By BRITTANY WALL

Staff Writer

The Counseling Center sponsored the campus's first Driving Under Intoxication simulation event from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., Oct. 2 at Joe Aillet Stadium for the Fresno State vs. Tech game.

The fully interactive simulator had an immersion seat and screens that wrapped all the way around the machine.

Calvin Williams, coordinator of alcohol and drug education, said students could sit in the seat and drive a virtual course as the simulator increased the level of impairment so students could see what it feels like to be under the influence.

"It's like a huge video game," Williams said. "It's educational, but it's also like a new level of play."

Williams also said after the students drove their course, the machine gave them feedback on their driving performance.

"The simulator prints out a form telling the students how many fatal collisions or just collisions the students had and how many traffic violations they made," Williams said.

He also said the simulator, which is one of only two in existence, has a big screen that allowed those waiting in line to see how the person in the simulator was doing on their course.

Many students said they felt the DUI simulator was an exciting way to learn about a serious topic that is usually handled in a serious manner.

"I definitely think this is a good idea," Ashley Porche, a freshman political science major, said. "I lost three relatives to a drunk driver, so I think it's crucial for teens to understand the effects drunk driving can have on their lives and other people's lives."

The simulators are a part of the "Save a Life Tour," which is sponsored by a company based in Grand Rapids, Mich.

"The tour seems like a really good idea," Cerissa Taylor, a sophomore medical technology major, said. "Drunk driving is a topic people take too lightly, and with the simulators they can get an actual feel for what it's like and what can happen without just reading about it or watching it on television."

Williams said he is confident that the simulator will help students think twice before they drive a car after consuming large amounts of alcohol.

"Drunk driving is a serious problem on college campuses," Williams said. "We're trying to educate people regarding drunk driving, and if we want to reach people, we have to turn up the heat on how we do things. It's good when students can be actively involved with learning things like this."

Along with the simulator, educational material and pamphlets were passed out so students could know the effects of drunk driving and also how to determine when a person is too intoxicated to drive.