Maine Perspective Front Page
News at a Glance
1997 CCAUE Beginning
The 1997 Combined Charitable Appeal for University of Maine Employees (CCAUE) begins Wednesday, Oct. 22. Kicking off the campaign that day will be the annual luncheon for volunteers.
Through CCAUE, UMaine employees have the option to donate through payroll deduction to approximately 500 nonprofit organizations funded through six charitable federations. The federations are America's Charities, Combined Health Appeal of Maine, Earth Share, International Service Agencies, MaineShare and United Way of Eastern Maine.
CCAUE raised more than $72,000 last year, and the goal this year is to match that amount. Co-chairing this year's campaign is Scott Delcourt, director of the Graduate School, and Barbara Hikel, a long-time CCAUE volunteer.
Campus volunteers hope to have the campaign largely completed by Thanksgiving weekend.
Peer Education Highlights Alcohol Awareness Week
Peer education programs like a Drink-Out to raise awareness of the role alcohol plays in one's life highlight this year's Alcohol Awareness Week at the University of Maine, Oct. 19-25.
The annual Alcohol Awareness Week, coordinated by the Center for Students and Community Life, is held in conjunction with National Alcohol Awareness Month. This year the observance is considered particularly timely following last month's alcohol-related death of a first-year student at MIT.
"In light of the increase in alcohol-related deaths on campuses around the country, this week is so very important to help raise awareness," according to Greg Shambarger, graduate research and teaching assistant in the Center for Students and Community Life. "College students need to help other college students. This is why most of our programs this week are student-organized and student-facilitated."
Greek peer educators, students in the Peer Educator Program, and members of Athletes for Sexual Responsibility are responsible for much of the programming taking place throughout the week in residence halls. Substance Abuse Services is sponsoring a banner contest for students, and an information table will be located in the Union Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
In addition, the organizers are asking that members of the University community pay special attention to the noon-time ringing of the carillon daily during this week. It will be a time "to think of someone you know whose life is affected by alcohol, or your own alcohol use," says Shambarger. "It will be a moment of observance each day for this issue."
For the past four years, UMaine's Alcohol Awareness Week has included a Drink-Out. The 26 Greek peer educators have spent the last few weeks distributing sign-up sheets on and off campus to urge people to think about the role alcohol plays in their lives. Faculty, staff, students and administrators sign up to pledge not to consume alcohol during the week. In turn, they receive a tip sheet for surviving and learning from the week without alcohol. The information sheet also encourages those who don't make it through the week free of alcohol to question their drinking habits.