Top 10 Ways Students Can Get Involved

Do you see yourself in the “True Blue Health” messages?  Consider one or more of these suggestions for how you can help spread the word.

1. Post a “True Blue Health” poster, calendar, or other promotional item in your residence hall room or apartment. Contact MTSU Health Promotion at healthpr@mtsu.edu for a free promotional item.  Let us know if you have other ideas or suggestions for how to spread the message.
2. Verbally challenge any misperceptions you hear about MTSU students.
3. Promote and attend alcohol-free events on and off campus. Visit mtsu.edu/whatsup for a current calendar of events.
4. People watch. Find a place to sit on campus during a class break and count the number of people you see NOT smoking.  Share your observations with a friend.
5. Consider volunteering with the Raider Health Corps. Information about this volunteer group is available at mtsu.edu/healthpro.
6. Post facebook pictures and youtube videos of you and your friends having fun without abusing substances.
7. Join a health-related student organization or sports club.
8. Attend a meeting of the Prevention Coalition for Success (PC4S). This group welcomes the input and participation of youth and college students as it works to create a healthier community.  Meeting information is available at pc4s.org.
9. Mentor middle school and high school students. Make sure they know that alcohol and drugs don’t have to be part of their future college experience.  Don’t assume they already know.
10. Educate yourself on substance abuse and its effects on a community.

Top 10 Ways Faculty Can Get Involved

Research indicates that faculty and staff can be positive or negative influences on a student’s decisions regarding substance use.  To be a positive influence, consider adopting one or more of these strategies in relation to the “True Blue Health” campaign:

1. Incorporate one of the “True Blue Health” messages into your campus email signature.
2. Request a “True Blue Health” poster or calendar from the MTSU Health Promotion office (healthpr@mtsu.edu), and display it where students will see it.
3. Be conscious of any behavior changes in your students.  Make referrals to Health Services or to Counseling Services if you are concerned.
4. Be aware of your language.  What you say and don’t say can impact student opinions of campus culture (e.g., “I know you’re all going out to party this weekend, so I know better than to schedule a quiz for Monday.”).
5. Apply student experiences to the concepts and theories of your lectures (e.g., effects of alcohol or tobacco on respiration in a biology course).
6. Contribute to the research by encouraging students to study health and social issues, attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors.
7. Integrate course projects that challenge students to evaluate and improve their own health.
8. Make a commitment to understand the MTSU drug and alcohol culture and learn what is “normal” for MTSU students.  “Normal” might not be what you think.
9. Integrate discussions about the MTSU drug and alcohol culture in your classes and organizations.
10. Promote alcohol-free events on and off campus.  Be familiar with them through the events calendar.