Nov. 5, 1998 Vivian Baltz to Speak AS FINAL HOME FOOTBALL GAME APPROACHES, EVENTS, SPEAKERS PROMOTE RESPONSIBLE DRINKING BEHAVIOR Many University of Virginia officials and students will be united next week in raising awareness of the dangers of binge drinking. Some efforts will be specifically targeted toward eliminating the "4th-Year Fifth," an attempt by some graduating students in recent years to consume a fifth of liquor prior to or during the last home football game. Last November fourth-year student Leslie Baltz died from head injuries in an alcohol related fall on the day of the final home football game. Following are descriptions of numerous activities planned to promote healthy choices and discourage binge drinking. Mrs. Baltz To Speak Vivian Baltz, the mother of the U.Va. student who died last year, will be one of the speakers at an alcohol symposium on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 8 p.m. in the Chemistry Auditorium. In conjunction with Alcohol Awareness Week, the Student Council Legislative Affairs Committee is sponsoring the symposium to discuss issues related to drinking. Topics will include recent efforts to curb student drinking, the use of alcohol in the Greek system and student privacy under the Federal Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which gives colleges and universities increased authority to notify parents of student violations of alcohol policy. In addition to Baltz, Robert Metcalf, director of the Virginia Attorney General's Task Force on Drinking by College Students, will speak. He is expected to discuss the task force's findings and recommendations. After the speakers, panelists representing diverse interests at the University will address alcohol issues. In addition to Metcalf, panelists will include Howard Foard III, Student Council president; Al Park, Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC) president; and representatives of the Black Fraternity Council (BFC), the U.Va. police department and the University administration. "The purpose of the event is to educate the public and encourage discussion about this important issue," said Troy Mohler, the council's legislative affairs committee chair. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Troy Mohler at (804) 243-3141 or troy@virginia.edu. Fourth-Year Pledge Fourth-Year Class Trustees are asking graduating students to sign a card pledging they will not engage in the 4th-Year Fifth drinking practice. The cards read: "I promise not to participate in the 4th-Year Fifth (the attempt to consume a fifth of liquor) on Nov. 14, 1998. If I choose to drink, I will do so in a responsible manner." Students who sign the cards and do not break their promises will be eligible to win a variety of prizes donated by the U.Va. Alumni Association and area merchants. MORE 2 "Our goal is to have 2,000 fourth-year students sign the pledge cards," said Leah Friedman, class president. The class leaders will staff a table on the Lawn Nov. 9-13 to encourage students to sign the cards. Co-sponsors of the effort include University athletes, the Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC), Inter-Sorority Council (ISC) and the Honor and Judiciary Committees. For more information, contact Leah Friedman at (804) 923-3287 or lrf6k@virginia.edu. Alcohol Awareness Week The Institute for Substance Abuse Studies and the University's Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Committee are sponsoring numerous programs and activities during Alcohol Awareness Week, Nov. 8-14. "We specifically chose the week to coincide with the date of the last home football game," said Alison Houser, a health educator at the institute. Events are: Sunday, Nov. 8 "Suffering Alone" Alumnus Jeff Kramer will describe his struggle with alcohol abuse during his undergraduate years at U.Va. 7 p.m. Newcomb Hall Theater Co-sponsors: IFC, ISC, Resident staff Tuesday, Nov. 10 "Love and Liquor" Linda Hancock, health educator, Virginia Commonwealth University 7 p.m. Newcomb Hall Theater Co-sponsors: IFC, ISC, First-Year Resource Center Wednesday, Nov. 11 Alcohol on Grounds -- A Police Perspective 7 p.m., Cabell Hall Room 345 Co-sponsor: University Police Thursday, Nov. 12 Alcohol & Gender Relations Panel discussion 5:30 p.m., Wilson Hall Room 402 Co-sponsors: BFC, IFC, ISC Student Council Alcohol Symposium 8 p.m., Chemistry Auditorium Sponsor: Student Council Legislative Affairs Committee (See above for description.) Friday, Nov. 13 TIPS Workshop A training-intervention program that helps servers of alcohol recognize dangers associated with drinking. Participants in the day-long workshop will be certified to train servers of alcohol. MORE 3 8:30 a.m.- 5 p.m., Peabody Hall Room 105 Co-sponsor: Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs Pep Rally Open to the university and Charlottesville community, the rally will include football team players, coaches and cheerleaders. 5:30-6:45 p.m., Amphitheater Sponsor: University Union Dance Party 10 p.m. - 2 a.m., location TBA Co-sponsors: IFC, ISC, University Union Saturday, Nov. 14 7th Annual 4th-Year 5K Run 8 a.m. start at the Aquatic and Fitness Center Part of the proceeds to benefit the Leslie Baltz Art Scholarship Fund Sponsor: Peer Health educators (For description, see below.) Tailgate Party 1:30 p.m., outside the Aquatic and Fitness Center Several organizations are offering an alcohol-free tailgate party Co-sponsors: Parents Program, Student Athlete Mentors, First-Year Council, Fourth-Year Class, Office of the Dean of Students, Third-Year Class For more information about Alcohol Awareness Week, contact Alison Houser at the Institute for Substance Abuse Studies at (804) 924-5276 or ams5q@virginia.edu. 4th-Year 5K Run The family of Leslie Baltz will participate in the seventh annual 4th-Year 5K Run, an event started in 1992 by the Office of Health Promotion in U.Va.'s Student Health Department to offer a healthy way to celebrate the last home football game. Organized by Peer Health Educators, trained U.Va. students who promote patient education and outreach across Grounds, the race this year will be held prior to the U.Va./North Carolina football game. The five-kilometer course will begin and end at the Aquatic and Fitness Center. Slated to start at 8 a.m., the race is open to everyone in the University and the area, and people are encouraged to run, walk or ride in wheelchairs in the race, according to health educator Elena Bertolotti. A portion of the proceeds of the race will be donated to the Leslie Baltz Art Scholarship Fund. "We are pleased to take part in a healthy U.Va. tradition that will support a positive message to all students and that will recognize and honor Leslie's life as a fourth-year student," said Vivian Baltz. Winners of the race will receive gifts donated by local merchants. In addition, for the first time this year, the fourth-year male and female winners will be recognized in an award ceremony during the football game. U.Va. President John T. Casteen III will present the winners plaques on the field during a quarter break. For more information, contact Elena Bertolotti at (804) 924-2776. MORE 4 Late Night Entertainment A new coffee house in the Tuttle Residence Hall will open Friday, Nov. 6, at 9 p.m. An initiative of the First-Year Council, the coffee house will offer live acoustic entertainment on weekends until 2 a.m. The site also will offer darts and a pool table. A grand opening ceremony will be held in the Tuttle Coffee House on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 8 p.m. For more information, contact First-Year Council member Carolina Altman at (804) 243 0062. ### Television reporters should contact the TV News Office at (804) 924-7550.