First Ever Student Fitness Fair

An active mind and body are developed by leading a healthy, balanced life. This includes getting enough rest, eating well and excercising regularly. This balance is hard to achieve at CMU where the mind is pushed to the limit but the body is often regarded as an after thought. Connecting the mind, body and spirit was the focus for first ever health and fitness fair to be put on by students.

This event took place in the lobby and courtyard of the university center from 12:00 until 4:00 p.m. on April 28, 2000. The idea for the fair originated from an idea conceived by a group of students involved in the First Year Student Initiative (FYSI), which is a service organization geared at getting freshman involved in campus life. Members are divided into groups and collectively choose a project. Rebecca Deutsch, computer science freshman, Cinnamon Carr, undeclared freshman and Elizabeth Dodson, English freshman were paired with facilitator Lara Panis, social & decision sciences sophomore.

"We sat together and brain stormed projects and decided that campus health would be a good theme. says Dodson. We then came up with the idea for a fitness fair." Jeff Lauzon, health educator, health department, acted as a consultant for the project. He teaches an alternative health class for credit and does special presentations on drug education and stress reduction techniques. Lauzon is open to ideas from students about how to improve things on campus. Last semester he worked with Steve Galles, psychology senior, on a project addressing holistic health on campus. Lauzon put Galles in touch with the FYSI committe thinking they would be a perfect match for the fitness fair.

"The whole campus is unbalanced academically and physically." says Galles, who was eager to promote healthy living on campus. Students get sick and stressed out from the demanding academic expectations on campus. Galles would like to see more focus put on health and well being. He stresses "there is not a lot here offered for individual attention toward health and fitness."

Panis recognizes that the university does promote a healthy lifestyle through group excercise classes and nutritional workshops but agreed with Galles that a more indidvual approach was needed. "Our goal was to have a fair that would appeal to everyone." says Panis. A wide scope of subjects were covered at the fair ranging from healthy relaxation activities to challenging athletic feats.

On the day of the event the inner lobby of the UC was quickly transformed to one of peaceful relaxation. Soothing music emanated from a trio of string musicians whose presence was happenstance. "We didn't know they were going to be there" says coordinator Dodson. They were promoting an upcoming performance and fit in perfectly with the theme of the lobby presentations. "This area was targeted toward emotional health and stress." says Dodson.

This area focused on learning to love your body, discovering the keys to happiness and self-esteem and finding good ways too relieve stress. A series of black and white photos portrayed students expressing the body beautiful. This created a backdrop for the exhibits. The first exhibit displayed colorful selections of play dough that could be molded into fun shapes. This was targeted as a fun way to relieve stress.

In another exhibit the materials and instructions for making stress balls were on hand. This project involved taking a ballon and filling it with sand and then put another balloon on top of it to make a ball. A masseuse was on hand to give free massages and in this In the middle of room was a poster set up for people to write down the things they do that made them happy. The stress melted away when engulfed in this gentle atmosphere.

Outdoors a more energertic theme was expressed throughout the university center courtyard where the focus was on fitness, health, and nutrition. WRCT broadcast lively music with calypso tunes starting out the festivities. An island atmostphere pervaded with a blazing bright sun and a free juice bar as inducements for frolic and fun.

It was hard not to get caught up in the excitement of the day. A static enthusiasm ran through the crowd of participants as crowds of people started to flow between the exhibits. Free t-shirts were handed out at one table if you filled out an evaluation form for the fair.

The women's center promoted healthy sexual awareness at a sexwise table. They displayed books that can be checked out of the women's center and handed out free samples of prophylactics. Anita Barkin, director, health center was on hand to address medical concerns.

Erica Vogel, english, senior made this one of her first stops. "I think the fair is great. The sex booth is good because it's not targeted at just one group. It is about fun and learning."

Several personal trainers were on hand to conduct fitness assessments and body fat ratios. Antoine Skaf, electrical and computer engineering junior and fitness role model, did fat testing with an impedence tester. This is a devise about the size of a paperback book with handles on either side. You grip this firmly and it sends electrical currents through the body. Based on hydration, muscle mass and fat mass it calculates overall bodyfat percentages.

John Ketchpaw, computer science sophomore, was surprised to learn that he was considered athletic due to his 11% fat to muscle ratio. Club One, a private gym, did fat testing using calibers, which is fondly known as the pinch and inch test, where fat is analyzed by gripping different parts of the body. There was also an exhibit using an infrared test where a cuff is placed around the bicep which works on the same principle as the impedence test.

Donna Morosky, director of fitness and health, athletic department, was on hand to offer advice and direction about strength training. She also tried to alieviate concerns people had about high body fat content.

"People have to realize that you need a certain amount of body fat." says Morosky. "It is unrealistic to try and attain a single digit percentage although some people are going to be naturally lower than others." Morosky also tried to dispel myths about weight lifting for women. "A lot of women think weight training will make them big and bulky." says Morosky.

But women do not have the hormonal testosterone leve in their body to build muscle mass like men." Donna Hansen, dietician, health department addressed concerns about reducing body fat and eating healthy on campus. On display were healthy convenience foods that could be kept on hand for snacks and quick meals. "It is hard to eat well on campus, but there are lots of options." says Hansen. Anyone wanting to adopt a healthier lifestyle, lose weight, or get advise on what vitamins to take can call the health service at 268-2157.

"We set up special diets for people and treat eating disorders." says Hansen. I see a lot of students on campus who should see me that don't." "A lot of women under eat and are below ideal body weight." "Overeating late at night is also a concern for many people who find regular eating patterns hard to maintain.

Over indulging in drugs and alcohol is also an unhealthy habit that crops up on campus. Lauzon set up a drug and alcohol table to create a healthy awareness of consumption in this area. He answered questions regarding intake and long term effects of controlled substances. "Most of my questions were about the long term effects of marijuana. says Lauzon. Students were also curious about the drug ecstasy, which was created as a diet pill in the 1920's. It is popular because it creates a feeling of empathy and good feeling but it is also an hallucinogen which has negative side effects."

A natural high could be attained at the climbing wall set up by Mountain Dreams, Inc. A steady stream of people eagerly awaited their turn to scale 24 foot wall which resembled the face of a rock cliff. The surface was uneven and provided a wide scattering of artifical rocks to grip for leverage and support. It utilized an auto belay system which allowed climbers to reach the top and then automatically lower to the ground when finished.

A weight lifting bench was set up inside the courtyard behind the exhibits where Skaf, taking a break from fat analysis, helped people determine their maximum weight lifting ability. Proper technique is essential for optimum lifting performance and Skaf made sure correct form was used.

Although it was hard to return indoors, a series of workshops held throughout the day in the Connan Room were well attended. The topics included food and emotion, meditation and relaxation and yoga.

"We have a phenomenal university for empowering students. says adviser Lauzon. If they really want to make something happen, it does." The huge success of the health fair was a testament to the amazing capabilites of a dedicated group of students.

"It was a lot of work to get everything done. says Galles. It was a good learning experience." Galles is a member of Phi Kappa Theta and had a devoted group of brothers on hand to help out.

Nicholas Lee, mechanical engineering junior and Chad Altman, policy and management sophomore handed out free fruit. Carr, Deutsh and Dodson took turns making free healthy pizza snacks and Steve Mahalek, chemical engineering sophomore, assisted with making fresh fruit smoothies.

"They did an awesome job." says Anita Barkin. The more reinforcement you give people for heatlhy behavoir, the more it is going to help their self esteem." The fair gave people an ethusiastic shove for the pursuit of a healthy summer.