Dionte Berry
Editor-in-Chief
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An integral piece of college culture is becoming acquainted with a stronger sense of independence and adulthood, and with that comes more self responsibility.
Those in the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) graduate program saw that it was important to remind the campus body of the dangers of intoxicated driving with an interactive seminar called, “Hand ‘em Over or Stay Sober.”
“While kids are in college that is probably when they are at the most at risk of drinking and driving,” OSH graduate student and event coordinator John-David Benton said. “Students are getting to an age where it is legal to drink, and it’s up to them to figure out how to get home.”
The event was curated by graduate students in the Organizational Leadership and Management course taught by OSH Assistant Professor David Willbanks. OSH graduate student Alyssa Case said she was happy to put together a campus-wide event.
“For this course, me and my classmates had to come up with a project that involved community outreach, as well as safety and health,” Case said. “This is something that hasn’t ever been done by the OSH department for the campus ever before.”
Guest speakers kicked off the event at 6 p.m. in the Curris Center Ballroom on Thursday, April 7.
From the Kentucky State Police, Detective Adam Jones shared the extent of what a driving under the influence (DUI) conviction could result in and how to avoid driving intoxicated.
“In Kentucky, the blood alcohol rate for a DUI is .08 and higher, but between .04 and .08 you’re not automatically presumed not intoxicated,” Jones said. “You still can be convicted of a DUI based on certain evidence, such as your driving behavior and the sobriety test.”
Jones also highlighted tips on avoiding intoxicated driving and how to help friends avoid it too .
“Your friend that you call at 2 a.m. in the morning is probably only going to be upset for a little while,” Jones said. “If they get a call in the middle of the night because you got into an accident … they would rather take the call at 2 a.m. in the morning and drive you home.”
Jones said it is important for hosts of parties where alcohol is being consumed to ensure that there are designated drivers and to ensure someone who is intoxicated does not leave with their keys.
Along with Jones, alumnus and local attorney David Perlow shared insight about the legal effects of a DUI. Perlow reflected on his years as a Murray State student while discussing the dangers of intoxicated driving.
“When I first started college, it was a game of rock, paper, scissors to see who was going to drive home from parties,” Perlow said. “Those days are over. It’s incredibly dangerous,”
The effects of a DUI can last for around a decade, and in that time frame, additional offenses can have harsher consequences.
“If you get a DUI freshman year … for the next 10 years, if you get another DUI, that will escalate to a second offense DUI, which will result in around 21 days in jail,” Perlow said.
A DUI can also affect one’s eligibility in multiple job fields. Perlow said all driving related job-fields can be out of the window if someone has a DUI on their record.
Following the seminar, students engaged in activities geared toward intoxicated driving. Drunk goggle testing, driving games and information booths were hosted by student organizations.
Benton said they were thrilled with the event turnout.
“We think we had over 100 people show up,” Benton said. “The presenters did a great job, and we had around 12 organizations that got involved, so we are happy with how it turned out.”
Being a first-time event, Case said along with her fellow classmates she hopes this is an activity that can be done again in the future.
“We hope this can move forward as something future OSH students do to show not only the effects of intoxicated driving on themselves, but on those around them too,” Case said.