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Show Friday, March 12, "Daily Utah Chronicle 2004 Conference focuses on link between diversity and drug abuse Nidzara Pecenkovic Staff Writer Acting as a seeming counterbalance to the notorious debauchery of Spring Break, today's Seventh Annual Associate Students of Social Work Diversity Conference will be focused on the themes of alcohol and drug use how the substances affect people of different genders, nationalities and backgrounds. "We're looking at how alcohol and drug use affects people as individuals, but also taking into consideration different cultures and backgrounds," said Irene Ota, the program's coordinator. "This year, we polled students and they wanted more information on alcohol and drug abuse in a diversity perspective," said Sarrina Coulam, director of professional and community education. Some groups are more prone to or affected by alcohol and drug abuse, due to factors such as higher rates of poverty and different mechanisms of metabolism. The differences exist be GRASSROOTS continued from page 1 which may have had something to do with Lowe's fever of 101 degrees at one point during the ordeal. Lowe, Harrington and a number of other Grassroots supporters are headed to Palm Springs, Calif., now to "relax," catch up on some homework and perhaps console Jessica Rogers, who lost to Sara Ho-ga- n for senior class president by a mere 50 votes. "It's a heartbreaker," Lowe said. "She was a vital part of this movement. We could not love or respect anyone more." Rogers couldn't quite fight back the tears when her roommates began gathering around her. "Don't cry, you guys!" she said as she moved to embrace them. Though the Grassroots Party was saddened by Rogers' defeat, Lowe said he is "excited for the perspective that Sara will bring to the administration." The Grassroots Party made a strong showing in the race for General Assembly and Student Senate representatives as well. Out of 64 delegate positions, the party filled 48 of them. After Lowe and Harrington are inaugurated in late April, they plan to "get to work" and hope to implement their registration for involvement plan. The plan would ask all registering students to indicate which student groups they would be interested in getting involved with and to submit their contact information. The student groups would then be able to proactively seek out those students, in- - tween ages, sexes and backgrounds, Coulam said. "It's not so much just a social work issue. It isn't long before a substance abuse issue will crop up in anyone's lifetime. It is a major problem in the United States and in Utah," Coulam said. "The purpose of the conference is to create awareness that people are different as individuals. Although alcohol and drug abuse is universal, the treatment has to be different for different cases," Ota said. "No matter where you live, what church you go to, substance abuse is going to happen, no matter what age you are, how rich or how poor you are." Coulam urged students to get educated about the problem. "Here's an opportunity to learn for free," Ota said. Previous themes for the conference included spirituality and issues of access to education and work opportunities. "Seven years ago, students decided they wanted to put on an annual conference, and they chose diversity as the University of Utah Blood Drive continuing theme," Coulam said that diverse populations are growing, and as a result, students and administrators alike need to be increasingly aware of diversity and social justice. The program will feature a keynote speaker and a luncheon for this year's Pete Suazo Social Justice Awards. "Three years ago, when we lost Sen. Pete Suazo, we started the Pete Suazo Social Justice Award," Coulam said. "He was one of the few people of color that served in our Legislature, and this is an award in his honor that promotes social justice," Ota said. This year's recipients of the award are Centro de la Familia de Utah, Ming Wang, Joyce Kelen, Mack Gift, Julio Espi-noz- a and Brian Riedesel. The conference will run from 9:30 to 2 p.m. and will be held in the Union's Sal-ta- ir Room. There is no cost to attend, but seating is limited. The luncheon costs $10 for students and $15 for Wednesday March 24 the Bookstore 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. In the Blood csscl between the Bookstore and Library i for an appointment Call Charlotte at 581-36Walk-i- n also welcome! 16 ' j the Student Union 10 a.m. ro J? f f jf i 2 p.m. In the East Ballroom 57. Walk ins welcome! -- ) Hosted by HOSA nonstudents. npecenkovic chronicle.utah.edu stead of having the students go to them. They have already spoken with some U administrators, but said they didn't know when the plan would be activated. More students voted this year than ever before, but primary vote totals exceeded final totals, which is an anomaly. Kristen Smart, a member of the Associated Students of the University of Utah communications board, said she knew a lot of people who weren't aware there were primary and final elections. The board's goal was to beat the voter-turno- record of ut 5,983 set during the primaries, but came up short by a total of 309 votes. "We're not complaining, we just wish we could have beat the primaries' total," Smart said. There were more votes this year in both the primaries and finals than ever before in the history of the online voting, as this year's finals total was just behind the record set during the primaries, 5,690, which beat last year's record by 2,066 votes. tpeterson chronicle, utah. edu Oe a tiero It's; in yotir hloottl Pleaie remember your photo I.D, www.utahblood.org Your local, iridependent blood provider servira Rrimarv Children's Medical Center. 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