaho say cases of al< soning have doubled ii decade, now averaging week. The student health Oklahoma State Univer: an average of 10 cases alcohol poisoning a sen from six 10 years ago. A Harvard study indi 30 percent of college mal percent of college wc heavy drinkers. The Uni Florida's annual alcohol s year indicated that 80 p students reported they are The problem is, colleg say, there is more pres ever to drink on college and laws are unenforced forceable. Ironically, whil drinking has held si increased on campus, have declined among the same age group who art lege students. At college, and social pressures take t "A lot of college stu even more insecure tl counterparts," says Bellofatto, director of cli vices for the Willough at psychiatric hospital in < Florida specializing in tre supplies best sellers, according to manager Lee Gaither. "Anything Southern s< whether it's history, lite folklore," Gaither said, just a real interest and ft out there about the South overseas markets." Several new books sche publication this year sh well, she said. "South Carolina in the Age" by USC history [ Walter Edgar, is expect popular. It will chronicl tuous events in the state d past century. A new paperback ed Henrietta Buckmaster's People Go," first publ 1941, also is expected to The book is a definitive a< the underground railroad, I tion movement and the st African-Americans to be fi Scholarly materials als< big market especially throi P.E. Ce "It's the opportuinity to the strength of their heart, and increase energy," Febbriello, an assistant to gram, said. Caro ;e one 1 lg problems e, unenforce* i is grow- eating disorders and chemical of dependency. "They're away from University home. Their security base has been sc :ohol poi- removed." ar 1 the last Peer pressure to fit the college ^ * eight a image is strong. Students at the ]e i center at party Parsons attended told the >ity treats police the young man was coaxed, _r of severe his parents reported. Wooten's par- th nester, up ents told a New York Times jQ reporter their son was challenged cates that by friends to beat a buddy's drinkles and 13 ing record. 01 )men are The alcohol problem on campus cc versity of goes beyond binge drinking as ;urvey last alcohol abuse affects other aspects ur >ercent of of student life, including academic st: drinkers. performance. Frequently, alco- dr e officials holism goes undiagnosed, accord- N* sure than ing to Dr. David Lewis, president at campuses, of the Association of Medical and unen- Education and Research in is le "binge" Substance Abuse. Between 20 to U [eady or 40 percent 01 general hospital re incidents admissions involve people with 1? >se of the serious drinking or drug problems, ; not col- but diagnosis of alcoholism is academic made in less than five percent of dr neir ton. tne cases. 1,1 dents are Most are people who appear to ?c tan their be living normal lives. In reality, ^ Mary they often have major life problems nical ser- <jue to a'johol: failed marriages, Naples, a p>ui arn.sts, job problems, failing southwest grades \t school. Most are in denial m atment of U1 volumes on cultu publicity t' libraries and universities and by du iirect mail to individuals interested ills well, in a particular topic. US rature or "Every book has 'The University int "There's of South Carolina' on its spine, bi? iscination making every book an ambassador ] , even in to USC," said USC Press director yet Ken Scott. "There are many people sal duled for outside the state who recognize eig ould sell USC primarily because of books 1 published by our press." go< Modern USC Press also garners exposure the >rofesSor for the university by references in mc ed to be published materials, averaging < e tumul- about 200 reviews and citations a pU| uring the month in periodicals, newspapers ran and scholarly journals. ajp lit ion of USC Press is a major publisher : "Let My of military and maritime history, ^or ished in religious studies, rhetoric, internasell well, tional relations, international busi- * hoc xount of ness and Southern history and culiie aboli- ture. Many titles in these areas are ruggle of part of a series of books, ee. The press functions as a regular sc :> have a publishing house. The staff evalu- wo ugh sales ates, selects, edits, designs, pro- Sot A 1 lina t>ig k Rvan Sims/ The Gamecock . a result d laws ' the severity of their problems. "As long as they can think of >meone who's worse than they e, that allows them