Important Information for All Families: Addressing the Impact of Senior Fifth
by Betsy Chapman
In this Issue: we discuss Senior Fifth
I am sharing the message below on behalf of colleagues across campus who work with preventing high-risk behaviors
We are writing to you today with a sincere and serious request for partnership regarding a dangerous drinking custom that has unfortunately occurred on our campus in the past: Senior Fifth.
Senior Fifth is an extremely high-risk activity where seniors attempt to consume an entire 750ml bottle of hard liquor (a “fifth”) in the hours before kickoff at one of our final home games. For context, this volume is the equivalent of approximately 16 to 17 shots of alcohol.
The Significant Risks
Consuming this much alcohol in a compressed timeframe creates many potential dangers:
Medical Emergencies: Immediate and critical risk of alcohol poisoning requiring hospitalization.
Physical Harm: Potential for serious injuries due to falls, accidents, or reckless behavior (such as intoxicated students climbing onto the roof of their house).
Long-Term Impact: Students, particularly seniors, risk damaging their professional reputation or even jeopardizing job offers if they are involved in incidents that are publicized, especially those related to hosting or promoting unsafe events.
Our Commitment to Safety
We are absolutely committed to the health and safety of every student. Wake Forest has a robust, multi-faceted prevention program in place to challenge the culture around Senior Fifth. We are actively working to ensure students have the education, resources, and skills to make the most informed choice for themselves.
Your Critical Partnership
Your influence is one of the strongest in your student’s life. We ask you to partner with us by initiating a conversation about high-risk drinking behavior:
For Families of Seniors: Please have a direct, honest conversation about Senior Fifth. Express your clear expectation that they do not participate in this or any other high-risk drinking activity. Your concern for their safety and wellbeing is paramount.
For All Other Families: Use this time to start an ongoing conversation about the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption and high-risk behaviors. Laying this foundational groundwork now is the most effective form of prevention for future years.
With the final two home games coming up over the next two weekends, we urge you to take time in the coming weeks to discuss making safe choices and avoiding high-risk situations like Senior Fifth.
Thank you for partnering with us in this crucial effort. We want all of our students to enjoy gameday safely and cultivate positive memories that they can remember long after senior year.
