An NIU organization which stresses alcohol awareness education and abuse prevention for college students will meet Thursday to discuss implementation of a more active program.

Boost Alcohol Consciousness Concerning the Health of University Students (BACCHUS) was created in 1976 by University of Florida greek students in response to problems with alcohol abuse on their campus, NIU BACCHUS Adviser Michael Haines said. NIU started its chapter in 1983.

BACCHUS is not a greek-affiliated group, but an organization funded by University Health Services as an educational program, Haines said.

NIU representatives of the organization attended a statewide conference at Western Illinois University which covered programming ideas and problems universities share, Haines said.

BACCHUS is active on about 280 campuses in the United States and Canada, and it promotes “responsible choices,” member Leslie Wegworth said.

The meeting will be held at University Health Service Room 414 at 3:30 p.m.