More than 100 greek students filled the Union Ballroom to hear Cindy McCue speak on the consequences of alcohol use Monday night.
McCue’s son, Bradley McCue, an MSU parks and recreation student, died of alcohol poisoning on Nov. 5, 1998, after drinking 24 shots on his 21st birthday.
And Monday, McCue stressed that people need to understand the dangers of excessive drinking and how to help a friend who has consumed too much.
“I hope that students will learn that alcohol does have consequences,” McCue said in an interview. “Those consequences can vary from mild to tragic. What happened to Brad is the most tragic of consequences.”
However, she said there are other risks to be aware of when alcohol is involved.
“One out of 12 college males reported doing something while under the influence that could be characterized as date rape,” she told students during her 45-minute speech.
Of the reported date rape cases reported on college campuses, 77 percent of them involve alcohol, she said.
“Don’t put yourself in a situation that you normally wouldn’t be in because of alcohol,” she said. “Don’t allow alcohol to make your decisions.”
McCue presented a video to the audience that highlighted the effects alcohol can have on health, sexual activity, underage drinking and decision making.
“The most responsible choice you can make is to obey the law,” she said. “If you’re not 21, you should not be drinking.”
Since their son’s death, Cindy and John McCue have started BRAD, Being Responsible About Drinking. In April it will be two years since the couple started sending out 21st birthday cards to students at 43 universities across the country.
She said the term “binge drinking,” while a controversial topic, is defined as five or more drinks in one sitting, with one drink being equivalent to one 12 ounce beer or one shot of liquor.
“You need to know what a drink actually is and pay attention to that when you’re consuming alcohol,” she said. “For example, one Long Island iced tea is not one drink. It’s actually four drinks because of the number of shots that are in it.”
She said that while studies are showing that more people are choosing not to drink, the people who are drinking are choosing to drink more.
“Alcohol in excessive amounts is toxic,” she said. “It’s poison.”
She said students need to know when to call for help and recognize when their friends have made bad choices because of alcohol.
“The people who were with Brad that night didn’t know what to do,” she said. “My husband and I may not have known what to do either.”
She said help should be sought immediately if someone passes out.
“If there’s one thing I want you all to remember from what I’ve said, it’s that passing out is not the same as sleeping it off,” McCue said. “If someone were to pass out right now, there’s not one of you that would hesitate to call 911.”
McCue’s visit was sponsored by Order of Omega, a national greek honor society.
“We wanted to promote better community relations and inform the members of the greek system on the affects of alcohol,” Order of Omega co-president Katie Szelc said.
The marketing senior said everyone can benefit from what McCue has to say.
Attendance by greek students was highly recommended, and mandatory for some fraternities and sororities, like Pi Beta Phi, she said.
“I still would have come even if it hadn’t been mandatory,” said Christy Hilker, a general management junior and member of Pi Beta Phi. “I got here early so I could get a good seat.”
Advertising senior Christine Labadie, also a member of Pi Beta Phi, said events like McCue’s speech can silence the people who are quick to stereotype alcohol drinking with large organizations, like the greek system.
“Instead of being scrutinized, we can be leaders,” she said.
Humanities sophomore Benjamin Peelle, a member of Alpha Sigma Phi, said people need to know what alcohol can do.
“A lot of times, people don’t know their limits and get themselves into trouble,” he said.
For more information about BRAD go to www.BRAD21.org.
Karalee Miller can be reached at mille403@msu.edu.
