Valerie Dominguez
Staff Writer
Ping Pong balls went bouncing in the Campus Center Ballroom Wednesday night at the Campus Activity Board’s Safe Not Sloshed drunken driving awareness event.
This philanthropy event brought awareness of the organization Mothers Against Drunk Driving. The group was created to prevent drivers from drinking and driving.
“I wanted to do more than just informational posters and pamphlets because that doesn’t bring students in,” Shelby Griffin, CAB philanthropy chairwoman, said.
“I thought, ‘Well pizzas are a hit, drinks are a hit and Leo Pong is a hit,’ so why not bring all that together in one event,” Griffin said.
Informational posters were posted around the ballroom for students to read.
Students could also choose different virgin drinks to enjoy, including appletinis, cosmopolitans, piña coladas, margaritas, and mai tais.
Students were also allowed to wear goggles that distort your vision in the way that alcohol does and to then take a sobriety test that police officers administer to drivers who have been pulled over.
“I set up Leo Pong so the students get to play and do something fun,” Griffin said. “There are no prizes for winning and it’s not a tournament, it’s just for the satisfaction of winning.”
Students turned Leo Pong into a friendly competition. Teams were formed, and students competed for bragging rights while others mingled and watched the tournament.
Jessica Loomer, a freshman English major, was among those students who watched the participants.
“I wanted to be informed on what’s being taught tonight,” Loomer said.
Students learned about alcoholism and drunken driving from the event.
“I learned that every minute someone is injured in an alcohol-related crash,” Loomer said.
Myron Woods, a junior criminology major, participated in the Leo Pong tournament.
“I learned that drunk driving costs every adult in their county $500 per year,” Woods said. “I didn’t know drunk driving was so expensive.”
Valerie Dominguez can be reached at valerie.dominguez@laverne.edu.
