Pubdate: Tue, 29 Oct 2002
Source: Tahlequah Daily Press (OK)
Copyright: Tahlequah Daily Press 2002
Contact:  http://www.tahlequahdailypress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2636
Author: Betty Smith

ANTI-DRUG, VIOLENCE MESSAGES KICK OFF RED RIBBON WEEK

Tahlequah students will participate in a variety of events, from serious to 
fun. One by one, the candles were snuffed out.

Each represented an incident of school violence, committed by students - as 
remote as other areas around the country, as near as Fort Gibson. A series 
of skits presented at Tahlequah Junior High School presented messages 
against substance abuse and violence.

The assembly kicked off Red Ribbon Week, an annual observance at many 
schools for the past few years. This morning, local elementary students 
were bused to Northestern State University for another anti-drug program 
featuring several musicians and performers. "We are here today to 
demonstrate the effects of choices of all kinds," said Tahlequah High 
School student Jamie Grosser, one of the students presenting the skits at 
TJHS. Preventionist Melissa Bethancourt told the students Red Ribbon Week 
is a time to focus on the effects of harmful behaviors, including substance 
abuse and violence.

She said the week was founded in memory of Enrique "Kiki" Camarena. "'Kiki' 
grew up in poverty in a home with dirt floors," she said. Despite this poor 
start, he completed college and joined the Drug Enforcement Administration 
as an agent. "He always said, 'I'm only one person, but I want to make a 
difference,'" Bethancourt said. While working as an undercover drug agent, 
he was kidnapped and murdered. Drugs kill, and drug money supports terror, 
Bethancourt said. Some of the students described a carload of teens struck 
by a drunk driver. "You lay there, still in the car, thinking about your 
family, your friends.

What happened to your friends who were in the car with you? They all died. 
You died too," the students said. One of the younger participants gave a 
dramatic reading about a 3-year-old girl who lay in terror as her drunken, 
abusive father arrived home from the bar. The reading ended with the 
father's attack on the child. Other students, wearing black T-shirts and 
bandannas, portrayed cocaine, methamphetamine, LSD, alcohol and other drugs 
as they attacked a drug user, killed her, and seduced other teens. The skit 
participants encouraged students to engage in positive activities, such as 
clubs and music.

Two musicians performed for the group. Bethancourt said the week is 
intended to inform students about the dangers of drugs and violence brought 
on as young people, and as a country. "We've got a lot of concern going on 
at school today.

We've got people in the counselor's office," Bethancourt said, referring to 
the most recent violence that occurred in Sallisaw over the weekend. Daniel 
Fears, 18, is accused of fatally shooting two people and wounding seven 
others during a shooting spree that began after a neighbor allegedly 
criticized Fears for driving recklessly near children. Bethancourt said she 
believes assemblies like the one Monday have an effect on the students. 
"Usually after we have an assembly, somebody will come in and say, 'I'm 
concerned about something,'" she said. She believes the assembly sets the 
tone for the week, one of seriousness. Some of the other activities, such 
as the one in which everyone is supposed to wear a hat or cap on Friday, 
are more lighthearted. Other Red Ribbon Week activities will include: * 
Today, "Team Up Against Drugs" day. Students will wear orange and white 
school colors.

The Drug Free Youth group from THS will come during lunch to paint spirit 
faces for TJHS students, in preparation for tonight's game against 
Muskogee. * Wednesday, "Red Ribbon Day." Students are asked to wear red. 
The Drug Free Council will hand out red ribbons that say "I'm no fool, 
drugs aren't cool." * Thursday, "Grim Reaper" day. This year they will 
paint faces of death on Halloween day! Zombie faces on students, will 
represent the number of people who die each day because of alcohol or drugs.

Bethancourt, the Grim Reaper, will pick these students randomly, out of the 
hall or classrooms. These students will wear signs stating their reason of 
death, such as heroin overdose, and are not allowed to talk for the rest of 
the day. The students can see for themselves just how many people die 
everyday. * Friday, "Put a cap on drugs," we need to protect our heads!

Everyone will wear caps or hats to school that day. It's also "Sock it to 
drugs," where students will wear crazy, unusual socks.
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