While Loyola may not be ranked among the 20 universities partying the heartiest in the recent Princeton Review rankings, Loyola’s counseling center is taking a stronger stance on student alcohol use and abuse with a recent survey.
The survey – provided by GoalQuest, a Web-based communication tool – was intended to give facts to students about whether their drinking is a low, medium or high risk. Counseling Services administered the survey to students via e-mail before finals last semester to make students aware of the risks of alcohol.
Alicia Bourque, director of the University Counseling Center, initially used the survey to increase programming and individual awareness.
Even though results of the survey are confidential, Bourque said the results come back in group form and will be used only for programming.
She strongly advises students to join the substance abuse task force. The task force is designed to educate students about issues surrounding alcohol and drug abuse. Bourque said the program is always open to students and is one of the stronger activities in preventing drug and alcohol related problems.
Some students believe that while Loyola does not advocate alcohol use, it recognizes the nature of the city.
“I feel Loyola has taken a strong stance against promoting alcohol,” Lydia Mulero, advertising junior, said. Mulero described Third Friday parties as beneficial because they promote having fun while not ignoring that alcohol is part of life in New Orleans.
Darrinton Moncrieffe, business management freshman, agrees. “During orientation they said to ‘drink responsibly’ instead of prohibiting drinking altogether,” he said.
“I feel (Loyola) is doing a great job,” Isaiah Butler. history sophomore, said. He added teachers try to mentally help students succeed and abstain from alcohol.
While not on the list this year, Loyola ranked 10th on the Princeton Review’s “Schools that Party the Heartiest List” in 2006.
In the 2008 rankings, Loyola’s Monroe Library is ranked sixth on the “Best Libraries” list, and 20th on the “Town-Gown Relations” list, which includes schools that have amicable relations with their surrounding areas.
Rachel Funel can be reached at [email protected]
