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January 28, 2005

ULM Student Life and Leadership Presents DUI Speaker

Students are invited to listen to Mark Sterner speak on "DUI: A Powerful Lesson", Tuesday, February 1, in Spyker Theatre at 7 p.m.

Mark Sterner's life changed drastically when three of his best friends and fraternity brothers were killed in a drinking and driving car crash during spring break. Mark was at the wheel of the car, intoxicated. Sterner ended up with three felony manslaughter convictions and spent three years in a Florida prison.

He was scheduled to be the first in his family to graduate college. Instead, he was the first member of his family to go to prison.

During their week of spring break, the friends each took a turn as the designated driver. On their final night, they fatefully decided that the "least drunk" among them would drive. Although Sterner was less drunk than his friends, he was still impaired and was held responsible for the accident and the deaths of his friends.

He doesn't want others to have to ask themselves the same questions, so Sterner shares his message with high school and college students across the country. To date, Mark has spoken to nearly a million students.

Mark has received requests to appear on Oprah, Montel, Geraldo, 20/20 and 48 Hours. He has denied these requests for two reasons. First, he feels his presentation is most powerful in person. Second, out of consideration for his friends' families, Sterner does not want national media attention that might cause them to have to relive the tragedy.

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