Good afternoon everyone,
After reading Malcolm Gladwell's "The Tipping Point", I began to
reconsider the many ways that I provide health promotion activities and
more specifically how we reach our student populations with our health
promotion (alcohol and drug) messages.
One of the main points I took away from the "The Tipping Point" is how a
small group of people can influence so many. I began to question why
such a large percentage of our students make relatively healthy
decisions but are silent and, for the most part, invisible. Why can't
this large majority of students simply "tip" upside down the myth that
all (most) college students drink excessively? Why don't they speak up
as the majority? I think part of it is because we have the wrong
students trying to "tip" a message. We need "Connectors, Mavens and
Salespeople" to "tip" our message. I have typically looked for students
who are passionate and knowledgeable about alcohol and drug use and fit
the "peer educator profile" , but they may not possess any of the traits
of a connector, maven or a saleperson. Looking back, I have had entire
groups who have not had these traits and I don't think I can teach a
student to be a Connector, a Maven or a Saleperson. Then I wonder why
our programs, events or initiatives have failed or never reached their
full potential. We never had the core to make our messages "tip".
I have asked my peer educators to read "The Tipping Point" and asked
them to try to recruit students who are the "Connectors", the "Mavens"
and the "Salepeople" on our campus. If what Gladwell writes about is
true, which I believe it is, we should be actively seeking the students
who can actually make something "tip". Students do this all the time by
themselves through grassroot efforts - they find each other. They "tip"
an idea that makes their campus a better place for them to receive their
education.
For another two weeks (then she gradautes), I have an outstanding
student who is a great connector and an outstanding salesperson. She
knows EVERYONE (connector) and people listen to and respect her because
she genuinely cares about people (salesperson). If I could develop a
peer education group of Connectors, Mavens and Salespeople there is no
doubt in my mind that our alcohol messages would "tip" in a positive
direction. Together, a group like that can connect with a large number
of students, have the ability ands skill to share knowledge, and be able
to sell and relate that information to their peers.
Unfortuantely, our current "Connectors, Mavens and Salepeople" is the
mass media who choose to illustrate the troublesome minority of students
who are harming themselves and others by drinking in a high-risk,
excessive manner. These messages drown out our (my) relatively
ineffective messages because we (I) have not recruited the right
students to communicate those messages.
Thank you, Robert, for allowing me to put some of my thoughts to words
and to solidify some of my beliefs through an email. I may be on the
wrong track with my theory on recruiting three specific types of
students to tip our messages, but like Debra stated, meanwhile I will
also keep trying.
Bryce Kyburz
Bryce Kyburz
UNC Drug, Alcohol & Tobacco Education (D.A.T.E.) Coordinator
University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, CO 80639
Office: 970.351.1136
Email: Bryce.Kyburz@unco.edu
________________________________
From: Drug Abatement Research Discussion
[mailto:DRUGHIED@listserv.tamu.edu] On Behalf Of Debra Heine
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2005 1:52 PM
To: DRUGHIED@listserv.tamu.edu
Subject: Re: Reaching a "tipping point"?
I think it is a good idea to talk about it.
I may sound a bit negative, maybe I am ready for the summer break!, but
students don't believe it will happen to them. They really believe that
they are in control. We had a alcohol related death on our campus
during Thanksgiving break, and it did not change a thing. At the very
next fraternity event we had students showing up at the dance already 3
intoxicated beyond tipsy.
Sometimes I get really down about how to plan an event that will
actually ring a bell in their brains.
Maybe talk amongst the list will bring out some new ideas. Mean while I
will keep trying!
Thanks for the suggestion
D Heine RN
Director, Campus Health Center
Thomas More College
333 Thomas More Parkway
Crestview Hills, KY 41017
(859) 344-3529
Fax (859) 344-4042
debra.heine@thomasmore.edu
.
>>> chapman@LASALLE.EDU 04/20/05 3:24 PM >>>
Most of you have likely seen the article in HEC News about the recent
alcohol-related death at Kenyon...
Student's death raises questions about alcohol use
Mount Vernon News (OH) April 19, 2005
By Nick Worner
"In the two weeks since the death of Colin Boyarski, the first-year
Kenyon
College student who was found dead in a Gambier field on April 2, some
serious questions are being raised about alcohol use among college
students and what can be done about it..."
Full article available at
http://www.mountvernonnews.com/local/041905/boyarski.html
It occurred to me as reading this, on the heals of other deaths this
year - and the way they have been reported in the media, and the
resulting concern across the country - that we may be reaching what
Malcolm Gladwell calls a "tipping point" regarding dangerous college
drinking. I am pleased about this...but also concerned.
As a tipping point is approached the student population in collage may
become mobilized to take a more proactive role in moderating its
drinking and, more importantly, becoming involved in trying to help
friends and peers monitor if not moderate their use; this is a good
thing. My concern is that the focus is once more placed on the minority
of students who are habitual or "serial" high-risk drinkers.
I want to facilitate the advent of a tipping point that involves
students in change but avoids a preoccupation with those relative few
who experience the more sensational consequences of high-risk drinking.
It is for this reason that I suggest this as a possible topic for
discussion on the list.
What do you think?
Best regards,
Robert
Robert J. Chapman, PhD
Coordinator, AOD Program
Associate Faculty, Clinical/Counseling Psychology
La Salle University
1900 W. Olney Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19141-1199
Phone: 215-951-1357 Fax: 215-951-1451
mailto:chapman@lasalle.edu
home page http://www.robertchapman.net
Visit The Network newsletter, "News From the Front" -
http://thenetworkws.blogspot.com/
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