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Read SHIFT's Open Letter - Sign and Share in Support of Changing the Culture of Substance Use at UT
Culture change takes all of us. Will you be a part of it?
Dear Longhorns,
This past December, news rocked the 40 Acres that federal authorities charged a group of former UT students, as well as one current student, for their roles in a counterfeit drug trafficking ring. While the depth and breadth of these arrests hit us all in different ways, this story impacts and involves each and every one of us. Whether we live in West Campus or Riverside, hail from Texas, the east or west coast, or even overseas; whether you use drugs recreationally or not, we are all part of this community and culture, and this letter is our bold call to action to have a different dialogue when it comes to drugs, alcohol, and the student experience at UT.
In watching this story unfold, we are struck by what it reveals about us, all of us, and our responsibility to acknowledge that misuse of prescription drugs is an active, and normalized, part of many students’ lives. We know that this kind of drug misuse and trafficking is not confined to particular areas, populations, or circles. In reality, the pressures, temptations and struggles of substance use affect our community and in turn each and every one of us. At SHIFT, we aim to think more inclusively about what it means to be a college student at UT and about the role alcohol and drugs play in our everyday lives.
This ring didn’t just allegedly sell prescription drugs to students across Central Texas—they sold incredibly dangerous counterfeit pills, laced with more powerful and potentially deadly drugs like fentanyl. If you choose to use prescription drugs not prescribed to you, it is vitally important you stay as informed as possible to ensure you are using them as safely as possible. Learn as much as you can about the substance you are taking. If you’re using, make sure you’re with people you trust and have a plan for getting help, should you need it. You can obtain free Naloxone (anonymously) from the 40 Acres Pharmacy right on campus to be prepared in the case of an accidental opioid overdose. Understand that taking drugs not prescribed to you increases your risks of adverse reactions, not only because it is illegal, but because we each have unique chemical makeups and can’t predict how we’ll be affected. The SHIFT agenda celebrates that the freedom of making your own decisions is what the college experience is all about—but we embolden you to be more mindful about why and what you’re using
Culture change starts with our own action and reflection. It starts with us focusing on what we consider “cultural norms,” or behaviors we shrug off, saying “that’s just the way it’s always been.” It starts with not assuming that college life is synonymous with substance use-- that just because someone is getting good grades means there’s no way they could also be struggling behind the scenes. We have the collective power to make seismic shifts so that we are all represented in the “college experience.” That this experience is not defined or relegated to stereotypes and misperceptions.
Here are some more ways you can #jointheconversation and be a part of SHIFT:
- Think about your personal boundaries and ways that you can speak to them—what does a healthy lifestyle look like for you?
- Learn about harm reduction and safer use. Texas Harm Reduction Alliance has some great resources!
- Speak up, have difficult conversations, express concern. Be an active bystander. Consider learning more with BeVocal.
- Learn more about Operation Naloxone and the life-saving medication to overturn an opiate overdose. Also, take note of the free, national “Never Use Alone” hotline– 1-800-484-3731
- Take a moment to reflect on how and/or why you might be using. If you are managing your stress or mood, consider other ways you might address those issues more safely and sustainably.
- If you are feeling academic pressure to succeed, learn more about the myths and facts of prescription drugs.
- Whatever decisions you make around substance use, be aware of your resources and make the decision that feels right for you.
- Join the SHIFT Student Advisory Board and help shape the voice and actions of culture change.
Let’s hold each other accountable for the ways in which we support a positive environment, as well as inviting each other into the challenge of doing better. Below are the signatures of your peers, faculty, and staff members dedicated to SHIFTing our campus culture. Together with our campus and community partners, and most importantly you, our students, we can continue to reshape UT’s new normal—one centered around a culture of care.
Join our bold call to action: SHIFT the dialogue when it comes to drugs and life at UT. Culture change takes all of us. Will you be a part of it?
