Courtesy of Albany Sports Information
Albany, N.Y. ? University at Albany
student-athletes attended a drug and alcohol awareness and education
presentation by Mike Green, president and founder of Collegiate
Consultants and a former collegiate coach and athlete, on Tuesday,
Sept. 25 at SEFCU Arena as part of the NCAA CHAMPS / Life Skills and
UAlbany student-athlete enrichment program.
Green, a recognized leader in the field who has developed drug and alcohol programs for New Jersey
high schools at the request of former U.S. Senator Bill Bradley, has
the goal to make awareness and education on this topic part of every
student’s life. His firsthand experiences as a
recovering alcoholic gives him the credibility to honestly relate the
dangers drugs and alcohol pose for many students.
“I really liked it, because that’s how we talk every day,” senior volleyball standout Ashley Crenshaw said. “We
hear that language, we speak that language. He spoke like he was one of
us. He wasn’t telling us not to drink. He knows we’re going to drink,
so he told us how to do that safely. The examples he gave us are going
to make all of us think about what we’re doing and what our friends are
doing and take everything into consideration."
Green,
who has given expert testimony before the United States House of
Representatives Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control,
emphasized slowing down, moderating, and taking control of your
drinking. He also asked the student-athletes to
become “social spotters” and assist their friends and teammates when in
they are in these situations.
“I thought it was straight forward and real,” senior basketball member Jon Iati offered. “He talked about real things and didn’t dance around the issues. It was something that all of the student-athletes could relate to. It’s definitely good to hear someone speak about what we are all going through at our age.”