New Group Focuses on Safe Drinking, Bystander Intervention

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Razorbacks Offering Accountability Resources (ROAR) is a new peer education group focused on educating the University of Arkansas community about safe drinking and looking out for one another through bystander intervention.

Two departments within the division of student affairs advise the group. Debbie Morgan, substance abuse prevention coordinator in the department of wellness and health promotion at the Pat Walker Health Center and Ashley McNamara, program coordinator for educational outreach and conduct investigations in the office of student standards and conduct serve as the group’s advisors.

The peer educators have a sincere desire to cultivate a compassionate community on campus, where members take care of one another. Their objective is to teach fellow students how to behave better in situations involving drugs and alcohol. Bystander intervention is a key concept for the grou, and it means that individuals will take action to help individuals around them, rather than letting a situation get out of control.

Peer educators with Razorbacks Offering Accountability Resources are passionate about their initiatives on campus because they want to increase the university’s understanding of bystander intervention, and help prevent drug and alcohol-related accidents and fatalities. The group connects with students at a variety of outreach events and programs, and offers classroom presentations on-campus. For more information contact Debbie Morgan at drmorgan@uark.edu.