Spring Break
Hazing, drinking on foundation's agenda
Blair Bernier, Contributing Writer, bbernier@smu.edu
Issue date: 10/25/07 Section: News
The mission of the Gordie Foundation is to educate young adults about the dangers of alcohol and to prevent alcohol-poisoning, binge drinking and hazing. Volunteers at the Gordie Foundation travel the country speaking to students at high schools and colleges.
Jane Navin serves as the executive director. She said that although she never knew Gordie personally, she has had a great deal of experience with alcohol abuse. Around the time Gordie died, her close friend died of liver failure due to alcoholism. Shortly after, she had to help two other friends enter rehab due to alcoholism.
Wanting a more meaningful job, Navin left her career as a business owner to help the Lanahans start the foundation. She said the ability to help students make educated decisions about alcohol and hazing is incredibly rewarding.
As part of the education process, the Gordie Foundation gives students a GORDIEcheck card. The card identifies the six signs of alcohol poisoning and encourages students to call police when any signs are present.
"Drinking is a reality and part of our college culture," Navin said. "We must arm students with knowledge in order to navigate these dangers."
John Sanger, a counselor at SMU's Center for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention, said education is the key to preventing alcohol abuse. Along with other counselors at SMU, he sponsors a program called TIPS (Training for Intervention Procedures). This class teaches students how to identify fellow students' problems with alcohol and drugs as well as provide them with ways to help those students when they notice a problem.
Like the University of Colorado, SMU has also had problems with hazing. In 2003, one student ended up in a coma after a hazing incident. Ryan Williams, coordinator of student activities and Greek affairs, said SMU does a great deal to ensure that serious incidents caused by hazing do not occur in the Greek life on campus. He said the university tries to take a "three-prong approach" to hazing education.
Jane Navin serves as the executive director. She said that although she never knew Gordie personally, she has had a great deal of experience with alcohol abuse. Around the time Gordie died, her close friend died of liver failure due to alcoholism. Shortly after, she had to help two other friends enter rehab due to alcoholism.
Wanting a more meaningful job, Navin left her career as a business owner to help the Lanahans start the foundation. She said the ability to help students make educated decisions about alcohol and hazing is incredibly rewarding.
As part of the education process, the Gordie Foundation gives students a GORDIEcheck card. The card identifies the six signs of alcohol poisoning and encourages students to call police when any signs are present.
"Drinking is a reality and part of our college culture," Navin said. "We must arm students with knowledge in order to navigate these dangers."
John Sanger, a counselor at SMU's Center for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention, said education is the key to preventing alcohol abuse. Along with other counselors at SMU, he sponsors a program called TIPS (Training for Intervention Procedures). This class teaches students how to identify fellow students' problems with alcohol and drugs as well as provide them with ways to help those students when they notice a problem.
Like the University of Colorado, SMU has also had problems with hazing. In 2003, one student ended up in a coma after a hazing incident. Ryan Williams, coordinator of student activities and Greek affairs, said SMU does a great deal to ensure that serious incidents caused by hazing do not occur in the Greek life on campus. He said the university tries to take a "three-prong approach" to hazing education.
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