Safe Family Travel

More than 250 state and local law enforcement agencies will step up seat belt and impaired driving patrols in an effort to prevent senseless injuries and fatalities from occurring on Indiana’s roadways this Thanksgiving holiday season.

The statewide Safe Family Travel enforcement blitz will be conducted Friday, November 13 through Sunday, November 29. The effort will consist of Indiana law enforcement officers working thousands of overtime hours, day and night, to ensure that motorists travel safely on the state’s roadways.

“Thanksgiving is a time of celebration, and many Hoosiers will take to the roadway to mark the holiday with family and friends,” said Moore. Our state’s law enforcement officers are committed to making sure that these families reach their destinations safely,” he continued.

Although more people are using seat belts than ever before, far too many people still aren’t buckling up. Consequently, motorists are paying the ultimate price. During the 2008 Thanksgiving holiday period, 15 people were killed in Indiana traffic crashes. More than 66 percent of those deaths were alcohol related. In more than 60 percent of the fatal collisions that occurred around Thanksgiving that year, the person killed was not wearing their safety belt.

Studies from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have consistently shown that wearing a seat belt increases one’s chances of surviving a crash by more than 60 percent.

“Motorists should also remember to avoid distracted driving and be aware of rapidly changing road and weather conditions that can quickly turn adverse this time of year,” Moore added. “Indiana is taking a proactive approach towards improving traffic safety. The goal is never to write tickets, but to save lives through high-visibility enforcement.”

Holiday Travel Safety Tips

Get plenty of rest before setting out on a long trip - Observe and obey all speed limits - Allow plenty of time to reach your holiday travel destinations - Don’t drink and drive - Avoid using the cell phone to text or talk while driving – Be sure to BUCKLE UP – When you see an emergency vehicle stopped on the side of the roadway, remember to MOVE OVER or SLOW DOWN.

Safe Family Travel” is a statewide enforcement effort that is funded with federal dollars awarded to Indiana from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The effort encompasses seat belt and impaired driving initiatives.

Red Ribbon Week :: October 25th - 31st

Don't forget to keep your Red Ribbon Week gear! Free and discounted events require that you wear your Red Ribbon week t-shirts, bracelets, ribbons, etc. in order to receive incentives. If your school does not have Red Ribbon gear, make your own red ribbon out of red paper! Below you will find a list of activities occuring throughout the week in Tippecanoe County

Red Ribbon Kick-Off Breakfast

Monday, October 25th
The Trails Banquet Facility, 325 Burnett Road, West Lafayette.
Doors open at 7 a.m., breakfast will be served at 7:30, and speakers will begin at 8 a.m.

Tickets are required. Please contact kate@dftipp.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it if you have questions.

Payment for the breakfast is not necessary, but donations are welcome. Please make checks payable to Drug-Free Coalition of Tippecanoe County and mail to 100 Saw Mill Road, Suite 2204, Lafayette, IN.

Thank you to our breakfast sponsors Vicki Burch (West Lafayette City Council, District 4), Fraternal Order of Police, NeoVision, PEFCU and Turning Point Counseling.

Red Ribbon Week Events

Sunday, October 24

Decorate the Tippecanoe County Courthouse with red ribbons at 2 p.m. to raise Red Ribbon Week awareness

Monday through Friday, October 25-29

$5 admission to Monkey Joe's for students wearing Red Ribbon gear

Tuesday, October 26

Free game of golf (18 holes) at Monster Mini-Golf from 5-8 p.m. for students wearing Red Ribbon gear, plus a $25 off party coupon and free admission coupon upon leaving

Wednesday, October 27

Free admission to Snapperz from 5-8 p.m. for students wearing Red Ribbon gear

Thursday, October 28

One free game of bowling at Star Lanes from 4-6 p.m. for students wearing Red Ribbon gear

Friday, October 29

One free game of bowling, shoes included, at Mike Aulby's Arrowhead Bowl from 8-1 for students wearing Red Ribbon gear

Saturday, October 30

Free admission to Great Skates of Lafayette from 2:30-5 (does not include skate rental) for students wearing Red Ribbon gear

Saturday and Sunday, October 30-31

Free showing of The Last Airbender at Eastside 9 and Wabash Landing theatres at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. Classic Kids Pack concession discounted from $3 to $2 for any student wearing Red Ribbon gear.

Keep your Red Ribbon Week gear! Free and discounted events require that you wear your Red Ribbon week t-shirts, bracelets, ribbons, etc. in order to receive incentives. If your school does not have Red Ribbon gear, make your own red ribbon out of red paper!

