Wellness Fair encourages healthy living

The coming winter months often mean sickness and other health concerns for students.

But with the 18th Annual Wellness Fair, students and members of the U community took advantage of the free health information offered in the Union Ballroom Wednesday.

The Wellness Fair, coordinated by the Student Health Advisory Committee, is one of the main ways students help raise awareness about important health issues at the U.

“We hope that students gain more awareness and more knowledge on how to stay healthy as a college student,” said Connie Yang, a senior in health promotion and a member of SHAC. “College students don’t pay enough attention to their health.”

SHAC is committed to educating members of the U community about health and wellness issues and worked with the Student Health Center and the Office of Health Promotion to bring the annual event to students.

The fair hosted more than 100 vendors, including many community health organizations and student groups. Planned Parenthood, the Rape Recovery Center and the Red Cross handed out information to interested students. The University Counseling Center and the Women’s Resource Center also displayed information.

Nick Critchlaw, a senior in gender studies and mass communications, represented the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center with a table at the fair. Critchlaw said he believes the fair is also a way for students to gain information about resources on campus they don’t always know about.

“(The fair) shows them there is always somewhere they can go,” Critchlaw said.

Yang said each vendor at the fair was chosen for a specific purpose. Each display was meant to teach students something about spiritual, physical, intellectual, emotional or social health.

“We are selective about what vendors can come (to the fair),” said Yang. “We don’t want students to feel like they are being sold something.”

The first 150 students in attendance were offered free flu shots thanks to funding from the Associated Students of the University of Utah.

Peter Jensen, a senior in political science, was one of the many students taking advantage of this opportunity.

“(The flu shots) are free and convenient,” Jensen said. “Your health is at risk if you don’t get one.”

The Wellness Fair is just one of the events taking place during Wellness Week from Oct. 27 through Nov. 1. Students, faculty and community members can learn more about health and wellness through other events including free health screenings, or participate in the 5K race on Saturday.

a.johnson@chronicle.utah.edu

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