Oct. 18-24 marked National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, and Quincy University hosted interactive events throughout the week to educate students about alcohol use and safety.

Students participated in activities including Hawks Happy Hour: Mocktails on Monday, trivia on Tuesday, a drunk goggles obstacle course and inflatables on Thursday, and a hydration station on Friday.

The activities encouraged students to start conversations about alcohol safety while learning through hands-on experiences. During the drunk goggles obstacle course, QU Director of Security and Safety Rob Copely, joined students to demonstrate how alcohol can affect vision, balance and coordination.

Hawks Happy Hour gave students an opportunity to enjoy nonalcoholic beverages, while the spin-the-wheel trivia activity tested their knowledge of alcohol-related topics. The drunk goggles obstacle course allowed students to experience how impaired vision can make everyday tasks more difficult. The hydration station also encouraged students to prioritize hydration.

In addition to participating in the activities, students shared their perspectives on alcohol use and the social environment at QU.

“I think that QU can be a party school when it wants to be. There are some parties if you look for them, but at the same time there’s a lot of really chill people here, so it can be pretty relaxed on the weekends too,” Max Autery, student, said.

Lorelei Weaver, another QU student, said she does not consider the university to be much of a party school because students have other ways to spend their free time.

“I feel like it’s not too much of a party school. There’s a lot of other things to do on campus, like going to play sand volleyball, laying on the hammocks, or just going to the library or gym. It’s kind of based on who you hang out with,” Weaver said.

Although students have different perspectives on QU’s social environment, alcohol can still be present on weekends. Alcohol Awareness Week provided an opportunity for students to learn about the effects of alcohol and ways to make responsible decisions.

Some students also shared their own strategies for staying safe when alcohol is involved.

“I would say that I follow the ‘buddy system,’ so always having a friend with you so that you are not alone. One of the other most important things to do is making sure you always have a designated driver, someone who is not drinking, because it’s never OK to drink and drive,” Hector Ramirez, student, said.

Ramirez added that looking out for friends is another important part of staying safe. He said that when someone begins showing signs of illness, it is important to take the situation seriously rather than allowing the person to continue drinking.

Through activities and student conversations, Alcohol Awareness Week highlighted the importance of understanding alcohol’s effects and looking out for others.

For college students, making safe decisions involves more than knowing the risks. It also means recognizing when a friend needs help and making sure no one is left to handle a difficult situation alone.