LSUS's Neon Night offers students a chance to 'party with a purpose'

LSUS's Neon Night offers students a chance to 'party with a purpose'

SHREVEPORT - "Party with a purpose."

That's how Dr. LaToya Hemphill, LSU Shreveport assistant dean of student affairs, describes Neon Night - a substance-free party hosted in conjunction with Dry January.

The recent winter storm pushed festivities back to Feb. 6, but Hemphill said the third annual event is gaining traction among the student body.

The event will be hosted from 6-8 p.m. in the University Center Ballroom where students can dance with glow sticks and black lights while sipping on mocktails.

"As the chair of the Alcohol and Other Drugs Taskforce, we wanted to put on an active event in conjunction with Dry January," Hemphill said. "Because the spring semester has far fewer opportunities for students to engage at events compared to the fall semester, we also thought this could really kick off the social calendar.

"We want this to become a tradition at LSUS."

A live disc jockey will provide the audio backdrop to a landscape that's meant to engage all five senses.

Hemphill understands that all students may not want to dance, so other activities like ping pong will ensure there's something for all types of students.

"We are keeping in mind students who may be more reserved and don't want to get out on the dance floor," Hemphill said. "We'll have something for everybody."

The forum also provides an education opportunity for those seeking fun without alcohol, marijuana or other drugs.

According to a 2022 national survey on drug use and health, 49 percent of full-time college students drank alcohol in the past month with 29 percent engaging in binge drinking (five or more drinks for males, four or more for females - in a two-hour period).

One in four students experience academic problems because of drinking.

Hallucinogens, like marijuana, is rivalling alcohol use on college campuses. The National Institutes of Health survey reported 44 percent of college students using marijuana at least once in 2020.

College students often use these substances to fit in socially or to deal with anxiety and stress.

Dry January is a national campaign designed to eliminate alcohol consumption for a month, positioned specifically after the holidays when alcohol use is at its peak.

Participants in Dry January reported decreased alcohol usage in the months following January and other benefits such as weight loss, improved skin, and less irritability and anxiety, according to a University of Sussex study in 2019.