Some ASU Greek life students had a sobering experience Tuesday night when they participated in a mock DUI trial.
The students first watched a video titled "Binge Drinking: The Facts" and then were invited to sit on one of three juries, which each comprised seven students.
The juries sat through a re-creation of a trial that was pending in June in East Tempe Justice Court. The jurors listened to witnesses testify and cases presented by city prosecutor Hugo Zettler and public defender Dan Lowrance.
"[We wanted to show] what can occur in a DUI case and what can happen to you," Zettler said.
The juries deliberated separately and made independent decisions: two guilty and one not guilty.
"It was an eye-opener," said political science freshman Gianna Gambucci, of Delta Gamma sorority. "I know sometimes I've gotten into a car before when I've had a drop of alcohol, and it's just scary to realize how real it is, especially if you're under 21."
Judge John Ore spoke to the group of about 50 students about the potential fines faced for underage drivers caught for DUI and the importance of keeping a clean record.
"The cops have more important things to do than screw around with kids drinking and raising hell," Judge Ore said.
This year-old program started because Greek life students wanted issues like underage drinking, DUI and date rape addressed to students in the court.
"I think it's been very beneficial due to the fact that we have severe and complicated DUI laws," said political science and sociology senior Kurt Hendrickson. "Many think it's a traffic violation when it really is a very serious crime."
Hendrickson, a member of Delta Sigma Phi, helped organize the event, along with the Rotary Club and the Tempe Teen Court.
"At the request of Greek life ... we wanted to educate [students] on the real issues of impaired driving, underage consumption and misuse of alcohol, and for them to spread the word," said Bill Graham, director of Tempe Teen Justice Court.
Following the trial, the attorneys spoke to the students about the dangers of drinking and driving.
"People have a couple of beers, and they think they are fine. It's just better to have the mindset that if I'm going to drink, I'm not going to drive," Lowrance said.
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Reach the reporter at jeffrey.hoodzow@asu.edu.
