On Tuesday, February 28th, students at the Dalton State College Gilmer County Center (DSCGCC) participated in Dalton State College’s (DSC) Wasted Knowledge program. On Tuesday, February 28th, students at the Dalton State College Gilmer County Center (DSCGCC) participated in Dalton State College’s (DSC) Wasted Knowledge program.

Every now and then, DSC will have special awareness weeks to help educate students about how to make responsible decisions they can use away from the campus. With Spring break being right around the corner, the purpose of the Wasted Knowledge program is to help educate students through an alcohol awareness seminar about the dangers of drinking and driving.

During the seminar, students got to participate in an alcohol awareness course conducted by the Gilmer County Sheriff’s department that demonstrated the effects of driving under the influence of alcohol. As part of the course, the students were asked to first drive a golf cart through a driving course without any added effect. The students were then asked to wear special goggles that impair your vision just like alcohol does at blood alcohol levels ranging from .08 to 2.4. Through the demonstration, students were able to see the differences between not drinking and driving and drinking and driving.

The DSCGCC is a six classroom side campus of DSC accredited through the University System of Georgia that primary allows for students to take their required core curriculum at the campus before transferring on to the main campus at DSC. Sandy Ott, the Director at the DSCGCC said last semester they offered 41 classes at the campus ranging in all different subjects, and that 96% of the students recommended their experience at the school. Ott also said that most students at the school are from the Gilmer, Fannin, and Pickens area and take classes at the school due to its convenience in location.

The DSCGCC will next host a self-defense class on Thursday, April 12 at 6:00 p.m. Officer Elyse Walker of DSC Public Safety will be conducting the class. Tracey May, the Administrative Assistant at the DSCGCC said that anyone wishing to participate in the class must be 16 or older and can contact her at her office at (706) 635-1260.