Monday, March 28, 2005

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (March 21, 2005) - Bernie McGrenahan, considered one of the most important comedians in the country, will be performing at East Tennessee State University on March 30, 2005. The show will begin at 8 p.m in the D.P. Culp Center Auditorium. The show is free and open to the public, including all ETSU students.

Bernie's "Comedy with a Message Tour" is impacting high school and college students across America, focusing on the No. 1 substance abuse problem on college campuses today - high risk drinking. The event is being sponsored by several ETSU committees and student-organizations, including the ETSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics' Alcohol Awareness Task Force and the ETSU Student Government Association.

McGrenahan's "Happy Hour, Comedy with a Twist" is 30 minutes of stand up comedy followed by 30-minute, impact-filled message on alcohol abuse. His stand up comedy is very humorous and prepares the audience for what comes next. He then leads into a powerful message that includes the story of the alcohol and drug related suicide of his 19-year-old brother, as well as his personal experiences with alcohol and its effects.

Bernie, who himself has been free of alcohol for nearly 13 years, applauds the "social norm," or majority of students who do make smart choices regarding alcohol. He does not exaggerate his alcohol consumption and personal experiences in an effort to qualify with students. His testimony is true. He has lived it and seen first hand the destruction that alcohol can cause.

"I want students to know the truth about alcohol," McGranahan said. "It is a cunning and powerful drug and we must respect it."

ETSU Associate Athletic Director Barbie Breedlove, who chairs the AATF Committee, said this event will have a true impact on both the ETSU community and the greater Tri-Cities area.

"I believe Bernie McGrenahan's performance will appeal to and be beneficial to a wide variety of students on our campus and from other campuses," Breedlove said. "His approach uses humor and real-life experiences to convey some very important messages to college students. He will be entertaining, he will present solutions, and he will wrap up with a message of hope. This presentation is so important that it is being sponsored by multiple organizations on campus, including the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, The NCCAA, the Alcohol Awareness Task Force, Student Government Association, the ETSU Counseling Center, and Bucs Against Drunk Driving (BADD).

"These organizations believe strongly in the value of this performance and have backed up their belief with dollars."