MAAC Set to Launch First Year of CHOICES Program
MAAC Sports
EDISON, NJ – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and its member institutions are set to kick-off its NCAA Choices Program. The objective of the MAAC’s program is to alter the decisions being made in the social landscape of higher education. The proposal encompasses a three-pronged action-oriented process: education, social campaigning and programming. The program focuses on campus awareness of alcohol issues, decreasing alcohol consumption and negative consequences while increasing student involvement in alcohol education and programming. The slogan that will be used throughout the campaign will be Measure. Act. Achieve. Collaborate (MAAC).
The efforts will be funneled through the MAAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. These student leaders will be trained on peer education, social norms and decision making. The athletes will take this information back to their campus SAAC, as well as other student-led organizations at their institution.
“The MAAC is excited to launch the Choices program for the students at our member institutions. We look forward to developing the decision making process of young people when it comes to alcohol awareness and bystander intervention. It is an honor to have the opportunity to take part in such an esteemed program that will impact so many lives,” notes BJ Merriam, Director of Compliance and Student Services.
The student-athlete task force on each campus will be trained by Becky Bell, Founder of Step UP! on September 28th. Step UP! is a prosocial behavior and bystander intervention program that educates students to be proactive in helping others. It received a NASPA Gold award and recently was identified as a ‘Best Practice’ by the NCAA Sports Science Institute of national and international scholars. The goals of the Step UP! program are to:
- Raise awareness of helping behaviors
- Increase motivation to help
- Develop skills and confidence when responding to problems or concerns
- Ensure the safety and well-being of self and others
After the training, each task force will launch a social media campaign educating peers on awareness, prevention, programming, and current events. Social media will provide the platform to proactively engage fellow students to get them to become an advocate for the cause. The objective is to integrate the athletic departments with the messaging provided by each campus’s student life department.
“Anytime we have the opportunity to educate our student-athletes about the use and effects of alcohol and drugs, we take that very seriously. We inform our student-athletes about the dangers involved so that it may assist them in making better life decisions,” said Traci Murphy, Associate Athletic Director/SWA, Canisius College
“We're looking forward to exploring creative ways to educate our student-athletes about substance abuse. The MAAC Choices program will provide us with a good foundation to better serve and support them,” notes Alison Fitzgerald, Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance & Life Skills (SAAC), Manhattan College
Associate Athletics Director for Academic Support, Monmouth University Tom Bieber said, “Properly educating our student-athletes on the topic of alcohol and drug abuse is vital to the overall development of the student-athlete in competition and in life. Our goal is to establish a well-rounded understanding of the dangers of alcohol and drug use, especially for those just beginning their transition into the collegiate setting. The educational programming initiatives put forth by the MAAC will help to achieve this goal at Monmouth University.”
Additionally, the MAAC will be heading to lectures and events on campuses later this month. The first event, “Eat to Compete”, will take place at Canisius College on September 19th. “Eat To Compete” is a full service sport nutrition education program. The presentation is designed to provide athletes, coaches, and entire organizations with a wealth of nutrition knowledge, educational resources, and on-going sports nutrition support. The final event of the month, “The Naked Roommate”, will be on the campus of Fairfield University. Bestselling author Harlan Cohen will speak on the transitions to campus life for college students.
“The alcohol and drug education initiatives will provide student-athletes with the ability to identify and prevent incidents of substance abuse. They will learn that they can be agents of change and become positive bystanders,” said Katie Arcuri, Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance/SWA, Saint Peter’s University.
The MAAC is excited to begin it’s the effort of educating our students on the perils of binge alcohol consumption. The MAAC Choices program encourages students to look at the larger meaning of their time on campus.