Kansas State University - Royal Purple Yearbook (Manhattan, KS)

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Al-Anon, Alcohol Abuse Prevent Center offer help Drinking takes toll on some students ike, a K-State student, one day woke up to find that he was failing In school, his wife and child were gone, and that he had lost all his friends. Even then he wouldn ' t admit to himself that alcohol was causing his problems. Mike eventually dropped out of school. After finally realizing he needed help, Mike turned to Alcoholics Anonymous. I went to an open meeting ( open means that the public may attend) and found nobody was there to judge me. It was just people sharing their personal experiences with alcohol, giving strength and hope to each other. I found out I wasn ' t alone. Mike admitted that he was powerless over alcohol — that his life had become unmanageable. He had taken the first step of the twelve steps to recovery of pl AA. The alcoholic has not learned to cope with life. His mind basically self. destructs. A normal person gets a hangover and stays away from it (alcohol) for awhile, but not the alcoholic. The chains of alcohol are too strong be to felt until it Is too late, Mike said. Many (alcoholics) pursue the idea that they can handle their drinking. In reality it just doesn ' t work. One drink Is one too many for the alcoholic. After not drinking for awhile, Mike drank a beer. He went through this episode more than once. Each time he went through the same personal hell: lack of control. I am a recovered alcoholic, but that does not mean I am cured. I take one day at a time. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, two• thirds of the adult population in the United States drink at least occasionally. Among the youth of this country, a survey found that most American adolescents have had experience with alcoholic beverages. Almost 80 percent have had at least one drink; about 74 percent have had at least two drinks; and over one-half of all adolescents drink at least once a month. Even after months of treatment, alcoholics do not find it easy to stay sober, according to experts. They are forced to revise their whole life style to exclude alcohol. Some turn to religion, while others rely upon a close.knit family relationship or membership in Alcoholics Anonymous. In 1978, an alcohol•related behavior survey taken at K.State showed freshmen as the most frequent alcohol users on campus. The same survey taken in spring 1981 showed two improvements in behavior. There was a 13.2 percent decrease in driving after drinking along with 17.2 percent more persons suggesting that a friend should decrease his drinking. Another survey at K-State showed a 70-80 per cent correlation between misconduct cases in residence halls and alcohol abuse. The surveys were taken by the Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program at K. State. The program is not a professional counseling agency, although It works closely with professional counselors, said Laura King, director of the program. Counselors from the Pawnee Comprehensive Mental Health Center are available at Lafene Student Health Center free of charge. Alcohol Abuse Prevention sponsored a media campaign In the Collegian and Manhattan Mercury about alcohol use and abuse. They also held a Second Annual Alcohol Awareness Day in October. Some of the topics in the InformatIonsharing•activity were drinking and driving, alcohol violence, alternate activities to drinking, women and alcohol, coping skills and counseling. Also available were free samples of non- alcoholic beverages. The program focused on having an uncocktail party. It also provided tips for a party serving alcohol. There will always be alcohol at K. State, but the Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program hopes to encourage responsible use only. There is nothing wrong with alcohol if it is used in moderation, King said. by Susan Amoldy It art ads up —The Alcoholic Abuse Prevention Center ran a series of advertisements in the Collegian encouraging responsibility towards drinking. Pat Honors. senior in fine arts. designed the ads for the Center. A au brink or not hi ialat is sat the question. I ever .44 C Q(1 iet.• 414 od in

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Croton, 28 alcoholism

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You are about to enter a world of darkness, danger, and intrigue. You are about to think you know a lot about K-State. Think again. Oh, you may have finally unraveled the mystery of registration. and perhaps you ' ve even been through drop-add and are still living to tell about it. Yet, even if you ' re one of the few who found Seaton 63 on the first try, you may not know about one of K ' State ' s most Intriguing features. Used by the University for mechanical purposes, the tunnels that run beneath ground all over campus have become a secretive amusement for students. Going down Into the tunnels can be highly charged with adventure and more frightening than a haunted house. After your feet meet each rung of the ladder with caution, and finally touch solid ground, your anticipation of the journey ahead mounts. Immediately to the right is a stagnant pool of water of indeterminate depth. The heat of the small room you are in is overpowering. and the smell that accompanies it is revolting. Turning to the left, there is a decision to be made: which tunnel to explore? It is decided that the adventure will begin with the brick and concrete tunnel on the right. A necessary flashlight cuts through the dark and reveals a shoulder level pipe along the left wall that carries steam heat from Seaton to points south. Bundles of bare wires accompany the PlPe- For some distance the ceiling runs about six feet high, but it decreases and suddenly It Is necessary to crouch. nand. by Ken Yang Because of a large steam pipe, the width of the tunnel is now only about three feet. The heat in the tunnels Is extremely dry and may reach 150° F, according to Fred Ferguson, director of building utilities for University Facilities. Indeed, after 15 or 20 minutes in the tunnel, the heat begins to smother you and the fear of suffocation invades your thoughts. The imagination takes over and breathing becomes laborious. A seam in the steam pipe emits a rush of scorching steam that is definitely to be avoided. Dick Lewis, assistant supervisor of the pipe shop in the power plant, said these leaks are strong enough and hot enough to sever a broom handle. Because of an overabundance of pipes, the tunnel becomes almost impassable after about 15 minutes of exploring. The best plan appears to be retracing steps back to the starling point, and getting back to the cool air of campus. Fourteen separate tunnels wind beneath the K-State campus, leading from one building to the next, and eventually to the power plant that provides steam for most buildings on campus. They are utility tunnels, used for protecting steam pipes and returning condensed steam back to the power plant for reuse. Ferguson expressed concern about the number of students going down in the tunnels for amusement. Although he knew of no disciplinary policy for those caught in the tunnel, he agreed with Lewis that the safety hazard needs to be taken seriously. Lewis warned that if a leak had enough pressure behind it, it could seriously injure someone who walked through it. A common rumor among students that the tunnels could be used as protection in case of military or nuclear attack was disputed by Ferguson. He said that if the steam were turned off people could go down, but the tunnels do not have room to accommodate all the students. A more fantastic story among veteran tunnel explorers is that a congregation of devil worshipers at K•State performs rites in the tunnels near Farrell Library. Although Ferguson and Lewis were both vague about this point, they agreed that the tunnel near the library is blocked off at both ends by large fences. Some students are convinced that the devil ' s followers hold meetings in the tunnels. Tom Adamson, junior in construction science, claimed that in an excursion with his older brother, they encountered two men wearing black capes. We saw ' em and we took off. Adamson said. Even with the risk Involved in tunneling, students continue to go down and to share their newfound amusement with friends. Perhaps it is the risk that makes the adventure so exciting, and the accounts so dramatic.3 by Use Hooker .0 $ ;t. e t ?it .h4N ' A • 6.• • • . , - •• , • , • • at; 74 el • I, a Cara r net, .1 • -.L.. Alla . Arfell7SSIB7171.47.07 A tin 71 0 Witt OM rf • • • • ; 10‘ • • • , • - • ■ • ■ • • As. V :•‘ 30