Press Coverage (2004)

August, 30, 2004
Study Finds Students Hitting Books, Not Booze
CTV.ca News Staff

Dr. Wesley Perkins, a professor of sociology at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, N.Y., says that "reign of error" rules on Canadian campuses over students' perceptions of their peers' drinking habits.

August 13, 2004
Studies Find Social Norms Strategy Reduces Drinking at Colleges
By Eric Hoover, The Chronicle of Higher Education

In a report on the largest national assessment of the social norms approach to date, two leaders in the field, Michael P. Haines, director of the National Social Norms Resource Center, at Northern Illinois University, and H. Wesley Perkins, a professor of sociology at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, report evidence that students' perceptions of drinking norms on college campuses do indeed affect students' drinking habits.

June 21, 2004
STARR Theories Shine Encouraging Light in Division III Study
By Beth Rosenberg
The NCAA News

Final results from a pilot program designed to encourage student-athletes to make responsible decisions about alcohol and tobacco use show that employing a "social norms" theory to encourage behavior can produce successful outcomes.

April 6, 2004
Collegians get the message on moderating alcohol use
By Ken Thorbourne, The Jersey Journal

At St. Peter's College (New Jersey), students fit the national pattern of fairly moderate drinking behavior, according to Ronald Becker, director of Jersey City college's Center for Personal Development. A recent survey of over 300 St. Peter's students found that seven in 10 students go out drinking twice a month or less, and consume four or less drinks when they do…

April 2, 2004
Fresno State finds its students drink safely
By Jim Steinberg, The Fresno Bee

"Looking toward spring break, Fresno State released its student behavior survey … showing that most students drink and behave safely.

Sam Gitchel, social norms program director on campus, discussed the survey of 572 randomly selected California State University, Fresno students, conducted by the university's Health and Psychological Services…"

March 30, 2004
Marketing Campaign: Most Students Aren't Drinking
By Jill Hoffman, Roanoke Times & World News

"A new marketing campaign is debunking misconceptions about high schoolers' alcohol use.

New River Valley Community Services is using advertisements, billboards and posters to get the message out that Blacksburg High School students drink less than their peers think…"

March 12, 2004
New version of old DARE Naperville schools weigh new program
By Beth Sneller, Chicago Daily Herald

"A community coalition may have found the anti-drug effort to replace DARE in Naperville (IL) schools by next fall.

Supporters say the program, Too Good for Drugs, focuses on making healthy choices and building character.

It uses social norms marketing to stress to students how few of their classmates use drugs and alcohol and encourages youngsters to interact with parents through homework assignments…"

February 25, 2004
Students don't respond well to scare tactics
By Elissa Grossell, Aberdeen News

"Good intentions; bad science. That's how Jeff Linkenbach assessed those who use the 'fear factor' to try to stop risky behavior in youth.

Linkenbach…said students do not respond well to 'health terrorism' or scare tactics that are found in some anti-smoking, drinking or drug ads. In fact, some believe this could actually have the reverse effect and may be contributing to the numbers of people experiencing problems with substance abuse…"