Local woman crusades against drunken driving By JENNY SCHUBERT Collegian Staff Writer In the midst of Bellefonte's colorful "Labor Day Cele bration in the Park," one woman's crusade against drunken driving the act which took her 21-year-old daughter's life seemed sadly ironic. Although most people were enjoying the carnival-like atmosphere in Tallyrand Park on Saturday, Dottie Smith, president of Centre County's Mothers Against Drunk Driv ing chapter, was seriously publicizing the dangers of mixing alcohol with driving. "I know we all have to die, but not the way that my daugh ter, Tammy, died it's so unnecessary," she said. In an effort to decrease drunken driving accidents during the holiday weekend when alcohol-related crashes are at a peak MADD and Volkswagen Inc. sponsored Drive For Life, an annual public awareness campaign designed to reduce the number of drunken-driving deaths and inju ries. Nationally, the campaign began Aug. 4 and continued across the country with petition-signing events at Volkswa gen dealerships, pledge collections, national media announcements and culminated with a press conference in Washington, D.C. on Friday, Smith said. Locally, the MADD chapter asked residents to pledge to drive sober last weekend and all year long, while encourag ing others to do the same. To show support of their cause, FEE • FIX, • FEE • FEE • FEE • ru. • rEy. • FEE • FEE • FEE • FEE ..4 FEE FALL RUSH PARTY r' onal Service Sorority Wednesday, September 6,1989 Hamilton Lounge in West Halls 7 pm Li Headed for Service to the Community, i,i l l New Friendships, A Future Filled 1.4 with Opportunity? • kJ Then ['a is the Sorority for You! p, w 1- .. FRIENDSHIP -- SERVICE --EQUALITY ': FEE • FEE • FEE • rx,E, • rEE • FEE • FEE • FEE • FEE • FEE • FEE WELCOME BACK, NEW AND RETURNING STUDENTS • • • UNIVERSITY DINING COMMONS and ov:inne:iptimaiDi:l The Management in the Dining Commons An equal opportunity/affirmative Action Employer MADD urged the public to drive with their headlights on throughout the day, she said. "The response gets bigger every year," said Nancy Was son, vice-president of Centre County MADD. "They don't always join MADD and become a member, but at least the headlights are a show of support." Smith joined MADD because she felt no family should ever have to endure her experience alone. "Unfortunately, since Tammy died 97,000 other families have had to deal with it," she said. "We try to make the pub lic realize it can happen to anyone." Even four years later, Smith still thinks about her daugh ter every day. "It doesn't go away," she said. One of MADD's functions is to encourage and influence drunken driving legislation on the federal and state levels, Smith said. The American justice system offers victims few rights, she said. "The court took time to listen to the offender, but no one was there to represent Tammy no one who knew her," she said. In order to increase victims' protection, state Sen. Timo thy Schaffer (R-Butler) introduced a bill which would give victims safety, notification and statement rights, said Hope Emerich, MADD's government liason. The bill, if passed, would: give victims a safe place to wait for a trial so they would not accidently confront the alleged offender; notification of the trial date and any possible changes ; and provide victims with the chance to give an ATTENTION ... UNIVERSITY STUDENTS JOBS AVAILABLE IN Contact or HUB Eateries ..>>>>>>>WWWWWWWWWWW V V IF DO V 2 SOMETHING IP + USEFUL. 66 z-, V V 1 ! TAKE A .--..-- ---- 2 )14 V . V BREAK. q -(( V GIVE BLOOD. V V lIP FALL 1989 CAMPUS BLOOD SCHEDULE V P IP Centre Communities Chapter of The American Red Cross IP IF Date Day Tue Place Time 9/5 HUB 10-4 IP IP 9/6 Wed HUB 10-4 IF IF 9/12 Tue Natatorium 12-5 IF ir 9/27 10/11 Wed Wagner Kern 10-4 Wed 10-4 IP 10/12 11/7 11/8 11/9 Thu Simmons 1-7 IF - reregistration is requireu. 11/14 Tue Pollock 1-7 IP 1% Cost? PSQ is FREE, Group Max. 11/15 Wed Warnock 1-7 11/16 Thu Atherton 1-7 ris 15 students, so CALL TODAY 11/20 Mon HUB 10-6 IF i JUST DO IT 1/21 Tue HUB 10-4 * An hour is all it takes to give blood the actual donation is less than 10 minutes. IP If you are in good health and weigh at least 110 you can donate up to 6 times a year. IP QUIT SMOKING NOW! For more information call the Red Cross at 237-2713 Ad courtesy of Red Cross Club lP k. Sponsored by The Student Health Resource Center. I Please clip schedule and save oral or written impact statement citing how the accident affected their lives. After a drunken driver has been convicted, the victim would be notified if the offender was going to be released early. Currently, these rights do not exist, Emerich said. Most people agree law enforcement against drunken driv ers is too lax, Smith said, adding that the man who killed her daughter spent 16 months in jail. The penalties for drunken driving convictions are occai sonally more severe in foreign countries. In France, drivers lose their licenses for three years, spend one year in jail and pay a $l,OOO fine. In the Soviet Union, drivers lose their licenses permanently, and in Bulgaria, a second conviction results in execution, said Bill Rogers Sr., former president of the National Newspaper Association, in a column in the Swainsboro Georgia Blade. MADD's government liason is also working to strengthen existing state laws. The group is endorsing a bill that would lower the legal Blood-Alcohol Content level to .08; if found driving above this level, a person would be convicted for drunk driving. If the state ham concurs with the state senate's amended version of the bill after the next session opens Sept. 18, then the lower level could become law if signed by Gov. Robert P. Casey, Emerich said. "I really feel MADD is making a difference. (The legal process is) just slow," Smith said. "Even if one life is saved it makes a difference." White Lobby Waring Findlay Three•year•old Sarah Gorlow and her brother David, of Pitts burgh, enjoy magician Earl Houser's show at Tallyßand Park in Bellefonte. *********** p. s. u. Presents PEERS SUPPORTING QUiITING tA 3 Week Smoking Cessation Program. * When? Tue. & Thur. nights 6:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. Sept. 5,7, 12, 14, & 19 y. Where? Rm. 28 Ritenour Health Center I v 4 Registration? Call 863-0461 before 5:00 p.m. Sept. 5 to register. P-- • - 4:1 CollegMnftMolM
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