The Student Services Finance Committee held a meeting Monday to hear an eligibility presentation for the student organization Live Free.

Live Free is an organization dedicated to promoting health and wellness, individual and collective resiliency and academic success for students in recovery from substance abuse and addictive behaviors at University of Wisconsin.

Live Free spokesperson Travis Fearing said the group’s efforts benefit the entire campus community. He said students who attend an institution with a collegiate recovery program have higher retention and graduation rates than other students. Data in the group’s presentation indicated more than 90 percent of college students stay on campuses that have a collegiate recovery program.

“I firmly believe that at some point in our lives as human beings, we are all going to be in recovery from something or some experience,” Fearing said. “So we wanted to provide an all-encompassing definition of recovery and it is the sustained interpersonal, emotional, psychological and physical transformation.”

Live Free spokesperson Caroline Miller said the organization’s assistance in recovery focuses on a peer-based approach with a social emphasis. Some of their highest rated assets for peer and social support models are students in recovery who are interested in growing the recovery community and dedicated staff on campus.

Miller also said a physical space for students to socialize while being safe and sober is one of the group’s interests.

SSFC Rep. David Morel asked questions regarding the confidentiality of students in their group and whether their services worked to prevent relapse.

In response, Miller said their services are helpful to those struggling with relapse. Live Free operates as a bridge for students, so if a student does not feel comfortable being in a group setting, they can be referred to University Health Services, she said.

“We definitely don’t want to add any pressure [to recovering students],” Miller said. “We certainly want to help them get plugged in, but it’s obviously up to the student and what they feel comfortable with.”

The committee will reach a decision on Live Free’s eligibility at their next meeting Oct. 1.