The Student Affairs Blog

National Eating Disorder Week (NEDAW) Feb 24th - March 1st 2008

We are in the midst of NEDAW and for both men and women, college is a vital time to educate them. Eating disorders are a silent epidemic on our campuses because no one wants to talk about it. This year's key message is:

Be comfortable in your genes. Wear jeans that fit the TRUE you.

As an example of how to integrate it on campus, NU (Northeastern University) is hosting events all week in honor of NEDAW.

Each day is dedicated to a different cause, and each day is a different way for you to help!

MONDAY: Learn about disordered eating in the US, who is being affected, and Why those suffering from an eating disorder may not be getting the care they deserve.

TUESDAY: What Can You Do To Help? Come pick up information on the signs and symptoms of eating disorders and how to help a friend who may be struggling.

WEDNESDAY: “Be Comfortable in Your Genes!” - Donate your “skinny” jeans and other old clothes that no longer fit your body comfortably in the CSC. Encourage yourself to wear clothes that fit the REAL you! Donations will be made to Rosie's Place.

THURSDAY: Declaration Day! Come to the CSC and sign our “No Weigh” contract, declare yourself free from the constraints of a weight-obsessed world!

Check out the National Eating Disorders Association's website for more info and other activities.

Sexual Responsibility Week - Student Activites Event Idea

Pennsylvania College of Technology News & Information (I know it's a mouth full :) is hosting a sexual responsibility week from Feb 11th to Feb 15th. Here is the flow for the themed week in case it's something you've been thinking about doing on your campus. They also post all their upcoming events online as well.

Monday

Sex Jeopardy Game Show 8-10 p.m., ACC Auditorium Test your sex IQ and win fabulous prizes.

 

Tuesday

Chocolate Photo-Pop Creations 11 a.m.-2 p.m., LEC Lobby Do you still need a Valentine's gift? If so, don't miss the chance to stop by and get your picture put on a chocolate pop. It makes a great gift for that special someone.

Survival Stories 7:30 p.m., Penn's Inn Film, “Breaking the Silence,” and panel discussion about sexual assault.

 

Wednesday

Sexual Health Fair 10 a.m.-2 p.m., LEC Lobby Information, demonstrations and giveaways!

 

Thursday

Self-Defense Demonstration with Dr. William B. Urosevich, associate professor of biology 7-8 p.m., Field House

Speed-Dating Game and Late Night Party 8-11 p.m., Susquehanna Room Facts and fun ... information, demonstrations, games, music, entertainment and refreshments!

Random Acts of Kindness Week on College Campuses Feb 11th - 17th

In case you need to remind someone to do something nice for someone else, or if you are looking for a theme, there's a week coming up dedicated to doing Random Acts of Kindness. The official website  is filled with stories, ideas, and inspiration to get you started. Here are some of the many suggestions it gives for colleges:

• Give another driver your parking spot.
• Give an extra concert or ball game ticket to a stranger. (Hand out free movie tickets)
• Help someone struggling with heavy bags.
• Invite someone new to lunch. (hand out free lunch cards) 
• Compliment a stranger about something he or she is wearing.
• Smile at people you pass on your way to class.
• Bring coffee, donuts, or chocolate kisses/hugs to campus workers who don’t usually get thanked.
• Form a group to help the school staff with activities like clearing cafeteria lunch trays, picking up trash, or cleaning up classrooms for the evening custodian.
• Write anonymous positive notes to one another, saying what makes the recipient special.
• Hand out coffee and hot chocolate to passersby on a cold, wintry morning, or lemonade and water during warm weather.
• Hold a campus-wide kindness story contest.
• Put up blank banners in public areas and invite students and faculty to write their kindness stories for all to enjoy.
• If you have a radio station, ask the radio staff to create Random Acts of Kindness programming, such as listeners calling in their stories of kindness, or the ANNOUNCER reading submitted stories or selected readings from kindness books.
• Hold a campus kindness rally and invite speakers and musicians to give awards to kind students, professors and staff members.
• Hold a teddy bear drive. Deliver the bears to police and firefighters to give to traumatized children.
• Collect kindness stories and create a customized campus kindness book for distribution.
• Post banners with kindness slogans.

Here are some for the staff:

• Praise the work or attitude of a teacher.
• Bring someone a cup of coffee, hot cocoa, or a soft drink.
• At a faculty meeting, talk with teachers about acts of kindness you all have given or received.
• Leave a kind note in the faculty lunchroom with suggestions like, “Take a deep breath and move peacefully through your day.” 
• Post copies of inspirational poems or thoughts for all to enjoy.
• Put a supportive note on teacher’s desk or in his/her mailbox.
• Carry small wrapped candies in your pocket to give as “angel kisses” to someone who needs a lift.
• Attach suggestions for acts of kindness to Hershey Kisses and Hugs. Each administrator, teacher, or staff member takes a candy and then performs the RAK suggested to benefit another administrator, teacher, or staff member.
• Sponsor a kindness drawing or coloring campaign for your staff’s children.
• Put plants in your facility. A study at Washington State University indicates that living indoor plants may increase productivity and reduce stress for employees.
• Boost morale on campus by having your staff submit stories about kindness in the workplace. Start with a memo giving them information about the RAK movement and asking them to submit their stories. When the week is over, distribute the stories as a collection, post them on a Kindness Bulletin Board, or include one or more in each school newsletter. If you don’t have a newsletter, create a weekly or monthly Kindness Bulletin and keep it going throughout the year!
• Create a “good news” bulletin board to fill with upbeat news about teachers (such as write-ups about the teachers’ accomplishments and ideas, or photos of their families or newborn babies).
• Invite someone new to lunch.
• Welcome and get to know new hires.
• Tell a fellow teacher or a principal why you appreciate him or her.
• Walk a colleague to the car or bus at nighttime for safety.
• Leave a treat on the desk of a teacher with whom you normally don’t get along.
• Write, draw, make, or buy something encouraging for a colleague who is experiencing difficulties.
• Place a flower on the desk of each of your team members or fellow teachers.
• Surprise a colleague with a soft drink, coffee, or bottled water.
• Keep a Kindness Journal of kind acts you observe among your students. Read it aloud and discuss it with your students once a week. This will help raise students’ awareness of the impact of their daily actions, and it may encourage you as well.
• Give a compliment.
• Allow a colleague’s teenager to shadow you for a day and learn about your job
• Write a letter commending a colleague who helped you, and address it to your principal.

There's even a PDF guide to start a RAK (Random Acts of Kindness) Club on your campus to keep the idea going throughout the year. Acts of kindness do a lot more than just make someone smile. From their website:

Kindness activities teach students a lifelong interpersonal skill and affirm students who may not be recognized in other ways.