BRIDGEWATER, Va.- BC United drew dozens of students outside the Kline Campus Center on Feb. 18 as the club hosted a spring break safety event focused on alcohol and marijuana harm reduction.
The tabling event, held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., aimed to prepare students for the risks they may encounter during spring break, when travel, parties and unfamiliar environments can increase the likelihood of unsafe situations.
“We’re getting close to spring break, and it’s not uncommon for people to be around alcohol or go on trips,” club advisor Katie Seymour said. “We just want to talk about how to do that safely and raise awareness of things you can do.”
The table featured a variety of harm reduction tools, including drink-covering nightcap stickers, straws, hand sanitizer and informational cards on alcohol overdose and marijuana reactions.
The drink-covering nightcap stickers, in particular, caught students’ attention. They are thin, stretchable lids that seal over the top of a cup, with a small opening for a straw. Their purpose is to make it more difficult for someone to interfere with a drink in unfamiliar environments, a simple precaution that can help students.
“We ran out of stuff in the first hour,” she said. “The turnout was a lot higher than I anticipated.”
Seymour said many students struggle with understanding their own tolerance or the risks of trying substances for the first time around more experienced peers. She also emphasized that marijuana overdose is often misunderstood. For general information on cannabis and its effects, the CDC provides an overview here.
“There’s a belief that you can’t overdose on marihuana. That’s not true,” Seymour said. “You can, and it’s not fun. We’ve seen that, and we don’t want that to happen.”
Students also received guidance on recognizing substance-related emergencies. Warning signs include slurred speech, irregular breathing, vomiting when alcohol is present and loss of consciousness.
“These are coming from your peers, so it’s not a lecture,” BC United member Vivi Liquorie said. “We’re just here to share safety measures. It makes people more aware and more present in the moment.”
Liquorie said many students asked about the college’s open drink policy, which became one of the day’s biggest discussion points. She felt the table helped clear up confusion.
“It was cool that we were able to educate and explain what that policy was,” she said.
Bridgewater College’s alcohol policy prohibits open containers in any public campus space, meaning students cannot carry alcoholic drinks or otherwise carry alcohol through hallways, lounges or outdoor areas. The rule applies even to students over 21 and defines “public space” more broadly than many expect. This often leads to confusion about where alcohol is actually allowed.
The club also used scenario-based questions to help students think through real-life situations they might encounter during break, from deciding whether to ride with someone who has been drinking to knowing when to call for help.
BC United plans to continue offering harm-reduction resources throughout the semester, including informational handouts and social media posts. Seymour said the goal is always the same: awareness and safety.
“Make sure you’re keeping an eye on your drink, even if it’s not alcohol,” she said. “Unfortunately, the world we live in means anything could happen.”
She emphasized that the goal is to help students feel prepared to make responsible decisions when situations become stressful.
