Northeastern University - Cauldron Yearbook (Boston, MA)

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Boston Douve College of Human Development Professions Wellness Awareness: Basis for Good Health We all know rhe person who jogs ren miles o day, then sirs down ro Q dinner conroining high levels of for and cholesrerol. Or how obour rhe srudenr who spends o good porr of his day in rhe library, so he con ger good grades only ro end up feeling like he hos no rime for any recreation. A Norrheasrern Universiry com- mittee presenrly is working on a sysrem where individuals con assess rheir life styles and degree of wellness. Dorette Hope, associate pro- fessor of physical educarion, was rhe driving force in the establish- ment of a wellness task force in rhe foil of 1984. Since then, according ro Hope, rhe concept of wellness has gained universiry-wide supporr. The wellness philosophy presumes on understanding and acceptance of on individual ' s potenrioi. It utilizes one ' s creative process ro inregrote the physical, mental, emotional, social, sexual, spiritual, and cultural dimensions of doily living. In the spring of 1985, a Wellness Day was held in rhe University ' s quod, where students and faculty members were able ro tolk to representatives from health services, personnel, food services, ere . . . and visit the various booths aimed or assessing wellness. Hope said, It was unbelievably successful. In addirion ro rhe fair, a life assessment survey wos given to the freshman class of 1985, in which students coulcf indicate the services rhey rhoughr would be helpful ro rhem rhroughour rheir nexr five years or Norrheasrern. In- -estingly enough, Hope soys, rhe - o cenrrol areas freshmen fo- .;sed on were, one, rhe srress Prof. Hope would like ro see both faculty and students rake the lifestyle assessment quiz and evoluare how heolrhy ocruolly are. rhey 1 The Wellness Fair, held in the Spting of ' 85 was unbelievably successful, according ro Hope. 26

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paper print, radio television news, public relations or advertising. Along with an expanded cur- riculum, Gilleland has also added six more full-time professors. We are very careful about who we hire, he said. We have an outstanding faculty with the ex- cellent credentials we demand. He added that the faculty ' s varied ex- perience with professional media )rganizations help with the applica- ion of practical journalism cnowledge and serves to enhance he co-op program. Besides the internal im- )rovements, it is the physical ;hanges that most astound the ;tudents that entered in the fall of 81. I had newswriting in the room hat is now the student lounge, me senior remembers. Some kids ised to show up for class an hour ;arly just to get one of the three lectric typewriters. The room was un-down, poorly lit and the nanual typewriters were mpossible. Classrooms like those have been bandoned for 15 newly renovated ooms in Holmes. There are now wo newswriting labs, with approx- mately 20 electric typewriters in ach; an editing room with new computers and VDTs; a design and graphics lab; a radio TV news lab; a darkroom with 1 enlargers; a con- ference room; a student lounge reading room; a wire service room and rooms for campus chapters of various professional associations. While everything may appear to be already accomplished, Gilleland still feels that there are things the department can do to make sure the courses are of the highest quality. The focus for the future is on ex- panding the curriculum to offer more specialized courses, expand- ing the facilities and adding more equipment. Right now, Gilleland said, we want to make sure the quality of all the courses is developed as fully as they can be. We want our graduates to be recognized as being the most highly qualified that an employer could hire. At present, the journalism department is one of the larger departments in the College of Arts and Sciences at Northeastern, boasting over 300 majors. With enrollment on the rise, Gilleland is careful to ensure that the excellence of the program is not diluted by its growth. It is the strict attention to course quality and the acquisition of modern equipment that helps the department keep up. It ' s come a long way from when I first got here, senior Mark Jaworski and editor of the North- eastern News commented, but it ' s still got a long way to go to get where it should be. Perhaps the addition of a graduate program, that was recently approved will help as Northeastern prepares to invite the accredita- tion team in soon. The graduate program under the direction of Professor James Willis, presently services 25 students. The program offers two degrees, a master of sciences, and includes the co-op program as well. Although Gilleland admits he was a little dismayed by the condi- tion of the department in 1981, It was my conviction that the Dean of Arts and Sciences, Richard Astro, meant what he said about wanting to improve the journalism pro- gram. Looking around his office, Gilleland smiled and said, he has kept his promises. All the pieces are in place, he added. Now all we need to do is keep improving our track record. — Tara Sexton Phoro by Mike Gorch The lounge gives journolism students a place to hong out between classes and promotes a sense of community within the deportment. Phoro by D Kellie l-iealy 25

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Students receive pamphlets or rhe Cardiovascular Health and Exercise Center booth. NU student learns about cardiovascular fitness or Wellness Fair. componenr, and rwo, exercise. Hope suggests a Wellness Club be developed so srudenrs con turn to rheir peers to discuss stress. Hope soys she hos always been involved in wellness issues. After she attended o University of Wisconsin conference a few years ago focusing on the concept of wellness, she decided to start o similar progronn here at North- eastern. Today, there is o lot more push for self- responsibility. This is because of economics — the idea of every man for himself — and becouse of a renewed interest in growth and development. In effect, by gaining wellness, you are saying Tm in control. ' However, there ore limitations, Hope adds. Financial issues are on aspect, espedolly for students at on enormous University such as this. You hove limited control, but you hove choices. It ' s important to re- member that a lot of other people ore in the some boot. ' ' Hope would like to see on an- nual Wellness Fair. She would also like to see the life-style assessment quiz become port of the medicol exam required of oil freshmen. Then we could evaluate the statistical data and hove the students recognize where they ore right now in terms of wellness. . The purpose of the survey also would ultimately reduce the attrition rote at the University. Hope feels there is a reol need among students and facul- ty member to develop poten- tiol, and both the University ' s ad- ministration and department ore extremely supportive The com- mitment is there, soys Hope. To become aware and not give up when the first door is closed, is the key. It ' s very easy to do that. Believe it or not, this is what really mokes the difference. — Maureen Muenster You must look Qt the different areas in your life; then determine the one that doesn ' t fit.