Mental and Behavioral Health
Students at University of Georgia feel pushed out by school policies that mandate suspension after a suicide attempt. Their rationale: if a student already feels isolated, the requirements can make them feel as if they’ve done something wrong and lead to a deeper depression.
UPenn has seen its share of mental health incidences, causing change and comment at the prestigious Ivy League school. In the wake of a recent student suicide, several student support groups at UPenn offer peer-to-peer counseling to supplement services provided by the school, while a student editorial implores the school to improve campus culture around mental health. And this year’s graduating class gave an endowment for the counseling center to expand mental health services as their senior gift.
A Student editorial implores Upenn students and administration alike to improve the campus culture around mental health, on both a policy and personal level, writing, “We need to recognize our own roles in contributing to this toxic culture and take action to improve it. We, as much as the administration, bear the burden of acknowledging and actively changing the culture around mental health at Penn.”
Graduating UPenn Seniors traditionally give the University a parting gift. This year, the senior class created an endowment for the counseling center to expand mental health services.
At William and Mary, former WNBA star Chamique Holdsclaw talks about her lifelong struggle with depression and bipolar disorder, bringing awareness to the especially high rates of mental health issues among college athletes.
In Texas, a new state Senate bill requires incoming freshman to watch a video on mental health resources and suicide prevention.
Sleep
A recent study found that even minor concussions can lead to sleep issues for at least a year and half. The research showed that while the subjects were sleeping more, the sleep was less restorative, causing increased daytime sleepiness, which can affect productivity at school and overall health.
UCLA students attended an event entirely devoted to sleep, which included a panel of experts and a discussion moderated by Arianna Huffington, co-founder and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post and an author of a new book on the subject, “The Sleep Revolution.”
Sexual Assault
Syracuse University, like other private schools, is not held to the same reporting requirements as a public university. Only one incident of rape was noted through the Clery Act for the entire 2014-15 school year, leading the Daily Orange to take a closer look at the school’s policies around reporting rape.
The Justice Department denounced the University of New Mexico for their failure to deal with reported cases of sexual assault, and the creation of a campus culture that has left students afraid to come forward. The office launched an investigation after students complained that their reported sexual assaults were not appropriately addressed, and found that the school is out of compliance with Title IX. In their letter, the Justice Department wrote that the school’s Office of Equal Opportunity performed subpar investigations causing “almost all complainants with whom the United States spoke said that they wished they had never gone through the process and would not refer another student who had experienced sexual assault.”
UPenn students can now use a mobile app to report sexual assaults and other health and safety incidents anonymously. Bystanders can send messages directly to the Penn Police
Inclusion on Campus
Last year, the University of Tennessee Knoxville Office of Diversity and Inclusion sparked controversy throughout the state promoting the use of gender neutral pronouns and religiously inclusive holiday parties. Since then, Republican-backed legislation has attempted to cut the office’s funding.
Duke University student activists called for a more diverse Counseling and Psychological Services staff this year. Though the school has started a search, no positions have yet been filled.
Students may now choose to identify their gender as separate from their sex assigned at birth on the Common Application, a move intended to be more inclusive of trans and genderqueer college applicants.
The Chancellor of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale warned of legal action against anonymous creators of a video, considered racist, that was distributed on social media.
Campus Activism
New emails released under the Freedom of Information Act show how the University of Missouri administration reacted to campus protests behind the scenes. The emails reveal concerns for student safety, the school’s public image, and an administration scrambling to keep ahead of events.
While giving a speech at University of Maine, right-leaning Governor Paul Lepage walked off stage when confronted by student protesters, calling them “idiots” as he left.
An editorial in the Yale student newspaper debates the merits and disadvantages of student activism working within a University administration versus confronting it from the outside. . Rather than being mutually exclusive, the author concludes, in order to affect lasting change, the two strategies should go hand in hand.
At UC Davis, student activists calling for Chancellor Linda Katehi’s resignation are occupying a room outside her office, and are facing anti-activist backlash. As University staff members demand students end their protests, they have co-opted the language of the campus progressives, saying they “no longer feel safe” when passing the protesters on their way to their offices.
Guns on Campus
Gregory L. Fenves, president of the U. of Texas at Austin discusses the process of implementing a campus carry law he never would have wanted, saying “I think most faculty, most students, most parents of students don’t believe guns are appropriate for an educational institution.
Sexual Health and Reproductive Rights
In 2013, the Boston College Students for Sexual Health were handing out condoms on Boston College’s campus were immediately told not to. Three years later, the organization is working with BC’s student government to pass a bill that would encourage the administration to be more open about sexual health.
