Konnie Licavoli and Cindy McCue want students to know they should think before they drink.

Licavoli is the mother of Eric Blair, an 18-year-old Delta College student who drowned in the Red Cedar River in 2001 after drinking at a party, and McCue is the mother of Bradley McCue, an MSU student who died after consuming 24 shots on his 21st birthday in 1998.

The two mothers will speak on responsible alcohol use and the need for students to take care of each other at the Auditorium’s Fairchild Theatre at 7:30 p.m. today.

This is the first time Licavoli will speak in public about her son’s tragic death.

“Binge drinking is very dangerous,” Licavoli said. “Students need to stick together.”

She said students need to understand that it is not OK to ignore someone who has passed out.

“Call the ambulance, call the police, call somebody to get them help,” Licavoli said.

McCue said she and Licavoli hope to change students’ misconceptions.

“I think there are students who don’t feel like it can happen to them,” McCue said.

McCue said students have to learn to take care of each other, so alcohol-related tragedies do not happen.

“Hopefully they’re going to learn something about how to care for each other,” she said.

About 400 students from greek organizations will be attending the event, Interfraternity Council President Paul Hage said. The council has made it mandatory for new greeks to attend, but some individual chapters have chosen to make it mandatory for all their members, Hage said.

“These women have a really good message,” Hage said. “Alcohol is always a problem greeks are looking to confront.”

He said the two mothers are influential because they demonstrate a powerful presentation.

“It’s graphic, they have examples, and that’s what students can look for,” Hage said.

Licavoli said teaming up with McCue adds importance to their message.

“It’s doubly forceful,” Licavoli said. “She and I reinforce each other’s statements.”