btw - "By the Way" is a grant sponsored media campaign more commonly referred to as Social Norms.
"The social norms approach to preventing problem behavior and promoting and reinforcing positive behavior, put simple, is to dispel the myths about the problem being the norm among peers. It starts with gathering creditable data from a population and identifying the actual norms regarding the attitudes and behaviors of concern. Then a social norms intervention intensively communicates the truth through media campaigns, interactive programs, and other educational venues. Evidence has shown people responding to these initiatives with more realistic perceptions of peers, problems behavior decreasing, and the norm of positive behavior growing stronger in the populations" (Perkins, A Brief Summary of Social Norms Theory and the Approach to Promoting Health).
Examples of btw messages are:
- 64% of BU students consume alcohol twice a month or less and 47% do not consume alcohol at all in a typical week.
- 82% of BU students never drink and drive.
- 85% of students at BU do not believe alcohol makes men sexier.
- 79% of students at BU do not believe alcohol makes women sexier.
- 75% of BU students reported that they abide by the university's Substance-free Campus Policy.
- 91% of BU students respect those who choose not to drink alcohol.
- The majority of BU students that drink alcohol... have a designated driver (78%)... only drink in safe environment (86%) and ... keep track of the number of alcoholic drinks consumed (73%)
- 93% of BU students have never used cocaine, sedatives, hallucinogens, opiates, and designer drugs.
- 90% of BU students believe that drugs lead to negative situations.
- 90% of BU students would rather not have drugs available at parties.
- 57% of BU students volunteer 1-15 hours of service per month.
- Over half (57%) of BU students are currently involved in a religious or interfaith group.
- 85% of BU students believe that faculty and staff care about the student individually.
All of the data was collected through the CORE Survey, which was distributed electronically to the enitre campus population in the Spring 2009.
Look for more btw messages!!!
If you have further questions about the btw campaign, please contact the Coordinator of Judicial Services at 615-460-6407.
