Argonaut Online News

FRI 17 OCT 2003

Health and Wellness Fair offers free testing, massages

By Cady Allred
Argonaut Staff

Whether looking for free food, a massage, a stress test or a new dentist, visitors to the Health and Wellness Fair found a variety of resources for their recreational, nutritional, physical and mental needs.

The 15th annual event was sponsored by Student Benefits, Health and Wellness. The fair was held in the Student Recreation Center and featured almost 40 booths. Student clubs, campus programs and community businesses and organizations were featured at the fair.

Mary Aardal, a graduate student who worked at the Food and Nutrition Club booth, said the purpose of the fair is “to raise awareness of what kind of things are out there to help people in promoting their wellness … to kind of bring in anybody who has anything to do with health and nutrition.”

JOSH DEAN / ARGONAUT / Juniors Errin Reese and Jocelyn Dickie take a break from working at the SRC to check their blood pressure.

Aardal said the Food and Nutrition Club meets once a month, takes part in a book club at Hastings and is planning to create a club cookbook.

The Adventist Christian Fellowship and UI dietetics students’ “5-A-Day” program also participated in fair festivities.

The UI Counseling and Testing Center featured a stress test and an alcohol awareness quiz. The booth also featured several pamphlets and papers promoting student health, such as “101 Things to do in the Palouse Area.”

Various health and nutrition books were on display at the UI Bookstore booth, and UI Student Health Services displayed insurance information. Several other UI programs, such as the Outdoor Program and Women’s Center, also had booths.

Chiropractors, optometrists, dentists and massage therapists from around the Moscow area handed out information and free gifts. Both Moscow School of Massage and Shiatsu Massage by Kiyoko Otawa offered complimentary massages to fair visitors. Gritman Medical Center provided free cholesterol testing.

Several community organizations had booths at the fair. Moscow Food Co-op encouraged healthy and organic eating and Mountain Lamp Idaho taught meditation techniques. Planned Parenthood of the Inland Northwest, AIDS Education and Latah Alliance for the Mentally Ill were among the organizations that sought to educate people about vital areas of health.

Christal McCormick from the Remuda Ranch, a facility for women and adolescent girls with eating disorders, said it was the ranch’s first year with a booth at the fair. She said anorexia and bulimia are a problem for women on all college campuses, and it is important to educate people about eating disorders.

“We want to let everyone know we exist so if they’re struggling or they know someone who’s struggling, they have resources in the community,” McCormick said.

Several organizations gave away food. Tidyman’s had a table of snacks, and the Health and Wellness Fair’s traditional baked potato bar stretched across the SRC lobby.

Lloyd Winter, a senior art education and fine arts major, said he thought the fair was pretty good. “I liked the Co-op booth, because I like organic food and I like supporting local businesses,” Winter said. “The spuds were good, too.”

Jeremy Martin, a senior broadcasting and productions major, said he also enjoyed the fair, especially the Chinese medicine and massage. “I was afraid to get my cholesterol checked, though, because I’ve eaten too much bacon,” he said.

News Editor: Abbey Lostrom Webmistress: Amanda J Hundt
UI Argonaut, 301 Student Union, Moscow, Idaho 83843 208.885.7845

TODAY

Ag Days
UI campus

Viewing of cloned mules
Corner of Sixth Street and Perimeter Drive
5 p.m.

ASUI Blockbuster film:
“Charlie’s Angels Full Throttle”
SUB Borah Theater
7 and 9:30 p.m.

“Wit” performance
KIVA Theatre
7:30 p.m.

ASUI Senate meeting
UITV-8 programming
8:30 p.m.

SATURDAY

Ag Days
UI campus

Football vs. Middle Tennessee
Kibbie Dome
2 p.m.

Volleyball vs. Cal State-Fullerton
Memorial Gym
7 p.m.

ASUI Blockbuster film:
“Charlie’s Angels Full Throttle”
SUB Borah Theater
7 and 9:30 p.m.

“Wit” performance
KIVA Theatre
7:30 p.m.

SUNDAY

Sigma Alpha lota lecture
School of Music Building
2 p.m.

Vandaleers Concert Choir and University Chorus
University Auditorium
4 p.m.

“Wit” performance
KIVA Theatre
2 and 7:30 p.m.