STUDENT WRITING COMPETITION ON ALCOHOL ABUSE ISSUES ON COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
Sponsored by
THE INTER-ASSOCIATION TASK FORCE ON ALCOHOL & OTHER SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES
Through funding from Anheuser-Busch Companies

TOPIC:
How would you define high risk drinking in your campus community and what approaches would you recommend to best address this issue?

AWARDS:
The awards are made to individual students, not the college or university. Each prize will be awarded to the writers who best express their viewpoints on the topic of high risk drinking.

• One First Prize - $2,000
  
• Four Second Prizes - $1,000 each

SUBMISSION SHOULD BE CREATED IN OP-ED FORMAT:
An op-ed essay is an opinion or editorial type commentary on a specific topic. The American Heritage Dictionary defines "op-ed" as "a newspaper page, usually opposite the editorial page, that features articles expressing personal viewpoints." An op-ed essay expresses more personal views that will promote dialogue, debate, and perhaps, solutions.

• All entries must be in the form of an op-ed essay. No research or term papers should be submitted.
  
• The op-ed may be developed from any point of view of the issue, a personal experience, an analysis, or an opinion.
  
• The student is encouraged to raise questions, single out issues, identify dilemmas, and offer suggestions for change.
  
• The op-ed must be the original, unpublished work of the student.
  
• The op-ed must be 500-700 words, not including footnotes.
  
• No name or identifying references may appear on the title page or in the manuscript, since the contest is to be judged anonymously (a numerical code will be put on your essay)

OP-ED WRITING TIPS:

• Know what you want to "say" in a clear, concise style.
  
• Look for op-eds in a newspaper or magazine that you really find easy to read, interesting, and persuasive. What can you imitate that you see in them?
  
• Do a rough outline of your editorial before you start to write it.
  
• Write in a conversational style.
  
• Make it clear within the first three sentences exactly what your point is.
  
• State only the most important facts; state them clearly; make it clear where you got them.
  
• Write as if you were trying to persuade a good friend.
  Use concrete examples expressed as vividly as possible. Show us, don't tell us, with facts, examples, observations, whenever possible.

ENTRY GUIDELINES

ELIGIBILITY:

• Full-time undergraduate student at the time of application.
  
• Registered during the fall semester of 2001 at an accredited four- or two-year college or university.

SUBMISSION OF MATERIALS:

• Submit three (3) copies of your op-ed (one copy paper-clipped and two stapled).
  
• Submit a completed Student Entry Form that can be obtained on the website www.iatf.org
  
• Include a letter on school stationery from the Registrar's Office, verifying your eligibility.
  
• In order to be considered for the prizes, you must also verify that you have followed the statement of academic honesty that appears on the Student Entry Form.
  
• Only one op-ed per student per contest year may be submitted.
  
• Keep a copy of your op-ed since no materials will be returned.
  
• Entries must be postmarked on or before Friday, November 2, 2001, or delivered to us by 5:00 p.m. that day.
  
• Entries may not be faxed or e-mailed.

Deadline: Friday, November 2, 2001
Winners will be notified in January 2002.

Please complete the submission checklist on the Student Entry Form and send ALL materials together to:

Max V. Vest
Director of Student Activities
University of Richmond, Virginia 23173
mvest@richmond.edu
Phone (804) 289-8505
Fax (804) 289-8328

Rights of Publication: The Inter-Association Task Force reserves the right to publish the winning essays, in whole or in part.
These essays may not be published elsewhere without written permission from the Task Force.