Students, faculty and staff on UVI's campuses on St. Thomas and St. Croix will be seeing red during the last week of October as they participate in local celebrations of Red Ribbon Week - the nation's oldest and largest drug prevention and anti-crime campaign. Red Ribbon Week - Oct. 24-28 - provides a vehicle for communities and individuals to take a stand for the hopes and dreams of children by making a commitment to drug prevention and education, and by making personal commitments to live drug-free lives.

Both campuses will feature full slates of activities, including pledge days, contests, games, karaoke competitions, a blood drive and HIV/AIDS testing (St. Croix), a costume party (St. Thomas) and community outreach efforts. Marches are also planned on both St. Croix and St. Thomas.

On St. Croix, participants will gather at the entrance to the campus' Palm Drive, at 5:45 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 24, and then march to the UVI Cafetorium for a rally and performance by the UVI Bucs Dance Squad. The St. Croix Educational Complex Marching Band will lead the way. Earlier Monday, the campus community will kick off the week's activities with an opening ceremony at 2 p.m. in the Cafetorium. A visit by Crime Dog McGruff, presentations and a skit are planned. Raffle prizes - highlighted by a hotel stay - will be held every 15 minutes until 2 p.m.

Organizers on St. Thomas are taking this year's march downtown, with the Charlotte Amalie High School Marching Band leading the way from the Frenchtown area to Emancipation Garden beginning at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 26. The march, and the program that follows, are co-sponsored by the Law Enforcement Planning Commission Prevention Council. The week's activities officially begin on Monday, Oct. 24, with a Wear Red and Pledge Against Drugs Day. Pledges will be taken at the Dining Pavilion, the CA Building and the Sports and Fitness Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A list of activities by campus is featured below.

For detailed information on St. Thomas call (340) 693-1120 or 693-1111. For details on St. Croix call (340) 692-4208.

St. Thomas campus

  • Monday, Oct. 24 - Wear Red and Pledge Against Drugs Day - 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Sports and Fitness Center, Dining Pavilion, and CA Building.
  • Tuesday, Oct. 25 - Drug Free Door Decoration Contest - All campus offices and organizations encouraged to decorate their doors using the UVI theme "inspiRED - Promoting A Drug Free V.I." Judging begins at 10 a.m. To join in the competition, call (340) 693-1120 or 693-1111.
  • Wednesday, Oct. 26 - March Against Substance Abuse and Crime - 9 a.m. - from Frenchtown to Emancipation Garden. Charlotte Amalie High School Marching Band to lead the march. A program follows in Emancipation Garden sponsored by the Law Enforcement Planning Commission Prevention Council.
  • Thursday, Oct. 27 - Speak Out Against Drugs - Open Mic Competition - 7 p.m. - Dining Pavilion. Participants will use song, dance, music, poetry and short skits to reflect on the themes of drugs and alcohol prevention, anti-violence or HIV/AIDS prevention. To join in the competition, call (340) 693-1120 or 693-1111.
  • Friday, Oct. 28 - Weird Costume Contest & Karaoke - 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Dining Pavilion. Prizes for the best costumes. Refreshments to include red fruit punch, fed fruits, red cake, etc.

Albert A. Sheen Campus - St. Croix

  • Monday, Oct. 24 - Wear Anything Red Day & Opening Ceremony at Cafetorium - noon to 2 p.m. - Crime Dog McGruff appears, presentations, skit and raffles until 2 p.m
    • Kickoff March and Rally - 6 p.m. at Palm Drive entrance. The St. Croix Educational Complex Marching Band will lead the way. A rally follows. A community service table will be available.
  • Tuesday, Oct. 25 - Wear Anything Red - Blood Drive - noon to 4 p.m. at the Student Activity Center; K9 Demonstration - noon to 12:30 p.m.; HIV Testing - 1 to 4 p.m. - Health Services Center in the Great House; Information tables by Department of Health, Customs Department, National Guard, The Village.
  • Wednesday, Oct. 26 - Wear Anything Red - Jeopardy Game hosted by David Capriola - 12:15 to 12:50 p.m. in the Cafetorium; Blood Drive 3 to 6 p.m. at Student Activity Center.
  • Thursday, Oct. 27 - Outreach Day - UVI Health Services Center, the Alcohol and Drug Prevention Committee and the Student Government Association will take the drug awareness message to Charles H. Emanuel Elementary School, with Crime Dog McGruff and the UVI Bucs Steppers participating.