In an attempt to understand the alcohol and drug use of UW students, the UW System will randomly invite students to participate in a Web-based survey this weekend, said Peggy O’Halloran, director for UW-Eau Claire’s Center for Alcohol Studies and Education.

The UW System survey asks questions about student alcohol and drug use, and the UW System uses that to look at trends and overall usage among students, O’Halloran said. That information is used to monitor what those trends look like over time and also to see where programming needs to be improved.

Every four-year school will have 2,000 students randomly selected, and all students at the two-year schools will be selected, said Colleen Howes, administrative program specialist for the UW System and project manager of the survey.

The survey, part of a System-wide Board of Regents attempt, began in 2004, and since then, every odd-numbered year a new one is issued, O’Halloran said. On even-numbered years Eau Claire conducts its own survey.

“Students will be asked about the university policies and regulations surrounding alcohol and drug use, resources on-campus related to alcohol abuse and prevention programs and ways in which drinking might interfere with the lives of students,” O’Halloran said.

General questions about individual students’ use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs are also on the survey.

Once students complete it, the program calculates their blood alcohol concentration and offers a list of warning signs about what would happen if a person’s BAC is .10, for example, Howes said.

Students will also receive some online resources about alcohol and drug use and information on who to contact on their campus regarding these issues, Howes said.

Students will remain anonymous and the survey is strictly voluntary.

Paula Stuettgen, coordinator of student diversity and programs at University Activities Commission, said while she is not criticizing this particular survey, she stresses students think before they answer.

“I think (the survey) will be a positive exercise for students to assess their own behavior,” Stuettgen said. “Any type of self analysis and self awareness can only be helpful for a student’s personal development.

“However, when you’re answering survey questions you need to stop and think about the questions. . Answer thoughtfully and carefully.”

Junior Kristine Radtke Norris is a peer counselor with counseling services and worked on alcohol awareness events in the past and said she thinks this survey is a “really great idea” in theory. However, she said with any survey, only a small percentage of students participate.

“I feel at times it doesn’t really give a good cross-section of the entire university,” Radtke Norris said, adding some outreach in the classroom might work better.