By: Mackenzie Byerlee
Features Editor
The “Wellbeing Fair” highlighted the resources that the university has to offer when it comes to bettering students’ mental and physical health.
Some of the participating organizations included the Violence Prevention Victim Advocacy and Support Center, the Wellbeing Center, Recreation and Fitness, Health Services and more.
VPAS Coordinator Colleen Kearney shared that she hopes students understand that their services are always available.
“We’re trying to promote healthy relationships on campus and awareness that our resources are here for students,” Kearney said. “If you had experienced sexual assault, dating violence or stalking, we are here to support you.”
The “Wellbeing Fair” had tables set up in the Academic Quad representing each of the organizations that attended.
Students were highly encouraged to visit each of them with their event passports that needed to be stamped by nine organizations.
After nine stamps, students were eligible for a free T-shirt and Ben and Jerry’s ice cream.
Every organization had an activity or free items set up at their table and were eager to share their message.
RecFit had students write what was causing them stress on a piece of paper, and then crumple it up and throw it into a trash can.
Alcohol and other drug services had an affirmation board to write messages on heart shaped sticky notes and if needed, people could take one for themselves that they resonated with.
With so many opportunities, students were able to learn about a variety of resources and participate in activities that got their minds off of their worries and onto their health.
“I honestly didn’t even know that we had counseling services here,” speech, language and hearing sciences major Josie Kieras, a junior, said.
The event was led by coordinator of the Wellbeing Center Allyson Regis.
Regis mentioned that the annual “Wellbeing Fair” aims to bring people together and learn more about what wellness can look like and how students can improve theirs.
“Many times people think wellness and they automatically think counseling, but wellness can also look like taking care of yourself and going to RecFit or figuring out your career and who you want to be,” Regis said.
With a broader definition in mind, students were able to explore the many forms that wellness takes and therefore, new ways that they can implement better habits into their day-to-day lives.
Forming healthier habits was strongly encouraged by organizations such as the Nicotine Prevention Program and the Center for Academic Success and Accessibility Services.
NPP works with health services to allow students confidential help when it comes to quitting nicotine.
CASAS has a multitude of offerings such as tutoring and class and housing accommodations.
So, no matter what knowledge students went into the event having, they left with some form of new information and resources after speaking with representatives of each organization.
“I loved talking to everyone here, they were very nice,” exercise science Melody Rowe-Cary, a freshman, said.
Regis shared that giving students the opportunity to learn more about campus resources and being able to witness everything in the end was her favorite part of the entire event.
“I like being in the middle of the event,” Regis said, “seeing the vision come to life and seeing the students really participate, have fun and point out what they’re stressed out about.”
