"I think there's some concern about whether or not a women's group would allow women to talk about issues specific for them," Gramarossa said.

The office is also looking into an on campus group counseling program for both men and women. "We're looking to try and have programs be available on campus that is missing on campus now," she said.

The office is presently applying for a grant from the federal department of education to try to get more information, undertake more training and develop alternative social activities for students who don't want to use alcohol or drugs.

Another initiative taken by UHS is an attempt to get students who come to Stillman Infirmary at night with alcohol-related problems to see their primary care physician or someone at Mental Health Services before they leave.

According to Catlin, this program has not had much success as yet, but he has hope for the future.

"We help people to see that they must be thinking about what they're doing with alcohol," Catlin said.

Catlin did express the need to gain an awareness of whether or not female drinking is becoming a serious problem.

Ducey said there are presently University efforts underway to establish more programs for student drinkers. "Now, I think there has been a growing sense that students should have access to resources right here," he said.

"Already, the University has resources for dealing with students who are concerned about their drinking," he said. "We are also working together to develop the possibility of groups to discuss the issues of alcohol and behavioral problems."

The Freshman Dean's office is also making the effort to dean more effectively with students' alcohol problems.

Griffith said the FDO has looked for more creative ways to talk to proctors about alcohol. In monthly yard meetings to assistant deans talk with the proctors about cases that have come up and how effective the responses were.

"The Dean of the College is not interested in turning proctors or tutors into disciplinary cops, but the new policy makes it harder to talk to students about alcohol," Griffith said.