Texas Tech University Athletics
Leadership Institute for High School Athletes Held at Texas Tech
Leadership Institute for High School Athletes Held at Texas Tech
Jan. 29, 2002 LUBBOCK, Texas - Today's Athletes Can Set the Pace in the Prevention of Substance Abuse & Campus Violence. With the problems of underage drinking and negative behavior grabbing so much attention on today's college campuses, selected elite athletes are banding together to make a difference. Texans Standing Tall, a statewide coalition to reduce underage drinking, in conjunction with the Texas Sports Coalition, has utilized peer education programs to help address the problems at the college & high school level. Select athletes from Texas Tech along with athletes from nine other Texas college campuses participated in a training workshop designed to correct misperceptions and norms about athletes (perception is all athletes drink - reality is that on the ten campuses we have targeted, research shows that 46% of freshman athletes do not drink at all). The training of the program will also help them become knowledgeable in holistic wellness and healthy lifestyle choices. Another topic addressed was the prevention of alcohol-related violence on campus. At the Leadership Institute, the college athletes lead an exciting and interactive workshop that discussed the problems on campus as well as develop solutions. Among the select athletes from Texas Tech who lead the program were: Matt Harbin (Baseball), Tiffany Green (Women's Track & Field), LaDonna Begelton (Women's Track & Field), Chris Phillips (Baseball), and Stefanie Calhoun (Women's Track/Cross Country). High schools that participated in the workshop included New Deal, Estacado, and Monterey. The event took place January 27 at the United Spirit Arena. |