A special THANKS to our 2010 activity sponsors:

GLSAPC works with local bars and coffee shops to educate students

The Greater Lafayette Sexual Assault Prevention Coalition (GLSAPC) received a grant from the Drug-Free Coalition of Tippecanoe County to revamp their "coaster project". Last April, during Grand Prix weekend, was the first time the new coasters and information cards were used.

Yesterday members of GLSAPC delivered 5,000 coasters to 25 local bars, restaurants and coffee shops to help spread awareness during Purdue Homecoming. The information cards were also delivered to each location for placement in the bathrooms.

The information cards provide students and community members with information about sexual assault as well as what to do if you are sexually assaulted. Here is an example of one of the cards:
GLSAPC relies on cooperation from local businesses to help raise awareness about sexual assault both on campus and in the greater Lafayette area. The Drug-Free Coalition is supportive of this prevention strategy and we hope that the coasters and information cards can make an impact on our community.

Moratorium meant to encourage education

By Kyle Pendleton - Purdue Exponent - October 4, 2010

Let me first begin by saying that the Fraternity and Sorority Life staff shares the Exponent’s thoughts on “education and prevention” being the right approach to addressing high risk drinking at Purdue.

The recent efforts have not been trying to eradicate drinking from campus, because that is not a reality anyone believes will be happening any time soon. But rather, it has been a time for the cooperative house, fraternity, and sorority community to have meaningful dialogue on current prevention strategies and policy compliance, and how we can strengthen our methods of accountability.

Conversations occurred on unprecedented levels beginning at the top with the presidents and council officers and continued with every member of every chapter and house (and across campus, for that matter).

Some frustrations through all of this have centered on one thing being overlooked by many people: The C/F/S community had many excellent educational programs, progressive policies, and a prevention plan in place before the moratorium.

Because of these, the community’s efforts are what truly made this past week’s step different from a “ban” as it has been misinterpreted by many. In simplest of terms, the nature and length of the moratorium was exactly what the leadership intended; a short break from planning functions in order to refocus their members on increased safety.

In fact, in every interview given by the leaders and administrators, we were upfront and honest about this being “short term” and even shared that we thought it would be lifted at the meeting being held on Sept. 28.

Since “education” has been mentioned over and over again, we thought perhaps we could share with you some of the current efforts at Purdue addressing alcohol abuse:

- Alcohol education during Boiler Gold Rush (Student Wellness Office, Fraternity & Sorority Life)

- Social media campaigns on issues like drunk driving, breakfast club safety, hosting safe parties, minor consumption, and providing alcohol to minors (SWO, Caliber)

- Summer letter to parents before first-year students arrive on campus (vice president for student affairs)

- Federally Mandated Alcohol and Other Drug Policy Guide for students sent each year to all Purdue students (SWO)

- Alcohol Education Programming (SWO, FSL, Purdue Cooperative Council, Purdue University Police Department, Counseling and Psychological Services, University Religious Leaders, Caliber)
- Newsletters to campus and community partners about alcohol (SWO)

- Alcohol-related websites, such as www.purdue.edu/alcohol, www.purdue.edu/aod, www.purdue.edu/ccbrc, www.purdue.edu/parentvideo

- Campus Community Bar Retail Coalition (SWO, FSL, PUPD, Purdue Student Government, URL, Office of Dean of Students)

- Grand Alternative and other alcohol-free events (SWO, FSL, PCC, PUPD, PSG, URL, ODOS)

- “TiPS” alcohol intervention training and certification (FSL)
- “CHOICES” alcohol education program (FSL, URL)

- “Response Ability” bystander intervention training (FSL)

- Grand Prix Convocation (FSL, PCC)

- Adopt-A-Cop and Police Ride-Along Programs (FSL, PUPD)

- “Community Standards Panel” addressing event planning (FSL, PCC, PUPD, Excise)

- “New Member Orientation” program emphasizing alcohol education (FSL, PCC)

- “Ladder of Risk” training for all F/S presidents, risk management, and social chairs (FSL)

- “Greeklife.edu” online educational course for new members (select fraternities and sororities)

Again, we are proud of the past, present, and future work of the cooperative house, fraternity, and sorority community. I feel it is too early to call this past week’s event ineffective, and not fair to those student leaders that have stepped up in an attempt to create a long term solution.

Everyone welcomes and looks forward to any increase in partnerships that may come about as a result of the dialogue going on at Purdue in relations to high risk drinking and making our campus safer for all students.

Kyle A. Pendleton is Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Fraternity & Sorority Life. He can be reached at kpendlet@purdue.edu. Send letters to the editor to opinions@purdueexponent.org.