The University of Rhode Island hosted its annual Winter Wellness Fair on Wednesday, Feb. 7, in the Rainville Ballroom of the Memorial Union.
The event aimed to promote physical and mental well-being among students while fostering a sense of community on campus, and featured tables representing resources from all across campus.
From fitness classes to nutritional advice, attendees had the opportunity to explore various aspects of wellness. Leetal Young, a second-year student and program assistant for Campus Recreation, emphasized the inclusive nature of their programs.
“My favorite thing about Campus Recreation is that we really do offer so much so we can reach so many different students and different interests”, Young said. “It’s such a welcoming, inclusive judgment free environment where it doesn’t matter if you’re trying something for the first time or the 100th time – everybody’s welcome here and I love the community and connection within campus.”
Young also shared a preview of this year’s Flourish Fest, a spring Campus Recreation event that takes place on the Quadrangle, and is a fan favorite amongst students. This year’s edition will be ‘epic’, Young said.
“It is a great way to meet new people and just communicate and have fun in our community,” she said.
Karen Orabona, a registered dietician for URI’s Dining Services department, unveiled updates to on-campus dining options, including the introduction of the Snack Den located in the Memorial Union. She mentioned the availability of differing ingredients in the Hope Commons’ Corner Store, catering to various dietary needs and preferences.
“We have frozen products, vegan products and gluten free pastas in the Corner Store”, Orabona said. “You are able to create meals for yourself that are healthy and wholesome.”
Amidst the festivities, Natalie Kimmerlein, a grant manager for the South County Prevention Coalition, addressed the use of e-cigarettes among young people. Kimmerlein mentioned the harmful effects of e-cigarettes on lung health and the importance of prevention efforts, particularly within marginalized communities.
“[E-cigarettes] contain a lot of harmful chemicals that can affect our lungs and our ability to live the most productive lives that we want,” Kimmerlein said.
Kimmerlein also mentioned the disproportionate impact of e-cigarette use on LGBTQ+ youth and provided resources for those seeking assistance to quit vaping. Lesbian, gay and bisexual youth are two times more likely to smoke a cigarette before they are 13 years old, Kimmerlein said.
“That’s something we’re looking to share”, Kimmerlein said. “This is really a health equity issue and big tobacco companies are targeting the LGBTQ+ community.”
The website “My Life My Quit ” is a resource that young people can use to get set up with free live and confidential help to quit vaping.
The Winter Wellness Fair not only provided information and resources, but also was a space for students to learn about new methods for practicing many different types of wellness. As students explored ways to prioritize their well-being, they also had the opportunity to gain knowledge of available resources around campus. More events hosted by Health Services can be found at https://events.uri.edu/ .