Signatories
Kate Lower, SHIFT Director
Cayla Palmer, Communications and Program Coordinator
Brent Iverson, Faculty and Dean
Chris Brownson, AVP for Student Affairs, Director CMHC
Sarah Frey, Staff
Winston Chapman, Staff
Susan Hochman, Staff
Erin Benton, Student
Faith Nguyen, Student
Liz Elsen, Staff
Jude Quaddumi, Student
Presley Pargin, Student
Lori Holleran Steiker, Ph.D, Faculty & Associate Dean
Kevin Chen, Student
Marilyn Lionts, Student
Daisy Kielty, Student
Huy Le, Student
Larkin Kruse, Staff
Luis H. Zayas
Alexa Stuifbergen, Dean, School of Nursing
David Springer, Interim Dean and Professor
Bethany Wendler, Staff
Susan Buckenmeyer, Staff
Renee Acosta, Faculty and Associate Dean
Bitia Buenrostro, Administrative Associate
Mitch Jacobson, Staff
Abigail Aiken, Associate Professor
Sophie Schott, Student
Kenneth Greene, Associate Professor
Avery Arsenault, Student
Catherine Virola, Staff
Whitney Campbell, Staff
Katherine Collins, Staff
Ben Lara, Staff
Maria Timm, Staff
Andrew Mendoza, Staff
Kate Czar, Staff
Tristan Ramos, Staff
Ashley Welch, Staff
Emily Doyle, Staff Psychiatrist
Dhruv, Student
Rachel Davis, Student
Hillary Procknow, Director & Faculty
Bailey, Student
Callee Cabrera, Student
Wesley Brewer, Student
Shannon Vincent, Staff
Katie, Staff
Michaela Clague, Student
Kim Wood, Staff
Jessica Bird, Student
Justin Samuel, Assistant Dean
Brittany Williamson, Staff
Sameeha Rizvi, Student
Trang NGUYEN KIEU DOAN, Student
Chris Frei, Faculty
Jieliang Wang, Student
Amber Serra, Staff
Wilson Lu, Student
Camille DiGiaimo, Student
Lauren Gulbas, Faculty
Claire Zagorski, Staff
Audrey Clay, Student
Abel Kim, Student
Riley Anderson, Student
Delia Brownson Hindmam, Faculty
Xiomara Leonard, Staff
Arturo De Lozanne, Faculty
Fiona Conway, Faculty
Davis Roe, Student
Ruth Hernandez, Student, Mentor
Abigail Eudave, Student
Katlyn Brinkley, Staff
Desiree Alva, Staff
Emily, Student
Jasmine Mira, Student
Nastassia Anna Yammine, Student
Terry B Tibby, Staff
Javier Auyero, Faculty
Olyvia Moriarty, Staff
Shyann Ydalia Rodriguez, Student
Matt Bowers, Faculty
Ivana Bayona, Student
Rebecca Buckalew, Staff
Sandra Olsen, Staff
Sofia Alarcon, Staff
Yma Revuelta, Staff
Rohan Patil, Student
Ali Alkaabi, Student
Jeff Newport, Professor & Associate Chair
Xiomara Kiernan, Staff
Shavonne Coleman, Staff
Carlton Erickson, Retired Faculty
Marilyn Russell, Staff
Ryan Thompson, Student
Ana Dison, Staff
Sydney Benator, Staff
Olivia Lupercio, Student
Asha Ayyar, Student
Josh Barham, Staff
Jenelle Medina, Student
Rose doloir
Norma Fowler, Faculty
Katya Guzman, Student
Maress, Student
Alexandria Hohman, Student
Suseth, Student
Leslie Peterson, Student
Eunbin Cho, Student
Haley Jackson, Student
Gracie McCallum, Student
Beril Saygin, Student
Gabi Valenga, Student
Pria Gokhale, Student
Hope Decker, Student
Esmerelda Houston
Aswathi Thomas, Student
Lauren Carey, Student
Bianca Leal, Student
Andres Suniaga, Student
Bianca Leal, Student
Josiah Garza, Student
Mia Fuentes, Student
Jillian Merritt, Student
Anya Robinson, Student
Kennedi Davis, Student
Tamanna Sonthalia, Student
Mark Day, Student
J Shah, Student
Ava Meurer, Student
Luis H. Zayas, Dean
Winston Hung, Student
Neha George, Student
