James Bonvicini is a sophomore at UConn and a member of “Drive Sober or Hand the Keys Over.” Sober driving is an important issue that has been highly publicized in the last few years. It is great to see that an organization on UConn’s campus has decided to assist students on campus with the means to safe transportation.
What year are you?
I am a sophomore
What is your major?
I am majoring in Finance with a minor in Communication
What is the name of your organization?
We have chosen the name “Drive Sober or Hand the Keys Over”. This name is simple and catchy, hopefully resulting in more people becoming aware of our organization.
Your group is not affiliated with UConn Sober Rides, correct?
We are not affiliated with UConn Sober Rides.
What are your group’s goals?
The group started because of a project for our Comm 3100 class, which deals with persuasion. We were given the task to develop a pro-social campaign to support a cause of our choice. Our group specifically chose to work on preventing drinking and driving. To do this, our goals include spreading the word on sober driving services, holding an event to showcase the negative effects of drinking and driving, and to get our campaign on various forms of media, including Twitter and UConn’s radio station WHUS.
Why did you join this organization?
This group was formed because we all had common interests in our Comm 3100 class. We all wanted to campaign for safety and wellness, resulting in the group being formed, and the topic of drinking and driving to be our focus.
Why is providing a student with a sober driving service important?
Providing students with sober driving services is extremely important in order to ensure the well being of the student body. Having these services can help to prevent drunken driving related incidences from occurring, which can negatively impact a large number of people. Sober driving services give students a reliable option to make sure they make it to their destinations safely.
Do you think there are enough services that provide students with safe transportation throughout campus?
I do believe that there a number of great services that provide students with safe transportation, however I do not feel that these services are always made to be very accessible.
What is the function of the twitter account @UConnDriveSober?
The function of the twitter account @UConnDriveSober is to provide students with an accessible way to find sober driving services. My group wants @UConnDriveSober to be the gateway between the students requiring sober driving, and the services that can assist them. If students are ever in a situation where they feel they need a sober driver, we want them to feel comfortable knowing that there is an easy way to find what services are available.
Do you think social media affected your organization’s goal positively? Why?
I believe social media affects this organization’s goal positively by giving students the opportunity to find what sober driving services are available to them through a medium that they are comfortable with using.
Are there any other projects your group is involved in? If so, what are some others?
Right now, our group is focusing our efforts on the prevention of drinking and driving.