The Sam Houston Alcohol Referral Program allows on-campus students to confront their behavior toward alcohol through a six-hour course.”If you take a SHARP class, if you pay attention, you will learn something,” said Dean of Students Frank Parker.SHARP is committed to the concept of alcohol education. SHARP serves as an alternative to disciplinary or legal action normally given to students who are caught with alcohol. The program offers a two-hour class night one night week for three consecutive weeks at a cost of $25.”The $25 dollars is for all the administrative costs, paper work and the materials. The university doesn’t keep any of that money and it’s been the same price for seven years,” said Parker. “(Parker) is the person most of the students have to meet with if they get into trouble,” said LuAnn Helmes, counselor.The program was sponsored in collaboration with Montgomery-Walker County counseling to provide on-campus classes in the LSC for two hours every Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Initially, if the student decided not to participate in the program, there was a $50 fine. For the last two years, Residence Life, specifically Wayne Bennett and Dundra Hollins, have help to execute this program along with the Dean of Students office, the Health center and the University Police Department.The SHARP program offers guidance and information, along with an assessment and an alcohol calendar to let the student know how often he or she drinks.”It’s a six-hour program to help a student examine their behavior towards alcohol and to provide information,” said Parker.The program result is effective and there is rarely repeat offenders, said Parker. The assessments and calendar serve as eye openers to a student’s personal behavior toward drinking.”People are amazed,” said Parker. “I really hope that it causes students to think about what they are doing when alcohol is concerned and to really think about their decisions.”SHARP has been in existence for about seven years, said Parker.Despite its success, the program is not very popular to students and some even think it is a new program.”I never heard of it,” said Alan Plunkett, UPD employee.It is clear SHSU gives students an opportunity to address their personal behavior toward alcohol. Along with SHARP, SHSU also offers programs for students who may suffer from alcohol abuse.”At the counseling center, we have a New Directions program if students want to stop drinking,” said Helmes.