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Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Northern Star
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Perspective
Huskie Stadium shouldn’t add on when it doesn’t fill up now
Campus Life Building, Room 130 545 Lucinda Ave. DeKalb, Ill., 60115 Web: www.NorthernStar.info Fax: 815-753-0708 Editorial Board Editorials reflect the majority opinion of the Editorial Board; columns reflect the opinion of the author alone. Editor in Chief & Publisher: Kelly Bauer Editor@NorthernStar.info 815-753-0105 Campus Editor: Jackie Nevarez Editor@NorthernStar.info 815-753-9643 City Editor: Rachel Scaman Editor@NorthernStar.info 815-753-9644 Day Editor: Keith Hernandez Editor@NorthernStar.info 815-753-9637 Sports Editor: Frank Gogola Sports@NorthernStar.info 815-753-9637 Scene Editor: Kevin Bartelt Editor@NorthernStar.info 815-753-5606 Perspective Editor: Carl Nadig Editor@NorthernStar.info 815-753-9637 Photo Editor: Ryan Ocasio Editor@NorthernStar.info 815-753-1602 Other Advertising Manager: Derek Noel Ads@NorthernStar.info 815-753-0108 Circulation Manager: Andrew Parnell 815-753-0707 Adviser: Shelley Hendricks 815-753-4239 Business Adviser: Maria Krull 815-753-0707
Hyunkyung Sung | Northern Star
Students: Take action to Extra fees should be ease your mental health optional Next week
Northern Star Editorial Board
Departments Newsroom: 815-753-0105 Advertising: 815-753-0107 Classifieds: 815-753-0707 About us The Northern Star is a limited public forum whose content is determined exclusively by its student editors. Information presented in this newspaper and its website is not controlled by NIU administration, faculty or staff. The Northern Star has a circulation of 12,000 Monday through Thursday. A single copy is free. Additional copies are 50 cents. Send news tips and questions to Editor@ NorthernStar.info. Letters to the editor Letters should not exceed 250 words and may be edited for clarity and brevity. The deadline for a letter is 4 p.m. one day before the desired date of publication. Submissions may be held due to space limitations. Letters written by NIU students should include the author’s year and major. Letters should include a phone number where the author can be reached. Phone numbers will not be published. Letters may be submitted to Editor@NorthernStar.info. Advertisement policy The Northern Star does not knowingly accept advertisements that discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, handicapped or veteran status, or sexual orientation. Nor does the Northern Star knowingly print ads that violate any local, state or federal laws. To place an advertisement, contact the Northern Star advertising team at 815753-0108 or ads@NorthernStar.info. To view advertising rates, go to NorthernStar.info/site/advertise/. Hiring Student employees must carry a minimum of six NIU semester hours and must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better. Students of all majors and experience levels are welcome to apply. Apply at www.NorthernStarJobs.info.
Fit Facts
Blake Glosson Columnist
One in five of your friends, classmates or colleagues likely suffers from a mental illness. Unfortunately, research has shown this to be the case, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Two of the most prevalent mental disorders are anxiety disorders and depression. Anxiety disorders — the most common mental illness, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America — affect 18 percent of the U.S. adult population. Anxiety disorders include post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and certain phobias. “It’s a combination of a lot of different things that lead to anxiety in college students,” said Stephanie Wonders, junior family social services major. “Academic stress and work and friendships and [not] getting enough sleep; it’s a combination of all of that stuff.” Symptoms of depression include a dejected mood or diminished interest for two weeks or more. It’s not uncommon for someone with an anxiety disorder to also suffer from depression or vice versa, and the two often go hand-in-hand, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. If you suffer from depression or you know you are at risk, there are actions you can take that may help your mental state. According to a study published
in October and conducted by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, inflammation related to stress can increase your risk for depression. This calls for actions known to reduce inflammation and stress, such as a well-balanced, anti-inflammatory diet and consistent exercise.
For more information on health problems related to inflammation and how you can avoid these, be sure to check out Fit Facts on Nov. 12.
particularly through neurotransmitter regulation. As autumn rolls into winter, this becomes especially important. A longitudinal study published in October by the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology revealed that seasonal affective disorder — a depressive illness spurred by autumn and winter seasons — is marked by It’s also OK to ... recommend decreased levels of the neuto a friend that they talk to rotransmitter serotonin. Exersomebody or get some procise has been shown to decrease fessional help if a student is ever concerned about the depression, possibly by increasing serotonin levels. safety of a friend.” In addition to making lifestyle Brooke Ruxton Executive Director of Counseling modifications to support mental and Student Development health, sometimes seeking professional counseling is necessary. Research published in Septem“All students at Northern are ber in the BMJ Open also indieligible to receive free conficates diet could play a major role dential services at the Counselin depression and other mental ing and Student Development illnesses. Dr. Saverio Stranges, Center,” said Brooke Ruxton, who headed this research, exlicensed clinical psychologist and plained that the data suggested executive director of Counseling the “higher an individual’s fruit and Student Development. “We and vegetable intake, the lower the provide individual and group chance of their having low mental therapy as well as offering samewell-being,” according to a Sept. day walk-in appointments for 24 Medical News Today article. people who may be in crises or Of course, this inverse relaneeding to access our services. tionship isn’t infinite. But, the “It’s also OK to … recommend research stated individuals have to a friend that they talk to somea better chance for “high mental body or get some professional well-being” when five or more help if a student is ever concerned servings of fruits and vegetables about the safety of a friend.” are consumed daily. If you or someone you know is Exercise has also been suffering from a mental illness, shown to help with depression, don’t be afraid to take action.
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While NIU provides extracurricular activities for students to enhance their experiences, it should make paying some fees optional. NIU President Doug Baker announced a proposal to make athletics and fine art fees optional for students at an Oct. 29 Faculty Senate meeting. This proposal should be enacted. Students should be allowed the option to pay these fees based on their judgment, rather than being regularly billed every semester. Some students — especially if they spend the majority of their time studying in the library, working or commuting — do not have the opportunities or the desire to use the athletics and fine arts resources they’re billed for. If automatic billing is removed and students want to attend football games, they can order tickets through their MyNIU accounts; if students want to use the Recreation Center, they can purchase a membership. Students should have the option to purchase the resources they want individually. NIU already allows some services to be opted out of. Every semester, Health Services offers insurance plans to the students who need it, though students can apply to opt out. By opting out of a service they don’t need, students save money to spend on necessary expenses, such as books and tuition. If the administration wants to teach students critical reasoning skills then it needs to provide students the free will to choose the resources they want and are willing to pay for.