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H1N1 flu fears affect college drinking games

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By Dave Larsen, Staff Writer Updated 2:25 PM Monday, November 2, 2009

DAYTON — The rules of beer pong and other college drinking games could be changing because of H1NI flu fears.

Beer pong, a game that involves drinking from communal cups of beer, has been the subject of warnings and bans this fall at U.S. college campuses including Cornell University and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, both in New York, due to H1N1 virus concerns.

Nearly 8,900 new cases of flu-like illness were reported at 270 U.S. colleges and universities for the week of Oct. 17-23, according to the American College Health Association. The ACHA has observed nearly 56,000 cases of flu-like illness this year among 3 million college students.

Drinking games are not condoned at area schools, including the University of Dayton, Miami University and Ohio State University.

“So there is no acknowledgment of that other than do not share glasses, cups or drinks in general,” said Edel Jesse, UD’s director of communications and community relations for student development.

Some students are ignoring the warnings.

“There’s a lot of sharing and consumption,” said Dan Phillips, a UD senior from Cleveland. “No one really pays that much attention to it.”

However, other students are taking precautions such as using cups of water for beer pong. “Then, when somebody scores, they’ll just take a sip of the beer that they’re drinking,” said Anthony LoPresti, a UD junior from Cleveland and member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.

“We’re trying to stay away from anybody sharing any sort of cups,” said Charlie Hank, a UD fifth-year student from Columbus and Phi Kappa Psi member. “Even here at the house we’re trying to keep things as clean as possible.”

Phi Kappa Psi has 43 members at UD, five of whom live in the fraternity facility. It is one of 12 Greek fraternities and seven sororities on campus, according to Jesse. About 1,115 UD students participate in Greek chapters, she said.

UD did not curtail Greek chapter recruiting activities this fall because of H1N1 fears, Jesse said. Recruitment typically involves large, open parties.

“We don’t have any alcohol in any of our pledge events, so we don’t really have to worry about people sharing community cups,” LoPresti said.

Miami and Ohio State’s Greek chapters hold rush week during winter class sessions, according to school officials.

About 3,500 students are involved in Greek chapters at Miami, which saw more than 330 students with flu-like illness during the first five weeks of fall classes.

Miami will have a heightened awareness about the spread of germs during rush week, said April Robles, university director and adviser to the Interfraternity Council.

“We’ll have to monitor the contact and how well people are doing and how much rest they’re getting during that busy time of recruitment,” Robles said.

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