University of Kentucky
President Lee T.
Todd of the University of Kentucky has confronted student alcohol abuse on
his campus using an environmental prevention approach. He has involved faculty
and administrators in addressing alcohol problems on campus, and has overseen
a series of social norms marketing campaigns aimed at promoting healthy student
norms around alcohol. President Todd worked to reduce on-campus alcohol advertising
and the availability of alcohol to students through low cost specials aimed
at minors. In October 2001, he helped establish a campus and community coalition,
Alcohol Related Issues in Students’ Environment (ARISE), which is implementing
environmental prevention strategies on campus and in the surrounding community
of Lexington.The goals of the coalition include creating new and expanding
existing Kentucky and Lexington-area coalitions to reduce high-risk alcohol
use among students and developing and implementing social norms marketing
campaigns. ARISE has also been working with bar and tavern owners in an effort
to get them more involved in the coalition. In doing so, they hope to limit
alcohol marketing and promotion, both on-campus and in the community. President
Todd has also been supportive of a new ordinance called the Lexington Area
Party Plan, based on a similar initiative in San Diego, which seeks to better
enforce laws on underage drinking and property destruction at house parties
in neighborhoods surrounding the university. Dr. Todd has brought about significant
and beneficial changes to the University of Kentucky. His efforts to address
high-risk drinking are contributing to a healthier campus community, and he
is a valued member of the President Leadership Group.