In his 35 years as both a student and faculty member, Steve Lux has seen many attempts to address alcohol- and drug-related issues at NIU.

As chair of the Alcohol and Drug Education Council, Lux, a health educator for Health Enhancement, will rejoin students and faculty again next month to discuss alcohol- and drug-related issues on campus.

“We’re a new group in the fact that we’re only charged to meet twice a semester,” he said. “One of our primary purposes is to start assessing what’s being done on campus and what kinds of programs and interventions are being done across campus [relating to drugs and alcohol].”

According to a Feb. 2005 Northern Star article, Brian Hemphill, vice president of Student Affairs, initiated the Alcohol Education Task Force consisting of students, faculty, staff and administration, which created the campus-wide alcohol and drug education council last year. Council meetings are open to all.

One of the council’s goals is to make sure there is a consistent message and programming on alcohol and drugs throughout the university, Lux said. Another main focus is to reduce the harm or negative consequences that could be associated with alcohol and drug use.

“The intent is not to try to get students not to drink or not to use drugs, nor is it to get them to [use drugs and alcohol],” Lux said. “The idea is to always focus on what benefits the academic mission of the university. We would like students to stay in school and do well.”

Another goal is to try to address reducing any alcohol- or drug-related fatalities, health issues and negative behaviors, he said.

Daniel Chou, a senior psychology major and Residence Hall Association president, said he is honored to be a member of the council.

“Many valuable results will come from [the] council’s work,” Chou said. “I hope to assist the administration with their goal to keep NIU students safe through education.”

The next meeting of the Alcohol and Drug Education council is set for 3 p.m. on Feb. 21 in the Illinois Room of the Holmes Student Center. For more information, call Steve Lux at 753-9746.