The Coalition for Alcohol Risk Education (CARE) is bringing the people of EverFi, a group providing sexual harassment awareness  and alcohol education to campus.

EverFi is a leading education technology company, used to teach, assess and certify students in critical life skills including financial literacy and student loan management, according to its website.

EverFi will discuss results from the last year over the Haven and AlcoholEdu programs.

Haven is an online program preparing students for instances they may encounter while on campus regarding sexual assault.

AlcoholEdu is a survey distributed to freshman to help them understand the impact their alcoholic use can have on their future.

Judy Lyle, associate director of Health Services, started CARE in 2000 when she received a small grant.

With a small group of faculty and staff on her side, along with one or two students, Lyle stepped in with hopes to make a difference.

“I am interested in making life better and easier for college students,” Lyles said. “I want campus to be a more responsible, safe place, and not to stop alcohol, but to reduce it.”

The gap between sexual harassment and alcohol among young adults is shrinking. 

Alcohol was involved in about one-half of the  instances of sexual assault against American women, according to the National Institute on Abuse and Alcoholism.

The Haven and the AlcoholEdu program were first given to Murray State incoming freshmen in fall 2012.

The program surveyed students about alcohol usage and gave facts and tips on how to avoid sexual assault.

Murray and Calloway County high schools also give the AlcoholEdu program to their freshman.

Morgan Douglas, freshman from Cincinnati, Ohio saw the strengths of these courses even though it took time and effort to receive the grade that was required.

“I know that the courses on EverFi we had to take were time-consuming, but I also understand that we should be aware of sexual assault and alcohol use as,” Douglas said.

In the past semester, Lyle has seen more sexual assaults reported than ever before, she said.

“Students are more aware of sexual assault and I think they are comfortable with saying something about what has happened,” Lyle said.

  Lyle said she understands how alcohol affects students she comes in contact with on a weekly basis.

As she becomes more educated about the effects of alcohol, the more driven she is to make a difference on campus.

Her dream is to have a professional counselor equipped with knowledge about alcohol education and other issues to educate and coordinate alcohol programs at Murray State, Lyle said.

On March 30, two representatives will come to Murray State to talk about the 2013 results from EverFi.

The college representative Kimberley Timpf and high school representative Robin Smalt will both present those results to the community.

All are welcome to come to the meeting at 4 p.m. on March 30 in the Curris Center Theater.

Story by Julia Mazzuca, Staff writer