The College of Communication and Fine Arts (CCFA) is looking for students and faculty to join the inaugural Health and Wellness Initiative.
The initiative is a committee made up of faculty, staff and students within various departments across the college who would research, propose and implement actions to promote health and well-being on campus.
“I'm hopeful that through this group, we will be able to create some actionable plans,” said CCFA Dean Dr. Michael Thrasher, who created the group. “I don't want to just talk about this.
“We do a lot of that around here. We just talk about stuff. Talking is great, but I want to see something happen.”
Thrasher has committed at least $10,000 to implementing the ideas proposed by the committee. Currently, there are 16 faculty and staff involved, but they need more student voices.
“The committee needs input from the students because after all, they are the reason we are here,” said assistant professor of English Dr. Theresa Johnson. “We are an institution that is designed to help others become learned leaders who will make a difference in our world, and we must be attentive to their needs.”
The initiative has four areas of focus: campus safety (including security, lighting, building access and surveillance), crisis management (including contingency plans for manmade threats or natural disasters), physical and auditory health (including injury prevention, safety around chemicals and power tools, well-being for performing artists, awareness for journalists and mitigating noise induced hearing loss) and mental health (stress, anxiety, depression, suicide prevention and loneliness).
“What one faculty member or student may be worried about will not be the same as the other,” said Hall School of Journalism and Communication lecturer Hanna Cooper. “We need to make sure that our efforts are expansive and cover the many concerns that our committee has identified.
“It is important to make a concentrated effort to address both the physical health and safety and the mental health in whatever capacity that may look like.”
The committee was inspired by the Okanagan Charter, which was created in 2015 and called for higher academia to “infuse health into everyday operations, business practices and academic mandates.”
“Safety is a primary concern,” said Michael Orlofsy, professor and director of the creative writing program. “How can common sense steps now mitigate more serious issues in the future?
“Can classroom doors be quickly and easily locked, for example? Can pointing out a dark section of sidewalk lead to a brighter light bulb?
“In short, the Initiative seeks to be responsive to the health and well-being of the campus community. My door, for one, is always open.”
Students interested in joining the Health and Wellness Initiative can email Cece Lotierzo at clotierzo@troy.edu.
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