College students know the dangers of drunk driving, but sometimes a gentle reminder is required.

On Monday, nearly 30 students took turns sitting in a drunk driving simulator. Students jumped into the driver’s seat with a headset strapped on. At the same time, they manipulated the steering wheel, accelerator and brake.

The headset was a video simulation of other vehicles and pedestrians sharing the road with the student imitating a drunk driver. A laptop computer was also set to pre-programmed blood alcohol concentrations scenarios.

Cyndra Krogen, a health educator in the student health center, said this experience was more effective compared to the on-campus simulator in fall 2006, which consisted of a steering wheel setup like a video game.

The purpose was to teach students the effects drinking too much alcohol in a short period of time and not being able to operate a vehicle safely, Krogen said.

Krogen said excessive drinking is a nation-wide problem, especially with minors. She said Chico State and San Diego State are considered party schools, whereas Sac State is not considered a destination party school.

“Students come here to be educated,” said Krogen.

Still, Krogen counsels approximately 10 to 25 Sac State students per year on a referral basis.

Campus community helps students

At Sac State, a level one offense would be if an underage student is caught drinking alcohol or being in a dorm room with alcohol present, even if they don’t drink it.

The first offense is corrected by paying a $35 fee and attending a three hour class to learn about standard drinking, alcohol poisoning and alternatives to drinking.

A level two offense is a second involvement with alcohol and requires a mandatory three hours of counseling with Krogen.

During that time, studentents will assess themselves, their values, their major, family history and drinking history.

A third offense will result in a meeting with Leonard Valdez, the judicial officer at Sac State. Valdez can expel the student from the university, Krogen said.

Mario Garcia, a graduate student in education, supervises the Sac State Safe Rides program.

Garcia coordinates clubs or organizations like the fraternities and sororities to volunteer their time to pick up Sac State students, staff or faculty who may have had too much alcohol.

Safe Rides operates from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday during spring and fall semesters.

The volunteers give inebriated Sac State students, staff or faculty a courtesy ride within a five mile radius of campus.

Students weigh their choices

Senior computer science major Alex Rude, 22, wanted to try the simulator, but it was occupied.

Rude first began drinking at age 17 because he was given alcohol purchased by peers who were legally able to buy it. Rude said he once drank 17 shots of whiskey in a three hour period and then drove home.

Rude said when he goes to a nearby bar on J Street, he walks to and from the bar to avoid having to drive home drunk.

On other occasions, he will ask his non-drinking, female roommate to pick him up after a party.

When she’s unable to be his designated driver, Rude drives himself home because he doesn’t want to leave his nice car in an area where it might be damaged or stolen, he said.

Rude said at times he feels that he’s invincible and that injuring or killing someone and causing property damage only will happen to the other guy.

Still, Rude said, he doesn’t want to cause anyone harm and would feel terrible if he did.

Leonard Low can be reached at [email protected].