Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity stands behind Lifeline Law

INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 21, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- To kick off National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, the Indiana Youth Services Association and author of Indiana's Lifeline Law, State Sen. Jim Merritt (R-Indianapolis), held a press conference at Butler University on Oct. 20 to announce the social media and marketing campaign for the "Make Good Decisions" initiative, which has reached over 12 universities and their satellite campuses throughout Indiana since it launched in late August.

The campaign which is in support of Indiana's Lifeline Law, a law that provides legal protections to minors under the influence who report a medical emergency or crime, aims to educate and inform students and young adults about what resources are available to them during emergency situations.

"We are very appreciative of Senator Merritt's efforts to get this law passed. Our members in Indiana are heavily supportive of this law and we are doing our part to get the word out," said Lambda Chi Alpha CEO Bill Farkas. "Our men should know that doing the right thing and calling 9-1-1 is always the first act that should take place."

Lambda Chi Alpha has taken a stance to insure that all of 12 of its Indiana chapters consisting of nearly 800 men are educated and have the information they need to be safe. "Our main goal is that our members are safe and well informed," added Farkas.

To date, 18 states have a 911 Lifeline law enacted, including Washington, Oregon, California, Utah, Colorado, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Vermont. The fraternity plans to take steps to insure that chapters located in these states will also receive the proper information and education as to what immunity laws are available to them.

Legislation is also pending in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, New Hampshire and Hawaii.

Pete Smithhisler, president and CEO of the North-American Interfraternity Conference and Lambda Chi Alpha board member, who spoke during the conference, stressed the importance of fraternity leaders, especially brothers of Lambda Chi, to understand that they are responsible for the health and safety of one another.

"We need to be paying attention, making good decisions, taking responsibility to call 911 and understanding that fast action can mean the difference between life and death," said Smithhisler.

"All of these initiatives across the country that help to promote students success and safety need to be understood and acted upon by our brothers," he added.

Senator Merritt (R-Indianapolis) explained that, "Every 44 hours a college-age person dies from alcohol and every year there will be a 17-or 18-year-old student who doesn't know the Lifeline law and could pay the ultimate price."

"A great deal of your time on campus is spent in the classroom and studying but I believe we need to acknowledge that people are social and that alcohol is consumed in those occasions and sometimes binge drinking is a part of that and I'm just glad the [North-American Interfraternity Conference] is behind us, and that Lambda Chi is here with us, it makes a large difference," said Merritt. "We've forgotten in this society that people make mistakes. Sometimes the law ought to be grey and that's what this is all about, people make mistakes and we're here to save lives."

For more information visit http://makegooddecisions.info . To find out more about your state's own Lifeline legislation visit http://awareawakealive.org/educate/911-lifeline-legislation.

About Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Headquartered in Indianapolis suburb of Carmel, Ind., Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity is one of the largest men's general fraternities in North America with more than 280,000 initiated members and has held chapters at more than 300 universities. In the early 1970s, it was the first fraternity to eliminate pledging and remains a leader in the fight against hazing, alcohol abuse, sexual assault and other challenges facing today's college student. Lambda Chi Alpha serves to complement higher education by providing opportunities for academic achievement, leadership development and lifelong friendships. To learn more about Lambda Chi Alpha and its traditions, principles, and ideals, please visit www.lambdachi.org. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LambdaChi or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/LambdaChiAlpha.

CONTACT: Tad Lichtenauer, 1-317-803-7322, [email protected]

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SOURCE Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.