Mental and Behavioral Health
North Carolina A&T State University’s student paper compiles quotes from African American students exposing challenges of stigma about mental health within their communities and families.
In an opinion piece for Virginia Tech’s student paper, grad student Charlotte Selbo writes that a decade after the VT shooting, the counseling center is still not able to provide timely access to students. “This imbalance between need and resources is common throughout Virginia,” she writes. “Ten years later, services have improved, but the fact that they are better than they were does not mean they are good or even adequate.”
Indiana University’s Indian Student Association hosted a Smashing Stigma panel discussion about mental health in Asian communities.
The New York Times highlights Lexington, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston, as one of many towns near prestigious universities where high school students cope with academic pressure, anxiety and depression. Lexington High School has made systemic changes to try and reduce stress, but attitudes are harder to shift.
A recent PLOS One study examining the causal link between mental and physical health found that the sequence depends on the disorder. On average, teens who had depression, bipolar disorder, and other mood disorders were more likely to suffer from arthritis and digestive disorders later, and those with anxiety disorders were more likely to develop skin diseases later on. Some physical diseases predicted mental disorders, such as heart disease leading to a heightened risk of anxiety disorders.
Diversity and Inclusion
In another example of colleges striving to support DACA students worried about President Trump’s immigration policies, California State University-Fullerton’s resource center for “Dreamers,” is offering students access to support groups and law clinics. “We’re very fortunate that here at Cal State Fullerton we are a campus that is in many ways leading the way in a very public way in supporting undocumented students,” Henoc Preciado, the resource center coordinator, said.
Endicott College’s ‘Keys to Degrees’ program helps students with young children obtain a college education. Through the program, student parents receive subsidized child care, a $25,000 scholarship, free parking, two dorm bedrooms for the price of one, and free dining hall meals for their children. Wraparound programs like these remain rare, but Endicott hopes to expand the pool of parent programs across the country, and has helped replicate their model at other schools.
Sexual Assault and Title IX
Wolfgang Ballinger, a former fraternity president at Cornell University who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor sex offense was sentenced to six years of probation with a number of significant restrictions. Ballinger, who was originally charged with first-degree attempted rape, first-degree criminal sex act with a helpless victim, and sexual misconduct, did not express remorse or take the opportunity to speak at his sentencing.
A Georgia bill that would have limited the authority of colleges to investigate sexual assault claims has been dropped, but may be a preview of state-based legal battles to come if the Trump administration rescinds current federal guidelines.
The University of Oregon’s Faculty Senate passed a new sexual assault reporting policy outlining actions for school employees who students talk to about assault or harassment. The new policy requires certain employees, like athletic deans and RAs, to mandatorily report, while giving other personnel, like faculty, the discretion to comply with the will of the student.
Greek Life
In an open letter posted on his blog, Penn State President Eric J. Barron warned fraternities and sororities that the end of greek life at the school is not inconceivable. Barron said that the alcohol-related death of a fraternity member in February changed his mind about whether their current efforts to curb excessive drinking and sexual assault are enough. New restrictions following the student death have largely been ignored. Barron wrote, “If new rules can just be ignored, or behavior just goes underground, and if there is no willingness to recognize the adverse impact of excessive drinking, hazing, and sexual assault, then is there any hope?” In response, the Interfraternity Council voted to cancel socials for the next two weekends in order to focus on philanthropic efforts and making changes to their organizations.
Disabilities
The University of Georgia now offers a certificate program for young adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities. Students take classes and attend wellness seminars, and will graduate from the five-semester course with a certificate from the UGA Center on Continuing Education in college and career readiness.
Alcohol Abuse
In an opinion piece for UGA’s student paper, the Red & Black, Anila Yoganathan argues that drinking doesn’t help with stress, writing, “We have made stress drinking part of college life, as though it is an actual medical solution that can help remove the stress from one’s life. That’s simply not true.”
As part of the process to produce the news documentary “High Risk: Miami’s Drinking Problem,” Students reporting for Miami University’s student paper spent two months asking students, administrators and Oxford, Ohio residents the same question: “How do you define Miami’s drinking culture?” The short film was accompanied by a number of related print pieces about alcohol use and abuse.