to think of emselves as not having a probm," Bellofatto said. Most get help only after the oblem has become so severe that ey and their families can no nger ignore it. For students, help ith alcohol problems may come lly after involvement with the >urt system. "However, some colleges and liversities are now at the early ages of developing alcohol and ug programs," says Stephen elso, director of student activities Dartmouth College. "I didn't really understand what expected," wrote a former niversity of Florida student peating freshman English at a cal community college. "I was ways ready to go out with iends. I partied too much and ank too much. I bought the lage. I was lucky, though, and >t help before I ruined my life, aw I know better." For more information about alco- 1 >1 and drug abuse, or a free Drug entification chart, call The illough at Naples at 1-800-72200. re, history ces and markets its books. In addition to national venues, !C Press markets its materials ernationally with Japan as its !gest customer. Foreign sales rose 23 percent last tr, due partly to an increase in es representatives serving forn markets for USC. Revenue generated by the press js back into operations to foster press' growth and to publish ire materials. Since its founding, the press has dished more than 800 books and iks in the top 20 percent nation1 among university presses. 'University presses are a solid ce in the publishing industry, ducing about 12 percent of the )ks published each year," Scott i "And USC Press is securing a he as a leading publisher of iolarly books and distinguished rks of regional concern in the Jth." ts stay fit I Students take advanH tage of the aerobics B classes offered at the | Sol Blatt P.E. Center. 1 U ^ __jy F amecock I . ee Da U JL ^ Facts about c< The typical students alcoholic beverages tl Almost 4 percent of every single day next Most college drinker school. American college stt of beer every year. 1; 35 percent of young f? . ; were drinking. Jl|| .vill!; Chronic alcoholic m< iiiim breast enlargement at If ill Various cancers are |||| j including cancers of tl ^it stomach, rectum, tone Alcohol abi of Awarene; By GREG RICKABAUGH 1 Editor-in-Chief I Trashed, smashed, bombed, ( ripped, wrecked, wasted, flattened or just plain drunk. Yes, college drinking seems to ' o f.t pA! lp (TP /"*CITYT_ l^nicuii a uauiuuii ai vampuses. In fact, most of the tales of ? alumni center around alcohol. USC is dealing with the | increasing concerns over college drinking by celebrating Alcohol ' Awareness Week this week. "Ten years ago, colleges 1 weren't dealing with it," said Joel 1 Leonard, Graduate Assistant in the Office of Alcohol and Drug ' Programs. "Now they have prevention programming and they ' are dealing with it." Leonard said many activities are planned to give students an alternative to drinking without labeling them "non-alcoholic" or "alcohol-free." "Our point of view is we aren't going to tell students what they should or should not do," Leonard said. "But what we do is Singing under the sta Ihristian rock singer Kim Hill pi riday evening to a crowd of about I T*} iivy^ ollege and drinking 1 mlt spend more money for 'U J nan for textbooks. ? all college students will drink ? month, a survey shows. | s started drinking in high 91 jdents drink four billion cans ? men who commit suicide ? m may be "feminized* with | -id female hair patterns, I associated with drinking, : ? le lip, pharynx, larynx, => jue, lung, pancreas and fiver. ? W|v~^ ise focus ss Week provide alternatives on campus hat don't relv on alcohol or irugs." Among the many activities planned throughout the week include: Several displays will be set up around the campus giving the facts about colleges and drinking. "Critical Cuts" is a program by WUSC-FM. They will be playing tunes on Tuesday and Thursday from 5 to 6 p.m. that have a highpowered message about alcohol and other drugs. WUSC-FM is located on the 90.5 radio dial. GAMMA (Gamecocks Advocating Mature Management of Alcohol) will meet on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.in room 332 of the Russell House. Students are invited to meet the members and join in the fun. An Alcoholics Anonymous Panel will be held at Wade It Ukl... ... Q ^ ^ nam [nun a luuuy a i o p.m. un Wednesday. Recovering alcoholics will talk about their lives and how AA has affected them. Refreshments will be served. irs * M Stephanie Newlin/The Gamecock ayed on Intramural Field A 1,300.