With the multitude of organizations encouraging college students to practice alcohol abstinence, the message to drink responsibly for those who choose to consume alcohol is often lost in the shuffle.

Instead of promoting alcohol abstinence, one Creighton organization attempts to show students who are members of the Greek community that there are ways to drink responsibly.

Greeks Advocating Mature Management of Alcohol, is an organization comprised of various members from the Greek community who unite to promote responsible alcohol consumption throughout the Greek community.

Arts & Sciences junior and Creighton GAMMA President Tess Blackwell, said she feels GAMMA is slowly making an impact on the Creighton community.

“The biggest impact [GAMMA] is trying to make, is to show the Greek community and the other students on campus that the members of GAMMA care about and want to educate on how to maturely manage alcohol,” Blackwell said. “We don’t say no you can’t drink and that drinking should not be an activity you do as a member of the Greek community.  Instead, we try to promote ideas in which you drink responsibly when you go out or when you drink.”

Blackwell decided to become a member of this organization because she not only identified with GAMMA’s message, but she also admired the fact that GAMMA was comprised of members of the Greek community who get together to promote an idea they care about.

“I also joined GAMMA because I have had family members who have had issues with alcohol who inspired me to take a smarter approach to alcohol,” Blackwell said. “I was inspired by their courage to make a change about alcohol and I try to follow their courage when it comes to my views and the views GAMMA tries to promote.”

Since GAMMA’s arrival on Creighton’s campus in 2007, this organization has strived to spread its message of mature alcohol management throughout the Greek community by hosting alcohol-free events, regularly producing informational newsletters and giving presentations to Greek organizations discussing the negative effects of alcohol while still encouraging members to drink responsibly.

One event GAMMA hosts to promote its message is a “Minute to Win It” type game in Billy Blues Alumni Grill. This event brings together members of each chapter of Greek organizations to compete for prizes while promoting GAMMA’s message.

Every year GAMMA also presents information on alcohol consumption to the Greek community.  Although this presentation varies from chapter to chapter, it centers on the effects and expenses of alcohol use in order to encourage students to drink and behave responsibly.

Business junior and GAMMA member Matt Griffin said he believes these events are a good way to get students engaged in GAMMA’s message by allowing them to learn about mature alcohol management while still having fun.

“While trying to keep a positive light on the topic, GAMMA hopes to address legitimate concerns involving alcohol in the Greek community and campus as a whole,” Griffin said. “Creighton students should understand that GAMMA’s messages and events can be attended by all students as the advice can be directed to all members of the Creighton community.”

Assistant director of student activities for Greek life Margaret Zimmer  said she feels it is important for all organizations to advocate for the mature management of alcohol because responsible drinking is a lesson all organizations could benefit from.

“As with other organization, alcohol is a part of the college scene,” Zimmer said. “GAMMA is the Greek community’s way of being proactive around this issue.”

As an active member of both GAMMA and Pi Beta Phi , Arts & Sciences sophomore Caroline Nester said she most enjoys the presentations GAMMA gives to various Greek organizations each year.

“My favorite thing about GAMMA is getting to go to other chapters and present material to them,” Nester said. “To many people this would seem boring … but to me, it is so exciting. I love getting to go into the chapters and see how they are similar or different to my own chapter.”

Nester said she feels it is important for Creighton students to know GAMMA understands that college students drink and just wants to show them safe and healthy ways to do so. The fact that GAMMA focuses on conveying safe alcohol use to the student body, served as Nester’s main motivation for becoming involved in this organization.

“I decided to become a member of GAMMA because I wanted to show people safe ways to drink,” Nester said. “Even though I have not drank yet, I am friends with many people who do. I feel as though it is always my responsibility to make sure that they are safe; which I don’t mind. Through my GAMMA presentations, I am assured that they will be.”