Behind the Scenes:

The White Cross Project, the 1:1 (if at all), the Social Norms Poster Project and the "you decide..." campaign's are a culmination of resources and ideas of numerous Hope College Organizations.

"You decide..." was created by Matthew D'Oyly in the summer of 2007 as a tool for the incoming students to have a conversation about responsible drinking from the beginning. This logo and design was placed onto key chains handed out to the incoming students with their room keys. In an effort to direct students to the web for additional information.

Created by the Residential Life Programming Committee the second project, 1:1 (if at all), sought a way to define responsible drinking. After creating the White Cross Project the year before, the students responded by asking, “Now we need to learn what responsible drinking means”. So in an effort to convey responsible drinking and let students choose their category, the committee created the definitions of 1:1 and (if at all).

It is an initiative designed to encourage students who are choosing “not to drink” to continue living out their decision, even as it directs students who choose to drink towards low-risk drinking behaviors. 

Coordination with Residential Life, the President’s Office, the Counseling Center, Creative Dining, and Campus Safety. Faculty and Staff were asked to join together and make a statement against high risk alcohol use in our community they were provided with 1:1 (if at all) buttons to wear on Monday, March 12, 2007 to help create a buzz on campus. In addition, in the wee hours of March 11, 2007, Residential Life staff wall papered the campus with the 1:1 (if at all) logo and the students received no explanation until the following day, a definition was posted on knowhope and videos were shown in the dinning facilities on campus.

March 13 - 15, 2006.

Each year, 1,700 college-aged individuals die due to alcohol related deaths.

Immediately, the phrase “alcohol related death” brings to mind drunk drivers and head on collisions. However, do not forget the deaths that do not involve cars at all. Do not forget the people who die from alcohol poisoning. Do not forget the person who died because alcohol impaired judgment led them to think swimming in 40 degree water was a good idea. “Alcohol related death” means just that. It means that alcohol played a role, any role, in the death of that person.

The White Crosses you find stoically standing around campus represent the college-aged people that died alcohol related deaths last year.

Next year, there will be another 1,700 people with a white cross as a representative of their life. We don’t want you to be one of them.

The brainchild of Residential Life Programming Committee members Rosanne DeVries and Matthew D’Oyly, the first project, White Crosses sought a way to ensure students came face to face with the darker reality of drinking.

Coordination with Physical Plant made 1700 white crosses available for Residential Life Staff. In the wee hours of March 12, 2006, Residential Life staff began the task of placing the 1700 crosses across the campus.

Monday morning, Counseling Services, Chapel, and Residential Life were left with the task of explaining the purpose of these crosses. Discussion groups and hall meetings were held all over campus. A website was developed with the support of CIT to further the dissemination of information.

A Special Thank You...

Housing and Residential Life
Counseling Center
Dean of Students Office
Campus Ministries
Greek Life
Student Activities
Creative Dining
Physical Plant
CIT
Public Relations

and a special Thank You to the members of programming committee for Residential Life and Housing:

Raquel Ramirez
Becky Klingler
Rosanne Barton-DeVries
Rachel Achtemeier
Matthew D'Oyly (Chair)