 "Photo: Angela DiVeglia")
 "Photo: Angela DiVeglia")
 "Photo: Angela DiVeglia")
University of New Hampshire student senate kicked off the annual Alcohol Awareness Weekend last Thursday with an obstacle course, "fatal vision" beer goggles, "mocktails" and free T-shirts.
While kicking off the weekend-long events, UNH students were encouraged to be aware of their alcohol consumption by experiencing the obstacle course while wearing beer goggles. Since students help to gain UNH's party school reputation, the senate encouraged students to be aware while drinking beer.
The students who petitioned to be aware were mainly freshmen and sophomores.
"That's a good thing," snickered Brian Lang, a sophomore and member of Health and Human Services.
Ann-Marie Matteucci, a Health Services alcohol, tobacco and other drug educator, said that generally freshmen and sophomores drink the most excessively on campus and put themselves at a higher risk for alcohol poisoning, as opposed to most upperclassmen.
At the kick-off event, participating students were introduced to drunken vision with a sober mind. Matteucci provided "fatal vision goggles," or beer goggles, as well as "mocktail" piña coladas, appletinis, and cranberry drinks.
"The vision goggles are an awareness technique for me," said Matteucci about the importance of the effects of over-consuming alcohol. While alcohol impairs visual and mental abilities, the goggles only impair visual abilities.
"The 'mocktails' are to help people see how they can provide a fun alternative for people who don't want to drink," said Matteucci.
Matteucci went on to say that most students would not dream of driving in the beer goggled condition. The unfortunate part, however, is alcohol twists it all; both the mind and vision are equally impaired.
While waiting in line for the course, students were urged to grab a "mocktail" before picking their goggles of choice, which consisted of low, moderate and high with both night and day vision.
Over 100 students participated, giggled and joked at their sober peers exuding drunken behavior while trying out the obstacle course.
A member of the committee stood and gave directions at the beginning of the course. After putting on goggles, students had to weave through three black stools, put on a dress shirt, walk between an unaligned path of chairs, and write down a specific passage. The students then had put the tops on three empty soda bottles and walk a straight line and throw a ball at a marked target.
"I still feel dizzy, too," said Bob Sohigian, a sophomore English major at UNH who tried the obstacle course with high night vision beer goggles. "I'm aware right now after doing that."
"We really just want students to see the effects of what alcohol is actually doing to you," said Kate McClain, a Health and Human Service Committee member.
After witnessing or engaging in the "fatal vision" obstacle course, students seemed to grasp a better idea of their alcohol limitations.
The annual event started at Keene State College, where it was referred to as "Freakend." Students then petitioned to be sober. It has now morphed into a more realistic petition where students promise to be aware of their alcohol consumption and to drink responsibly.
"A lot of students use protective mechanisms to keep themselves safe," said Matteucci.
A survey conducted over the past five years indicates at a high percentage that UNH students have not experienced unprotected sex or injuries while intoxicated. Many have also never driven drunk.
A little under half, however, miss class, about half experience memory loss, and more than half vomit or experience a hangover.
"Students think getting a hangover is okay," said Matteucci "But it's not okay. Hangovers and vomiting are signs that you're on the verge of alcohol poisoning." Hangovers and vomiting are the body's way of rejecting the alcohol.
Matteucci's main concern was missing class and memory loss. She explained that students are here to get an education. A hangover will keep a student sluggish and lazy, as well as depressed since they have lost the euphoric alcohol buzz.
"But the good news is our students don't really experience negative issues," claimed Mattteucci.
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