The “Live Free Weekend” of abstinence from drug and alcohol consumption ended its 96-hour duration at noon on Monday. A total of 650 students signed the Live-Free and Binge-Free agreements.
According to Matthew Tomatz, the substance abuse program coordinator for CAPS, out of all 650 participants, an estimate of 515 students committed the “Live Free Pledge,” while around 100 signed the “Binge Free Agreement.”
This year, which was the third time this event happened on campus, had a significantly greater number of participants than the 372 participants last year, and the 88 students participating in the 2009-2010 school year, Tomatz said.
(Courtesy of counseling.colorado.edu)
Tomatz said that he attributes the rise in participants to the increase in the promotion of the event, as well as through a significant gain in group pledges.
Sororities like Gamma Phi Beta and Kappa Kappa Gamma, and other groups like the Arnett residential advisor staff signed the Live-Free and Binge-Free agreements. There were a total of 27 groups that participated, according to the Counseling and Psychological Services’ “Live Free” website.
Adria Batt, a 19-year-old sophomore English major, and residential advisor of Arnett, participated in the challenge.
“We decided it would be a fun staff thing to do to promote it in the hall here,” Batt said. “As a leadership team, we are doing the Live Free weekend to be role models. We’re the leaders of the building so we feel like we should set a good example.”
According to the “Live Free” website, from Thursday to Friday the weekend offered a variety of activities; including an intramural ultimate frisbee tournament at the Rec Center, a poker night at Stearns East, and open-mic nights in various residential halls.
Brittany Earle, a 19-year-old freshman chemical engineering major attended the open mic night in Andrews Hall.
“I didn’t sign anything, but I did go to the open mic night in my residence hall,” Earle said. “I thought it was really cool, it was good to see everyone’s talents. I don’t drink so it wasn’t anything new and different to me, but to have the campus offer so many new and different activities was really good.”
Earle said that she thought the university should host more drug and alcohol free activities, because those events would deliver a good turnout.
Rodrigo Gonzalez, a 23-year-old fifth year chemical and biological engineering major said the weekend helps improve the schools image.
“I know that our school has that party image so I think that this weekend is a great way to kind of combat that, and remind students that the reason they are here is to live in an educational environment,” Gonzalez said.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Nina Holtz at Nina.holtz@colorado.edu.
