Annual Sober Spirits event held
Student Engagement, along with PEP Talk, the Office of Employment Services and the Javelina Wellness Center, joined forces at Sober Spirits last week to showcase services offered on campus and to share some tips on how to stay safe during homecoming week.
More than 300 students, faculty and staff attended the event and completed stations around the pavilion.
Several local organizations attended the event such as The Purple Door, the Women’s & Men’s Health Services Clinic, and many more. This was the first year that faculty and staff were invited to attend, as Sober Spirits has been used as an event to give students safety tips for homecoming week. However, PEP Talk and the Healthy Javelinas committee teamed together in order to bring students, faculty and staff together for the event.
“We thought the booths and all the information would be a good idea for them to know what resources are available to them as well, not just students,” PEP Talk President Esmeralda Gutierrez said.
Professional counselor at Student Health & Wellness Roxana Castellanos attended the event in order to raise awareness about some mental health issues students may be facing.
“It’s very important to take care of your mental health,” she said.
One of the most popular booths at the event was set up by the University Police Department, which conducted blood alcohol level tests using goggles that mimic symptoms of intoxication.
Freshman architectural/civil engineering major Amanda Martínez said the booth was education.
“[I[ learned a lot of things about drinking I didn’t know before,” she said.
For more information on safe practices any time of the year, students, faculty and staff are encouraged to contact PEP Talk or the Healthy Javelinas committee.
