Pubdate: Sat, 07 Dec 2002
Source: Marietta Daily Journal (GA)
Copyright: 2002 The Marietta Daily Journal.
Contact:  http://www.mdjonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1904
Author: Phillip Giltman

STUDENT MEMBERSHIP ON THE RISE IN CLUB PROMOTING WISE DECISIONS

POWDER SPRINGS - A newly formed program at a local Cobb County high school 
aims to stop students from making destructive decisions.

As membership continues to grow for McEachern High School's Students 
Against Destructive Decisions, parents, students and teachers are 
encouraging students to refrain from immoral and illegal acts.

"Making students aware that we care about their safety can really make a 
difference," said Genie Ricks, a McEachern High School math teacher and one 
of SADD's four coordinators.

Ms. Ricks said SADD, which is commonly known as Students Against Drunk 
Driving, changed its name to include a larger scope of teenage issues, 
including drug use, immoral behavior and teen pregnancy.

"It's still part of the national organization, Students Against Drunk 
Driving; we just decided to call it Students Against Destructive Decisions 
to include more," she said.

Ms. Ricks said SADD started last year at McEachern, but the program failed 
to make an impression on the students as it has this year.

"We have 42 students signed up this year, and we are expecting a membership 
of about 300 by the end of the school year," she said. "We have more 
students interested in joining the club just about every week."

Ms. Ricks said SADD's mission is to deter students from drinking and 
driving and using illegal drugs, while encouraging them to wear seatbelts, 
obey the law and act morally.

"It has become very popular among the students here, and the faculty has 
been nothing but supportive," she said.

McEachern High School Principal Tommy Farr had nothing but positive words 
for Ms. Ricks and the SADD program.

"The students see a need to band together in order to promote safe driving 
and prevent students their age from drinking and driving," he said. "The 
kids want to do everything they can to prevent more accidents, and it's 
nice to see them come together the way that they have."

With only a $3 membership fee, Ms. Ricks said, students meet every 
Wednesday after school to discuss new and innovative ideas to get their 
message across.

"We are slowly feeling our way to try and find out exactly what we can do 
and how we can do it," she said. "We are always looking for something new 
and different."

Ms. Ricks said several of the programs they have hosted this year included 
Red Ribbon Week in October, during which each student who participated wore 
a ribbon with a message explaining why drugs are bad.

"I remember one of the ribbons said, 'If you want a future, don't do 
drugs,'" she said. "It was small, but it worked."

Ms. Ricks said SADD also gave out coupons on a number of occasions, trying 
to get students to join and encourage others not to partake in illicit 
activities.

"We are trying to involve all the students that we can," she said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth