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AT A GLANCE
Eating Right Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated pg. 4 Thinking about making healthier food choices? Trying to reach a goal? Continue reading to learn how to take advantage of a free nutrition consultation with KatiePowers, UNC Charlotte’s on campus registered dietitian.
WANTED: Goal Diggers – 10 Weeks to a Weller You pg. 8
The Time 2 Change Program is a free program that offers students a hand in their journey to a healthier lifestyle by reaching a healthier weight goal in just 10 weeks. Continue reading to learn more about Rec Services’ personalized program and how to apply.
Cultivating Individual and Community Resilience in the Aftermath of Tragedy pg. 6 The need for resilience in a politically charged culture can be critical in driving student success. In the aftermath of events such as Charlottesville, Orlando, and Charleston, many students struggle with rebounding from the impacts of heavy emotions. Continue reading to learn more about strategies on how to tap into and flourish in your own resilience.
Come Sit With Us! pg. 10 Hey smokers! You may have noticed some changes to our Designated Smoking Areas. What’s the deal? Continue reading to learn more about what you should and should not look for this semester and moving forward!
Safer Sex For All pg. 11
Real Students, Real Recovery pg. 12
Need condoms? Lube? Something else? Have you visited the Safer Sex Station yet? Continue reading to learn about a wide variety of FREE safer sex materials available to UNC Charlotte students through the Center for Wellness Promotion.
Did you know that statistics show approximately 1,200 UNC Charlotte students are in recovery from alcohol and drug addiction? Continue reading to hear from two graduating seniors in recovery who are now living their lives substance-free with support from the UNC Charlotte Collegiate Recovery Community.
GRADREADY: The More you Know, the Less You’ll Owe pg. 19
Feeling lost in the sea of financial abyss? In need of direction? GRADREADY offers free financial education to help you navigate and feel confident about your financial future.
Health & Wellness Guide
Wellness Ambassadors: Promoting College Health Education through Peer-toPeer Interaction. pg. 21 Calling all healthy Niners! Do you have an interest in college health and wellness? Join the Wellness Ambassadors, a student organization comprised of leaders who want to promote wellness among their peers and make a difference at UNC Charlotte.
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EATING RIGHT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE COMPLICATED Information provided by The Student Health Center College students face many challenges when it comes to eating right and staying healthy. Often, for the first time, you are making your own decisions about what you eat. From a limited budget to easy access to fast food and unhealthy snacks, it can seem overwhelming to try to eat right. But this is also a great time to start establishing eating habits that can improve your health over your lifetime.
FOCUS ON VARIETY Eat a variety of foods from all the food groups to get the nutrients your body needs. Choose a variety of colors including dark green, orange, yellow and red when eating fruits and vegetables. Vary protein choices with more fish, beans and peas. Eat at least 3 ounces of whole grain products such as whole grain cereals, breads, crackers rice or pasta every day.
Following these recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans can help you shift to healthier food and beverage choices.
KNOW YOUR FATS Look for foods low in saturated fat and trans fat to help prevent heart disease. Most (at least 2/3) of the fat that you eat should come from monounsaturated and polyunsaturated sources. The Food Label can help you determine what type of fat is in a food product.
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Emphasize fruit, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat or fat-free milk and milk products
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Include lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and nuts
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Make sure your diet is low in saturated fats, trans fats, salt and added sugars
Photo courtesy of Tribune News Service/Hector Amezcua
MAKE YOUR CALORIES COUNT Think nutrient rich rather than “good” or “bad” foods. The majority of your food choices should be packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other nutrients. Making healthier food choices can help you stay healthy and manage your weight.
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Katie Powers | 704.687.7382 | NT file photo
NEED MORE HELP? UNC Charlotte Registered Dietitian, Katie Powers is available in the Student Health Center to help students develop healthy eating habits that can provide a foundation for improved health and academic
Health & Wellness Guide
success. This is a FREE service for UNC Charlotte students. Appointments can be made with Katie by calling the Student Health Center at 704-687-7400. To contact her directly, call 704-687-7382 or email mkpowers@uncc.edu.
WHAT CAN KATIE POWERS DO FOR YOU?
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
PROVIDE MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY The treatment of many chronic and acute diseases can be optimized by including Nutrition Education to help manage disease. Your RD can provide this Medical Nutrition Therapy for help in meal planning and food choices. HELP WITH NAVIGATING FOOD ALLERGIES, SENSITIVITIES AND INTOLERANCES When you suffer from conditions such as celiac disease, food allergies or lactose intolerance, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by what you think you can’t eat. That can translate into a boring diet and may even lead to nutrient deficiencies. Your RD can teach you how to read food labels so you’ll know which ingredients to avoid and a help you find substitutions to keep your diet balanced and tasty, too. COORDINATE A WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM THAT REALLY WORKS Fad diets may sound like the quick ticket to weight loss, but they rarely work for very long. Your RD will partner with you to develop a safe, effective weight loss plan that you can stick with for the long haul. HELP YOU EAT RIGHT ON AND OFF CAMPUS Your RD can help you learn how to plan and prepare healthy meals and snacks to meet your individual nutrition goals as well as the recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Learn how to read food labels, grocery shop, develop meal plans and much more by visiting your Registered Dietitian. A Niner Times Publication
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Cultivating Individual and Community Resilience in the Aftermath of Tragedy Information provided by Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) With the start of the Fall semester, thousands of students are descending to campus, some for the first time. Many come with hopes of finding that perfect major that will lead to that perfect job, or wishes for that perfect roommate or perfect professor that will help create a wonderful college experience. The campus has been abuzz with this excitement and energy, but like other Fall semesters, this energy also houses the aftermath of yet another tragedy in our country, this time in Charlottesville, VA. For many students, in particular students of color, this event and the resulting emotions are all too familiar. Tragedies like Charlottesville, Orlando, and Charleston have an impact and do not occur in isolation. Each one continues to remind us that greater systems of oppression are not things of the past, but are still very present in our society, and continue to have detrimental effects on physical and mental health. As mental health professionals on this campus, we at Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) work to understand the impact of these
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tragedies on our students. We see many students struggle with feelings of powerlessness, sadness, anger, and emotional numbness. These feelings are completely normal and can be the product of oppres6
sive-based trauma, with one of the most common forms of this being racial-based trauma. Students typically report that this impacts their physical functioning (sleep, appetite, energy), mental functioning (concentration, attention), and behavioral functioning (isolating, crying, unhealthy coping). It is important to be aware of the potential effects that oppressive events can have on functioning and to learn your warning signs in order to increase awareness of when it becomes “too much”. As examples, some may begin to see a significant decrease in their academic performance, a loss of interest or pleasure in anything they used to enjoy, and even thoughts about wishing they were no longer alive. We believe it is imperative that you have strategies to develop both individual and community-level resilience in the wake of these tragedies. Higher levels of resilience have been shown to “insulate” students against some, though not all, of this harmful impact. This, in turn, allows students to continue to achieve academic success and well-being despite the emotions experienced. One significant factor in cultivating individual resilience is self-care. Taking care of one’s body can lead to a healthier mind, therefore healthy eating habits and sleep hygiene are extremely important for students, even in times when it is difficult to follow through on them. Additionally, engaging in consistent physical activity can be a healthy outlet for emotions, while also stimulating brain chemicals that improve mood and help a person feel relaxed. It is also important to regulate viewing of social media and news following tragedies. We recognize the value of staying informed; however you need to understand your optimal balance between staying informed and not overwhelming yourself. There may be times when you need to disconnect in order to refuel. Community-level resilience is also very important following these tragedies. As emotional pain is typically experienced at the community level, healSee RESILIENCE, page 7
Health & Wellness Guide
RESILIENCE cont. ing can therefore also occur in community. There can be benefit to being in specific community space that includes only individuals who share a cultural identity. These spaces can promote healing through shared experiences and support. Students may feel more free to discuss their feelings, without worry of having to explain or justify them. Community space can also be broader and include a diverse group of individuals with various identities and lived experiences. This space can provide support for students, particularly from those who may not be as directly impacted and therefore have more energy to give. Campus support resources, such as CAPS, can be an instrumental part of this type of support. Consistent with our mission and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, CAPS seeks to provide support and care to all impacted by these tragedies and to create an affirming and inclusive environment that addresses systems of oppression and its harmful effects. It is common for students to struggle in college with a range of concerns, including struggling with national and local tragic events. All enrolled students are eligible for an initial consultation, during which a counselor will assess the
student’s concerns and collaboratively develop a plan to best address them. Our services are free and confidential. Students who are interested in scheduling
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an appointment may call us (704-687-0311) or come by in person. CAPS will be relocating to a newly constructed building, Price Center (adjacent to the Student Health Center), during this Fall semester. Information about this move, as well as our crisis services, including after-hours, can be found on our website (caps.uncc.edu). We encourage you to like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
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TIME2CHANGE PROGRAM
Learn how students can utilize personal training services on campus Information provided by Recreational Services
According to a 2015 study conducted by the “Time 2 Change is just that; 10 weeks of change, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, growth and learning. An opportunity to not only approximately 5.2 million college students are learn about health and fitness, but to increase considered obese. The Department of Recreational your quality of life. A time to meet and connect Services at UNC Charlotte has created a program with people on your same journey, but all different to help students combat this statistic and learn levels. Ten weeks of time invested in you, improvthe importance of a healthy lifeing you and just focusing on YOU!” style. Time 2 Change is a free proFormer participants of the gram that aims to help students program cite the encouragelose weight, reduce body fat, and ment they received through increase confidence in achieving the program as one of the main “THE PROGRAM personal health goals. It is also contributors to their success. designed to provide participants Colby Sharpe, a 2016 – 2017 DOES MORE with the tools necessary to conparticipant, gave a glowing THAN PROMOTE tinue a fitness regime long after review to the program. She said, the program ends. “The trainers will motivate A HEALTHY The ten-week program, which and push you and let you know LIFESTYLE, IT is specifically for students with that you’re not alone in making a BMI of 30 or higher, features a lifestyle change like this. If HELPS INDIVIDUALS free fitness assessments, personit wasn’t for the trainer I was APPRECIATE THEIR al and group training sessions, blessed with I don’t know where BODY AND BUILD and educational seminars on I would be. She not only cared nutrition, positive body image, about my progress of achieving CONFIDENCE.” and stress management. Para healthy lifestyle, she cared ticipants are also encouraged about my life outside of the sesto make appointments with the sions. The program does more University’s registered dieticians. than promote a healthy lifestyle, it One unique feature of the prohelps individuals appreciate their COLBY SHARPE gram is the interaction with nabody and build confidence.” tionally certified personal trainers. Are you interested in applying Each student will be assigned a for the next class? We will be offerpersonal trainer that will be their ing our next course at the beginaccountability partner throughout the program. ning of the Spring 2018 semester. Applications Trainers educate participants on proper form will open a week before classes start. If you have and program design to ensure that students can any questions, contact Liz Newcomb - Fitness create their own well-balanced routine once Time Coordinator, or email ptrainer@uncc.edu with any 2 Change is over. Lindsay Barnett, one of the Perquestions. sonal Trainers with Recreational Services, stated: 8
Health & Wellness Guide
CROSSWORD 38 Shot with more detail 39 Hogwarts subjects 40 Ford maverick? 41 Windy City transit initials 42 Blue Shield offering 43 Energy field 44 Hardy title teenager 45 Carpathian Mountains locale 47 Do diner work 48 Roadie’s box 51 Product made from fermented rice 52 Game typically with 81 squares 55 “Scram!” 57 Make less vulnerable to earthquakes, say 59 Straying 60 Countermanded 61 Wee 62 Muesli bit 63 Repairs with turf
Across 1 Short pants? 5 “Gloria in Excelsis __” 8 Where JFK, Nixon and Carter served 14 Brazil’s largest city 16 Military builder 17 “In my opinion ... “ 18 MLB single-season recordholder for most hits 19 Skier’s destination 20 Musical set in Manhattan’s
East Village 22 Shooting marble 23 “Xanadu” gp. 24 Youngest Simpson 26 O’er there 28 Somewhat, to Saint-Saëns 29 Against: Abbr. 31 Spanish pronoun 32 Pen pal’s greeting? 33 Removes, as a temporary hem 36 No-hitter, usually
Down 1 Russia had one in the 20th century 2 Level, in London 3 ‘70s-’80s show about a big family 4 Induced the purchase of add-ons, say 5 “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love,” e.g. 6 Brother of Peyton 7 Obsolete audio technology 8 Employing 9 Federal housing assistance program
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10 “No thanks” 11 Somewhat 12 Aloe __ 13 “That smarts!” 15 Flight-related prefix 21 I problem? 24 Pyrénées peak 25 Mike of “Next Friday” 26 Rural agreement 27 Org. that inspects workplaces 28 Any of 12 popes 30 Treasure chest coins represented graphically by two consecutive letters in six puzzle answers (including this one) 32 1875 Alcott novel 33 Uma’s role in “The Producers” 34 Squirrel’s hoard 35 Escape destinations 37 Fourth dimension 38 Essence 40 Budget motel chain 43 Hunky-dory 44 Elizabeth I’s line 46 Shabby 47 “Hamilton” role 48 Help with a job? 49 “A __ formality” 50 Shave 52 Editor’s mark 53 Captain hanged for piracy 54 Pac-12 team 56 Salon offering 58 Spacewalk initials
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SAFER SEX FOR ALL Information provided by The Center for Wellness Promotion The Center for Wellness Promotion’s Safer Sex Station (SSS) is the place to come for all of your safer sex needs on-campus! The SSS was created in the summer of 2016 and the pilot year was extremely successful! Thanks to word-of-mouth advertising, more and more students are utilizing this wonderful service. During the 2016-2017 academic year, students used nearly $5,000.00 worth of safer sex supplies. This year, we have budgeted $7,000.00 for safer sex supplies and feel that we will need to continue increasing this budget each year! The SSS is stocked daily with a wide variety of inclusive materials that help to make the sex that you want to have safer. Some of the items included in the SSS are standard male condoms, female (internal) condoms, lubricant, dental dams and latex-free gloves -- check out the side bar image on this page for additional inventory and use purposes! All of the products offered in the SSS are FREE to UNC Charlotte students! Students can access the SSS on the wall just outside the Center for Wellness Promotion, located on the Lower Level of the Student Health Center. If you have questions about the SSS, have suggestions for new additions, or would like a free one-on-one safer sex consultation, please contact Leslie Robinson at leslie.robinson@uncc.edu.
The Safer Sex Station (SSS) is FREE for students and is located on the first floor of the Student Health Center outside of the Center for Wellness Promotion. A Niner Times Publication
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Real Students, Real Recovery Information provided by The Center for Wellness Promotion
TRUE OR FALSE: You can’t be an alcoholic my core values by enlisting the help of others for accountability. until after college.
For some, it can be easy to believe that alcoholics and addicts fit a certain kind of profile. For many college students, that profile might look like everything except their friends or classmates, that fun party goer they always seem to run into, or even themselves. For anyone who’s never been affected by a substance use disorder, the profile they imagine may only reflect a small percentage of those living with addiction -- and certainly not their own peers. Here’s the truth. According to the Association of Recovery in Higher Education, approximately 4% of college students are in recovery from alcohol or drug addiction. While that number may seem small, when you look at a school like UNC Charlotte that is approaching enrollment close to 30,000 students, it equates to around 1,200 students. Similarly, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association (SAMHSA) estimates that approximately 21% of young people between the ages of 18-24 meet the criteria for a substance use disorder (about 6,300 UNC Charlotte students). With such significant numbers, UNC Charlotte is fortunate to be the home to the very first Collegiate Recovery Community (CRC) in North Carolina, which is housed in the Center for Wellness Promotion. We sat down with two CRC members to get their perspective on what it’s like to be a college student in recovery. Andrew Long, is a 25 year old senior majoring in Accounting & Managerial Information Systems who holds 3 years of sobriety. Another male student (wishes to remain anonymous), is a 26 year old senior majoring in psychology and holds over 4 years of sobriety.
1. What does it mean to be in recovery? Andrew: Recovery is making the day to day decisions that allow me to live a full life. It is distinguishing what I do have control over and moving forward in a positive direction. This has involved developing a purpose and living life within
Anonymous: Initially, recovery was the only option I had to make all the pain I had caused myself go away. Today it is a lifestyle. It is something I must participate in each day, so that I never have to go back to the life I used to live.
2. Why are CRCs an important resource on college campuses? Andrew: A person does not recover on their own. Communities such as CRC’s provide an environment that is supportive and nurturing to sustained recovery. Here, there is a staff and community that understand maintaining sobriety is much more than just saying “No”. For me without recovery I can kiss any degree I am striving for goodbye. Anonymous: I think the CRC is important for those who are in recovery to have a space on campus to go, find others who are in recovery, and also have the chance to have a college experience without being around people who are getting drunk and high. If someone is struggling with drugs and alcohol, we have the resources to help them find help. It is important for people to know that they don’t have to live that way if they don’t want to.
3. What kind of challenges would a person in recovery face on a college campus? How does the CRC help mitigate these challenges? Andrew: College students typically don’t understand that we can’t just have a couple drinks, or that hanging around people getting drunk can be a lot like a mental prison. Just as any other student finds there niche, so must we in recovery. The CRC allows students like us to find family and a place where students get to the core of what really matters in life. Anonymous: There is always going to be that friend that wants you to go to the bar or to get high. The CRC helped me find those people that were not engaging in those behaviors. Now, some of those people are my really good friends. RECOVERY, cont. on pg.14
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RECOVERY, cont.
4. What is one thing you would want others to know about people in recovery? Andrew: People in recovery are the most loving and service oriented people. We are not our pasts. Also, we will be just fine without a drink in our hands no need to ask. Anonymous: That we aren’t bad people. I feel like I am a pretty normal guy. I just could not stop drinking and doing drugs. Being sober did not affect my ability to socialize with people.
5. What attracted you to the CRC at UNC Charlotte? Andrew: The opportunity to make a difference around campus. Anonymous: There were a couple of guys in the CRC that I knew. Honestly, they talked me into and I don’t regret it at all.
6. What is your favorite thing about being a CRC member? Andrew: Connections you make with people in a short period of time. Anonymous: Meeting all the different people. Also the free food all the time and the trips and activities don’t hurt.
7. What would you say to someone considering recovery? Are there services available for them? Andrew: Swing by the CRC. We would love to be a part of your journey. There are a tremendous amount of resources on campus and in Charlotte. Anonymous: If you think you might have a problem, I would just try it. It is not going to make your life any worse. We offer Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings conveniently on campus. If you don’t like it after 3 months, go back to the life you were living. No one can make you do anything. You have to want it and do it. I can say that my life has gotten exponentially better since I have been sober. *For more information on the UNC Charlotte Collegiate Recovery Community, and for a schedule of our 12 Step Meetings, please visit our website at wellness.uncc.edu/recovery.
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R U O Y NOT
TYPICAL PESTO
Love pesto? You’ll like this salad made with classic ingredients even more Recipe provided by Chicago Tribune via MCT Campus By Leah Eskin
Spices once sparked wars, paved trade routes, built fortunes. Even now, a whiff through the perforated plastic lid evokes distant lands, terrible plunder, sacks of gold.Which might explain the spice-rack back bench. What modern kitchen lacks an ancient tin of paprika, aged nub of nutmeg or dust-crusted container of cumin? Few. The herb and spice stash, though faded to flavorless, serves up respect. And commands restraint, even after resupply. Like the picture frame or flower girl, the herb sprinkle is tasked with enhancing, not upstaging, the main event. So when a dish flouts the rules, it’s a thrill. Consider pesto salad. Not salad garnished with a sprig of basil, thyme or parsley. But salad compiled from basil, thyme and parsley. Nothing but the good stuff, in abundance. The approach might strike the cook as lavish, indulgent, wanton. Leaving a lot to relish.
PESTO SALAD PREP: 25 MINUTES MAKES: ABOUT 6 CUPS INGREDIENTS 1\2 cup pine nuts 1 small clove garlic, degermed 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 teaspoon fin ely grated lemon zest 1 ripe tomato, diced into 1-inch cubes 1 roasted red pepper, sliced into 1-inch squares 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves 2 cups fresh basil leaves, lightly packed 2 cups fresh baby arugula, lightly packed 1 cup fresh parsley leaves, lightly packed 1 mini cucumber, sliced into rounds 1 block Parmesan cheese, about 1 ounce
2. Mash: Drop garlic, salt and pepper into a mortar. Mash to a paste with the pestle. Scrape paste into a large salad bowl. Whisk in oil, lemon juice and zest. Slide in tomatoes, roasted red peppers and thyme leaves. Toss. Let rest at room temperature, at least 15 minutes (or up to 2 hours). 3. Toss: When ready to serve, drop in basil, arugula and parsley. Toss until greens are glossy with dressing. Slide in cucumbers. Carve on a few curls of Parmesan. Scatter on pine nuts. Toss again. 4. Serve: Nice for lunch with grilled bread, or at dinner as a side dish to grilled steak, fish or chicken.
DIRECTIONS 1. Toast: Scatter pine nuts into a medium skillet. Set over medium heat. Toast, shaking pan occasionally, until nuts turn golden brown, about 7 minutes.
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Student Orgs
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Health & Wellness Guide
GradReady The more you know, the less you’ll owe
Information provided by The Center for Wellness Promotion
The Center for Wellness Promotion wants financial literacy to be a part of your life. Financial literacy is a part of overall wellness. The more you know, and the more tools at your disposal, the better prepared you’ll be to maintain a financially healthy lifestyle both here and beyond UNC Charlotte. U.S. total student debt is now over $1.3 trillion dollars. College loans are just one of the financial decisions you'll face in the near future. For many, you'll be making decisions about housing, transportation, and just day-to-day living expenses for the first time. It can seem overwhelming to make a budget, manage your credit, apply for financial aid yearly, start saving, understand your student loan repayment plan, and all the rest. It doesn't have to be overwhelming.
Photo courtesy of Dreamstime?TNS
If you've ever wanted a way to just walk yourself through the financial stuff you need to know over the next few years, there's a resource out there designed with Niners in mind. UNC Charlotte offers GradReady free of charge to UNC Charlotte students. GradReady is an online financial education portal that can help you budget for your education, navigate the financial aid process, and plan ahead to financial decisions after college. GradReady provides great videos and planning tools to help you plan for how you'll cover the cost of your degree, what your monthly budget might look like, and how the student loans you borrow today might impact your future spending. It's a free service. Just create an account to gain access to your personal site. Login whenever you like. Watch the videos, use the tools, and start planning today.
Are you interested in other ways to learn about managing your finances? Check out The Center for Wellness Promotion's program calendar at http://wellness.uncc.edu/calendar. Among other topics, you'll find upcoming financial wellness programs on successful budgeting and managing your credit. A Niner Times Publication
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COME SIT WITH US! An update to our Designated Smoking Areas
Information provided by The Center for Wellness Promotion Whether you are a tobacco user or a non-tobacco user, you are probably aware of the university policy related to smoking or vaping on UNC Charlotte’s campus. In addition to all university buildings and vehicles being smoke free, the policy states that smoking and vaping are permitted only in Designated Smoking Areas (DSAs). DSAs are specific, outdoor spaces on campus where smokers can feel welcome to light up and also abide by university policy. They were put in place to help reduce the amount of second hand smoke exposure to the university community while also accommodating the needs of our tobacco users. However, a recent review of campus DSAs showed repeated inconsistencies in this initiative. Some of these inconsistencies included (in certain areas) a lack of proper signage and non-standardized smoking urns. Additionally, some areas of campus had multiple smoking urns – many of which were located in nondesignated areas, such as near building entrances or high foot-traffic walkways. This lack of consistency created confusion and often made it challenging for tobacco users to clearly identify where they were or were not permitted to smoke and vape. After careful review of current DSAs (whether official or unofficial), recommendations were made to help eliminate some of the blurred lines and direct smokers to a welcoming and approved location. To help provide this clarity, the university will be implementing changes to the DSA initiative. In Fall 2017, be on the look-out for new signage that will clearly identify an area that is designated for smoking and vaping. Each DSA will be equipped with a bench and an urn as well as a green sign that reads “Designated Smoking Area”. The sign will be attached to a standardized urn and will also include free campus quit resources available to students. Efforts are currently in the works to provide a campus map of all official DSA locations. 20
Phase I is scheduled to rollout this fall, and will include areas within the perimeter of central campus (Cameron Blvd., University Rd., Mary Alexander Rd.). Phase II will begin in the spring and will include additional areas outside the perimeter, including buildings near Jerry Richardson Stadium. Greek Village, Sovi Village and nearby residence halls will also be included in Phase II. Residents should be reminded that smoking and vaping inside the Residence Halls is against policy and will trigger the smoke alarms (yikes!). So…if you have a favorite place to smoke, don’t be alarmed if its not where you last left it! Every effort is being made to ensure you still have a convenient place to smoke while also keeping the air smoke and vapor free for our non tobacco-using community.
Health & Wellness Guide
WELLNESS AMBASSADORS
THE STUDENT-LED ORGANIZATION EDUCATING STUDENTS ON HEALTHIER BEHAVIORS
Information provided by Stefanee Tillman, President, Wellness Ambassadors Do you have an interest in college health & wellness? Do you like to meet new people? Read on about how to become involved with the Wellness Ambassadors Peer Education group, sponsored by the Center for Wellness Promotion (CWP)!
WHAT IS WELLNESS AMBASSADORS?
Wellness Ambassadors is a student led organization that educates students across campus about health and wellness related topics. The goal of Wellness Ambassadors is to encourage all students to engage in healthier behaviors, in regards to: diet and nutrition, mental health, sexual health, and substance use). As peer health educators, Wellness Ambassadors participate in the UNC Charlotte community by actively volunteering in community service and outreach programs that promote healthier lifestyles amongst UNC Charlotte students. Wellness Ambassadors demonstrate leadership and service by educating and advocating for the holistic well-being of all students.
WHAT DO YOU DO AS A WELLNESS AMBASSADOR?
As a community service organization, the main objective for Wellness Ambassadors is to volunteer by coordinating programs, tabling events, and spreading awareness across campus. Wellness Ambassadors are required to give seven hours of volunteer time and attend one Center for Wellness Promotion (CWP) event each semester. A Wellness Ambassador will join one of the four committees (Diet and Nutrition, Healthy Minds, Sexual Relationships, or Alcohol, Tobacco & other Drugs) and promote wellness as it relates to the chosen topic area. Wellness Ambassadors will also experience team bonding with other members of the organization and attend an o�cial induction ceremony.
HOW CAN I JOIN?
Wellness Ambassadors will begin accepting applications at the start of Fall and Spring semesters. We encourage students interested in joining to stay updated by visiting the CWP website, orgsync, or following us on our Instagram page @unccwa!
A NOTE FROM YOUR WA PRESIDENT
Joining Wellness Ambassadors has positively impacted my overall college experience. Wellness Ambassadors was the first organization that I joined on campus and it has opened up many opportunities for me at UNC Charlotte Charlotte. WELLNESS, cont. on pg.22
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WELLNESS, cont. By joining Wellness Ambassadors; I have become more knowledgeable in my field of study, more confident in my speaking abilities, and I have learned how to better work in a team. By being a Wellness Ambassador, I have gained connections with professional staff and relationships with peers that I will cherish for lifetime. I encourage all students looking for a way to make a positive impact across campus to join Wellness Ambassadors!
ď…
Follow us on Instagram!
@unccwa
OR visit us at wellness.uncc.edu/students-get-involved
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