Student Takes Lead In Providing Non-alcoholic Options

In an attempt to combat drinking on campus, junior Melvin Robinson has decided to provide students with weekly, non-alcoholic activities on Thursday nights.

Starting this Thursday, there will be weekly events held in the Student Union Building's Multi-purpose room for students. These events will be held in conjunction with Residence Life, Student Government Association, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., Boyz II Men Mentoring Program and the baseball team.

Planned activities include board games, card games, karaoke, caricatures and music by Robinson who also goes by

"There aren't enough social events on campus that people can go to for free and just hang out," Robinson said.

Sophomore Nykole Johnson agrees that there are limited things for students on campus.

Temple University has a similar event in effect on Friday nights where they serve food and drinks to students, Robinson added.

Robinson also hopes to incorporate knowledge of various subjects in the events.

Residence Life had a similar idea with Thirst for Knowledge Thursdays, which works as an alternative for alcohol consumption. The phrase was coined by Carl Walton, director of the Horace Mann Bond Honors Program and interim associate provost for Student Development and Student Affairs.

"Student's have adopted the Thirsty Thursday culture," John Lowney, director of Residence Life said. he said about the new Thursday events.

Since mid-October, Thirst for Knowledge has hosted programs, lectures, debates and additional events that range in nature. Every Thursday in the cafeteria, which are non-alcoholic variations of popular cocktails, are served to students.

"I want the programs to be student generated because students know what other students want," Lowney said.

Lowney hopes that the events to come will generate a lot of student participation as the ones held in the past.