Campus Health officials are targeting fraternities with a survey on binge drinking as part of an effort to stop alcohol abuse among college students.

Greek Life Coordinator Chris Bullins said binge drinking is common with all college students, especially among members of fraternities.

Binge drinking is defined as having five or more drinks in a row at least once in the last two weeks.

Officials are surveying new members of fraternities on campus to evaluate their alcohol habits.

The survey, called Changing the Environment and Culture of Fraternity and Sorority High Risk Drinking at the U of A, is a part of a two-year, $280,000 Department of Education grant to promote alcohol education.

Last semester, a study was released showing that white males have the highest reported rate of binge drinking among college students.

Eighty-one percent of UA fraternity members are white males.

"Documented research has shown that fraternity members are among the highest college drinkers. This grant survey addresses this," Bullins said.

The two-part grant has different projects for fraternities and sororities.

It's part of a prevention program that Campus Health Service has sponsored since 1995. Since then, the UA has experienced a 29 percent decrease in high-risk drinking incidences.

The men who participate in the survey attend three meetings. At the first meeting, they fill out the confidential questionnaire that addresses their alcohol usage.

In the second meeting, they receive the results of the questionnaire and discuss with health officials alternatives to their drinking practices.

Two to three months later, the participants complete a follow-up questionnaire to see if the project has affected their drinking habits.

Adam Wolfe, a physiological sciences sophomore and survey participant from Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity doesn't drink but supports the initiative Campus Health is taking. He thinks other fraternity members and other UA students can benefit from the information.

"I don't think people realize what happens to their bodies when they drink. This survey covers that," he said.

Part of the grant is used to educate members of sororities about healthy behavior, said Lynn Reyes, alcohol and other drug prevention specialist for Campus Health.

"We are informing on the healthy behaviors that the majority of students participate in," she said.

The grant started in the fall and will continue until the spring of 2005. It is the second consecutive grant that examines the consumption of alcohol on the UA campus. In 2001, a two-year grant addressed the use of alcohol among residence hall dwellers.

Phi Kappa Tau member Doug Harrington, a finance sophomore, drinks on occasion and appreciated the information he received in the survey.

"It's important to be safe when drinking," he said.

Danny Huck, an engineering freshman and member of Beta Theta Pi, said he does not binge drink and doesn't hang out with anyone who does. He has finished the survey, and isn't sure what effect it will have on him or other participants, but he added that it can be helpful in some situations.

"It's a good idea to look at what kids are drinking," he said. "It helps people understand how much they drink and maybe do something about it."

The goal for the project is to have 200 men complete the process this year, with another 200 expected to participate next year.

Greek Life discounts the mandatory Greek Life auxiliary fee for those fraternities that have 80 percent of new members finish the survey.

In addition, each man receives a $25 gift card to Best Buy. The chapter is also recognized at the annual Greek Awards and a letter of appreciation is sent from the Dean of Students to the fraternity's national chapter.

Thirteen other schools in the nation have received similar grants addressing alcohol prevention from the Department of Education.

The results of the Residence Life survey are being compiled and will be available in September.