Late Night Penn State A Model Prevention Program

March 27, 2000
University Park, Pa. -- Late Night Penn State is being recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a model alcohol and drug prevention program on college campuses at a March 27 ceremony in Washington, D.C.

"Late Night Penn State" takes place in the HUB-Robeson Cultural Center and offers students free movies, dances, concerts, comedy, board games, video games, magic, and arts and crafts from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., Friday and Saturday nights for 16 weeks each semester.

It was developed in late 1996 specifically as an alternative to alcohol-related activities on weekends and complements other alcohol-free activities on campus such as sports, residence hall activities and music and theatrical productions. Other colleges and universities have adopted the program.

Dolores W. Maney, assistant professor of kinesiology in Penn State's College of Health and Human Development, and Sharon Mortensen, associate director of Unions and Student Activities in the Division of Student Affairs and director of the "Late Night Penn State" entertainment program, will accept the award on behalf of Penn State.

Maney leads a research team that secured a one-year $74,748 grant from the U.S. Department of Education in September 1999 to study the program.

Other members of the research team are: Linda Caldwell, co-investigator and associate professor of recreation and park management; Susan Kennedy, associate director of educational services for University Health Services; Linda LaSalle, assistant director and community health educator for University Health Services; Betty Moore, director and senior research analyst for the Student Affairs Office of Research and Assessment; and Sharon Mortensen.

The team is evaluating the relationship between college students' participation in alcohol-free alternative activities and alcohol consumption, perception of social drinking norms, social identity, and perceptions of University policies.

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