Shilpa Rajagopal, Student
Taylor Simons, Staff
Jeffrey Mayo, Assistant Director
Brittany O'Malley, Assistant Director for Prevention; Chair, UT Wellness Network
Allen Hardin, Exec. Sr. Assoc. Athletics Director
Terry Weaver, Staff
Mandy Colbert, Staff
Kelsey Lammy, Staff
Michelle Cajero, Student Assistant
Sahtiya Hosoda Hammell, Bystander Intervention Program Coordinator
Divya Kashyap, Student
Antonio Rodriguez
Angelica R Montes, Student
Katie McCormick, Student
Usma Asif, Student
Vivian Nguyen, Student
Sam Poloyac, Dean
Lauren Mammen, Student
Patty Moran Micks, Assistant Dean
Thea Woodruff, Well-being in Learning Environments coordinator
Erich Geiger, Staff
William Schwartz, Assistant Dean Faculty Affairs & Professor
Brad Love, Faculty
Jacquelyn Howard, Student
Mark Zentner, Staff
Terrance Hines, Executive Director & Chief Medical Officer
Pauline Strong, Faculty
Katie McGee, Staff
Kasey Claborn
Joan Long, Staff
Laura Dupuis, Staff
Sherry R Bell, Staff
Cathy Glazener, Staff
Debbie Morgan
Jessica Guerrero, Staff
Stacey Hoyt, Staff
Nina Clinton, Staff
Sheridan Aguilar, Student
Dani Herrmann, Student
Caroline Seyer, Student
Chad Zimmerman, Staff
Rishika Kolluri, Student
Sam Mills, Student
Apoorva Kakkilaya, Student
Brian Mathew, Student
Hung-wen Liu, Faculty
Mirna, Staff
Ken Lawson, Professor
Robert Williams III, Faculty
Oliver Gomez, Staff
Elyes Benhamou
Lucas G. Hill, Faculty
Kami Johnston, Student
Shel Arnone, Staff
Kristin Ashley Garling, Faculty
Megha Thakur, Student
Paige Muehlenkamp-McHorse, Staff
Angelina Ibarra, Student
Mackenzie Ulam, Student
Patricia Gutierrez, Staff
Michael Mackert, Director, Center for Health Communication
Eric T. Meyer, Dean, School of Information
Jessie manichia, Student
Agacia Ernestine, Student
Jennifer Nailos, Director
Lori Holleran Steiker, Ph.D, Faculty
Alexander Mercadel, Student
Sneha Bondalapati, Student
Bilal Haque, Student
Mandy Vachon, Student
Janet Koroma, Student
Lori Holleran Steiker, Faculty & UGS Administration
Kelly Soucy, Staff
Adrienne MacKenzie, Staff
Jacob Salazar, Student
Grace Bova, Staff
Julia Chafkin, Student
Tessa Lancaster, Student & Staff
Phaedra White Abbott, Staff
Alexandra Holmes, Staff
Morgan Stewart, Faculty
Ali Alkaabi, Staff
Tiffany Swonke, Staff
Kristen Kessel, Staff
Wendy Boggs, Staff
Brian Tran, Student
Brittain Sobey, Staff
Leah Nealis, Student
Arianne McArdle, Staff
Michael Bloomfield, Student
Patrick Davis, Faculty
Olivia Li, Student
Cristabella Trimble-Quiz, Staff
Brandy Whitten, Staff
Emily, Student
Nikki Zern, Student
Tom Brandt, Student
Nimisha Jain, Student
Callie Copeland, Student
Eri-Ife Adepoju, Student
Madelyn Russo, Student
Caleb Craft, Student
Namita Patel, Student
Kaitlin Sime, Student
Annesley Pulse, Student
Rishika Prakash, Student
Mara Asmis, Student
Haley Alfaro-Kim, Student
Maddie LeBlanc, Student
Bailey Grones, Student
Anya Robinson, Student
Divya M, Student
Ximena Tobon, Student
Kimberly Ngo, Student
Caroline Thomas, Student
Patrick Greer, Student
Jennifer Li, Student
Alexa Barkley, Student
Dixon Hankins, Staff
Kaylah Angel, Student
Karlene Armstrong, Student
Maizy Jeong
Samantha Marner, Student
Avni Doshi, Student
Sarah Jones, Student
Rainbow Di Benedetto, Staff