University theme urges 'Health and Wellness'

By: Sarah Scott

Posted: 9/19/08

There are 23.6 million children and adults in the United States, or 7.8 percent of the population, who have diabetes. This is one of the leading medical treatment expenditures on healthcare plans today. Western Illinois University has taken notice and is doing everything in its power to spark a change, making the campus aware of health and wellness by promoting it as the university theme.

Each year on the Western Illinois campus, the Office of Student Activities chooses a university theme. During the 2007-2008 academic year, the theme was Global Challenges and Personal Responsibility: Environmental Sustainability. This theme brought on many changes to the campus such as more recycling programs, a sustainability committee and an overall awareness of the current condition of the environment.

This year's theme, Health and Wellness: Challenges and Responsibilities, could have the same impact on the student body, informing students of the many problems concerning present epidemics such as HIV/AIDS, diabetes, STIs and other common health concerns many of us overlook.

A committee of 12 to 15 people, consisting of two student positions, faculty and administrators, choose the themes. Director of Student Activities Ann Comerford and Collin Hombke are mainly in charge of this committee.

The process for choosing the theme is rather lengthy. First, the committee will send out either a press release or a campus-wide e-mail asking for suggestions on what students, faculty and staff believe will be a good theme for upcoming years. After receiving the results from those polls, they will tally up all the responses and find commonalities.

These themes are taken to the SGA, President Council, Leadership Council and other organizations. From there, they distinguish the predominant themes and find the ones that fit with current trends going on with today's political, social and media world. They choose themes three years in advance to set up speakers and events that coincide with the themes to help promote them on campus.

For this year's theme there is a broad range of events to attend. On Sept. 29, Koren Zailckas, author of "Smashed," the first year experience required reading for the summer, will be presenting. The book is about a woman who faced many hard times with drugs and alcohol and overcame them.

The next scheduled event will be held on Oct. 28, with Kevin Roberts, the Food Dude, who will speak on and demonstrate ways to prepare healthy food. Kevin recently competed on the Food Network's "Next Food Network Star" competition. He has also appeared as the chef on ESPN's "Cold Pizza."

On Nov. 13, Dr. Joan Borysenko will discuss the role of psychological factors in physical health and wellness. Dr. Borysenko is a pioneer in integrative medicine and a world-renowned expert in the mind/body connection.

By going to these events put on by the university's theme program, students can better themselves and live a healthier life.

If anyone would like to suggest a theme or has ideas for events, contact Comerford at at-comerford@wiu.edu.