MSU departments collaborate to offer wise 'CHOICES'

Contact: Kenneth Billings

Gathering for the BULLY CHOICES announcement were (l-r) MSU athletic director Greg Byrne; senior associate AD Ann Carr; Dr. Bob Collins, university health services director; and Joyce Yates, health education coordinator.
Gathering for the BULLY CHOICES announcement were (l-r) MSU athletic director Greg Byrne; senior associate AD Ann Carr; Dr. Bob Collins, university health services director; and Joyce Yates, health education coordinator.

STARKVILLE, Miss.--The health education and wellness and athletic departments at Mississippi State are receiving a $30,000 NCAA grant to develop projects designed to reduce alcohol abuse among the entire student body.

Established by the NCAA in 1991, the CHOICES program provides funding for member institutions to integrate athletics into various campus-wide efforts. Funding is provided by the NCAA Foundation and Anheuser-Busch Co. of St. Louis, Mo.

The three-year grant includes $15,000 for the first year, $10,000 the second and $5,000 the final year.

"BULLY CHOICES" will be led by MSU student-athletes, in close collaboration with other students and faculty and staff members. In addition to a media campaign, the program involves:

--A Training for Intervention ProcedureS, or TIPS, program;

--Campus Alcohol and Drug Education, or CADE, program; and

--Other initiatives also designed to promote awareness and healthier, low-risk choices.

"We are very proud MSU has been chosen for this grant," said athletic director Greg Byrne. "We will do everything we can to have a positive impact on student-athletes and the university community."

Joyce Yates of MSU's Longest Student Health Center said student-athlete-led promotions supporting wise choices "provides an opportunity for peers to have a positive influence.

"Alcohol education and wise choices are essential components to the quality of life of the MSU student," the campus health education coordinator added. "Our department and others at the student health center are enthusiastic about working with the many partners that have made this grant possible."

She said the media campaign will include a Web site promoting CHOICES events and a rotating alcohol education message featuring different athletes, among other aspects.

For more about the NCAA CHOICES program, visit www.ncaa.org .

NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For additional information on BULLY CHOICES, contact Dr. Yates at 662-325-7545 or jyates@saffairs.msstate.edu.

For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.