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Athletes team up against drugs

Freshman Thomas Allison, ULV's defensive tackle, informs Mrs. Barsodi's third grade class at Shull Elementary about the dangers and consequences of using drugs. As a Red Ribbon Week activity, some of ULV's athletes visited the school to encourage students to stay drug free. / photo by Reina Santa Cruz
Freshman Thomas Allison, ULV’s defensive tackle, informs Mrs. Barsodi’s third grade class at Shull Elementary about the dangers and consequences of using drugs. As a Red Ribbon Week activity, some of ULV’s athletes visited the school to encourage students to stay drug free. / photo by Reina Santa Cruz

by Chrissy Zehrbach
Sports Editor

La Verne athletes in the Student Athletic Advisory Council visited Shull Elementary School in San Dimas last Friday to take part in Team Up Against Drugs Day, an activity for Red Ribbon Week.

Red Ribbon Week is an annual campaign to make parents, neighbors and kids aware of the drug-free lifestyle and the dangers of drugs, said Andrea Egan, an Azusa police officer and Shull parent who serves as the PTA chairwoman for Red Ribbon Week.

“The basic idea is that one person can make a difference,” Egan said.

Throughout the week, Shull students, with those across the state and nation participated in various drug-free-themed activities ­ including Too Cool for Drugs Day for which the students wore sunglasses, and Hugs Not Drugs Day for which they brought stuffed animals to school.

“Team Up Against Drugs Day is to reinforce the fact that when you’re involved in activities ­ especially healthy activities like sports ­ you’re less likely to do drugs,” Egan said.

The 17 athletes who attended included representatives from various ULV athletic teams. They visited classrooms to talk to the students about the sports they play and the dangers of doing drugs.

“It’s a really good program,” said Kellen Guthrie, a linebacker for the football team. “These kids are going to remember this, and it only took a couple hours. It’s important that they get a different voice telling them to be drug free. Kids look up to athletes.”

Outside activities with the athletes were planned for the afternoon, but ash falling from local fires created poor air quality and the students were not allowed to go outside for recess, so the athletes visited each classroom to talk to the children instead.

“It would have been great outside, but it’s better than nothing at all,” Egan said. “You do what you can.”

The students were eager to listen to and interact with the athletes.

SAAC members improvised with the indoor presentation and involved the students by kicking soccer balls, dribbling basketballs and doing jumping jacks.

“They were all listening and had fun,” said Audy Macdonald, a guard on the women’s basketball team. “I think we were able to convey the message that drugs are bad. It was a really good opportunity for us and for them.

“At the age they’re at, all they want to do is have fun ­ they’re not thinking about drugs yet,” Macdonald said. “It’s good to get it instilled in their mind this early that they’ll be better off in life and in sports without drugs.”

The main goals of SAAC are to support all athletic teams, to give the student athletes a voice and a place where they can voice their concerns and to give back to the community.

This was the first activity for La Verne’s SAAC this year, but the organization plans to get more involved on campus and in community activities throughout the year.

“We want to make a name for ourselves,” said SAAC president Gerlaine Kiamco, a member of the track and field team.

“It’s been a while since the organization has been seen on campus. I want to get us out there and involved.”

Chrissy Zehrbach, Editor in Chief
Chrissy Zehrbach
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