This article originally appeared in the Gordie Center's 2017 print publication.
Davidson College is a liberal arts institution of approximately 1,800 students, who are required to live on campus for four years. Davidson's Residence Life Office oversees residential education, and has utilized Gordie Center products since 2013. Over that time, they have purchased GORDIEcheck BAC cards and PUBS magnets featuring the PUBS signs of alcohol overdose to distribute to all first-year students, Gordie Center posters to place in cafeterias, Greek houses, and residence halls, and PUBS mirror clings for all first-year residential room mirrors.
"We ordered mirror clings for the first time in 2016, and these quickly became our favorite product. We placed the clings on mirrors in each individual room so that students would see the PUBS acronym repeatedly every time they brushed their teeth or washed their hands. Then we assessed students' awareness of PUBS -- they repeatedly exclaimed, 'That's on my sink mirror!' and many of the students were able to recall the acronym," says Jason Shaffer, an Associate Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life.
Davidson's student staff members respond to emergencies, including alcohol overdose, and are excited to learn more about how to prevent high-risk alcohol consumption. Gordie Center products are frequently discussed at hall meetings and during staff members' individual interactions with residents. Davidson Health Educators and Peer Health Educators also refer to Gordie Center products and use the PUBS acronym during their educational talks. Student feedback shows that Davidson students appreciate the consistent messaging about BAC and PUBS across campus.
"We are trying to teach our students how to recognize the signs of alcohol overdose and how to seek medical assistance. The Gordie Center products have assisted us in this process -- when questioned, most students were able to successfully answer questions about the signs of alcohol overdose and provide safe drinking practices as a direct result of reading Gordie Center posters and mirror clings," says Shaffer.
"After researching several different companies, we decided to use Gordie Center products because of the wide range of educational tools they provide, which meet many different institutional needs. The Gordie Center's products provide bright, engaging, and comprehensible information that colleges and universities can utilize to reach students in repeated, yet subtle, ways."
