Despite lower than expected turnout at San Benito High
School’s
”
Safe and Sober Grad Night
”
event, San Benito County’s new batch of graduates stayed safe
this weekend, local officials said.
Hollister – Despite lower than expected turnout at San Benito High School’s “Safe and Sober Grad Night” event, San Benito County’s new batch of graduates stayed safe this weekend, local officials said.
California Highway Patrol spokesperson Chris Armstrong said two DUI arrests were made over the weekend, neither involving minors. He said no arrests involving graduates were made last year at this time, either.
Lieutenant Patrick Turturici of the San Benito County Sheriff’s Department said the weekend went well.
“It was a very successful weekend,” Turturici said. “There were no reports of any parties at which minors were drinking and there were no DUIs.”
Sober Grad Committee Chairperson Danita Brigantino had predicted a turnout of 300, and although only 163 attended, she proclaimed the event a success.
“The kids that came were awesome,” Brigantino said. “They had a ball.”
Co-Chairperson Eric Von Urff agreed.
“All in all it went very well,” Von Urff said. “Everyone had a great time, you could tell by the smiles throughout the room.”
Von Urff said that next year they will start planning the event earlier in order to increase attendance. Von Urff also said that he would like to get more parents involved in next year’s event.
Brigantino said that only one student was barred admittance to the event for having consumed alcohol. The student was held until his parents came to pick him up.
In previous years the event had been seen by students as a ‘sober up party’ rather than a ‘sober party.’ All students were given a breathalyzer test before entering the event this year, according to Von Urff.
San Benito High School Superintendent Jean Burns Slater said that she believes students have really understood the message that drinking and driving is a serious problem. Slater cited the “Every 15 Minutes” program, a national effort to discourage underage drinking, and a number of recent deaths for helping to get the message across.
“Community awareness has really grown,” Slater said. “People are taking responsibility.”
Slater said that she plans to continue the school’s efforts to discourage drunk driving.
“We have to keep it up, always, and especially with a new group of students,” Slater said.
Brett Rowland covers education for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
