Students passing through Corbett Center on Oct. 22 encountered more than just another tabling event. Members of the Delta Zeta sorority hosted an interactive “I Have A Choice” event, encouraging their peers to make informed choices on alcohol consumption as part of National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week (NCAAW).
The “I Have A Choice” initiative was adopted by Delta Zeta in 2006 and is sponsored by the Coalition of Higher Education Associations for Substance Abuse Prevention. It aims to inspire healthier choices among college students nationwide, including on the New Mexico State University campus.
Alcohol consumption and abuse are regular things on college campuses. According to a 2023 study done by College Drinking Prevention, 49.6% of full-time college students reported they drank alcohol within one month of the study. It reported 29.3% of college students binge drank within one month, and 6.8% reported heavy drinking within one month.
Additionally, roughly 1,519 students die from alcohol abuse a year, 696,000 experience assault by another person who has been drinking, and 1 in 5 women experience sexual assault, with the majority involving some sort of alcohol consumption or abuse.
Delta Zeta members at the table on Oct. 22 engaged with students using a wheel which passer-bys could spin to be asked a true or false question about alcohol. If their answer was correct, that participant would earn a prize.
“I Have a Choice is basically just making sure you have awareness before you start drinking,” Emily Morales, one of the sisters who’d volunteered to work at the table, said.
The campaign addresses critical topics such as the physiological effects of alcohol, warning signs of abuse, consent and social respect around drinking, and safe event planning. Questions at the table tested students’ knowledge on various alcohol-related facts, including how alcohol interacts with medications and its impact on the body.
“You have a choice in what you do, how you do it, and how safe you are,” emphasized Connie Heredie, highlighting the event’s core message of personal responsibility.
Marleie Bronwell explained the interactive format.
“We have people coming and spinning our wheel to get random questions, and we read off the question, asking them if it’s true or false,” Bronwell said.
The event was designed to be approachable, with the chapter aiming to start conversations about alcohol safety without judgment. Olivia Leon highlighted the comprehensive nature of the campaign’s message.
“We are here to encourage people to think before they drink and make safe choices,” Leon said. “That can be things like don’t drink and drive, or make sure they watch their drinks. It can also be things like not forcing people to drink when they don’t want to.”
While the program came from Delta Zeta originally, those involved emphasized that its benefits extend far beyond the panhellenic and fraternal communities. By presenting alcohol awareness in an engaging, accessible way, the “I Have a Choice” campaign seeks to serve the entire community of NMSU by empowering students to educate themselves for their safety in their college years, and beyond.
