Aaron Johnson – General Assignment Reporter
Balloons, food, and great information was all found on the second floor of the Student Center this past Tuesday afternoon as the Drug and Alcohol Resource Center hosted an Addiction Fair to teach students about the different services that are offered to them.
“We don’t want students to be afraid to come through today,” said Stephanie Carli, the university assistant in the D.A.R.C.
The event was a part of the D.A.R.C.’s Mockoctoberfest and hosted several on-campus as well as off-campus services like AA, NA, and Planned Parenthood. D.A.R.C. director Sarah Michaud said that the point of the event is to let students know that these services are available.
“We want students to know what kind of services are out there,” said Michaud. “We had a wonderful turnout.”
The Afternoon of Awareness was a week long event that the D.A.R.C. put on to give students more information about the difficulties that may be associated with substance and alcohol abuse.
“This week is National Alcohol Awareness week,” said Carli. “This gives students an opportunity to become aware of what is out there as far as services. Students can also look to pursue employment or internship with one of the associations here today.”
Michaud said that it is important for students to come out to events like these to get the information they need, even if that information is for a friend or family member.
“Students often times have friends or family and are afraid to ask the question,” said Michaud. “This is a good way to raise awareness and make the students available.”
One of the many group in attendance was Planned Parenthood. Nastasha Rubino and Patrick Comerford from Planned Parenthood said that they have experienced a long and prosperous relationship with Southern and that events like these are important for the students.
“We’re here today talking about ways to stay safe,” said Comerford. “We’ve experienced a long relationship with Southern and we’ve also had interns come from Southern.”
Planned Parenthood was out giving away brochures about different information about safe sex. Carli said that the main goal was to make sure that students have all the information that they need available to them.
“An event like this helps to break the fear that students have and gives them any unknown education and it’s for free,” said Carli.
Comerford, a community organizer, said that the main goal that they have when coming to events like this is simply to reach at least one person with their material.
“I think we define an event like this as a success if we can reach one person,” said Comerford. “If we can get one person to come over to our table than that is a success to us.”
The D.A.R.C. has hosted events during the entire month of October. The point of the events was to have students learn about addiction, treatment and support services, and resources within the community. The fair was open to all students, staff, and faculty. Carli said that the program was community based and that this year students could gift baskets if they visited each table.
“This year we added the baskets as an incentive for students to participate,” said Carli. “It’s a way to encourage students to come out.”
