New magazine a health resource for students

Sarah Goetz Guest Writer

What’s one more all-nighter? One last slice of cold pizza at 9 a.m.? College students have never been models of healthy living. But colleges and universities across the country are increasingly making their students’ physical and mental health a priority, and Vassar is no exception. The College has provided students with a subscription to Student Health 101, an online magazine delivered monthly to students’ inboxes. The publication, which is distributed by the Office of Health Education, will provide students with the resources they need to live healthy and balanced lives at school.

The magazine gives students information on everything from nutrition to stress management, from drugs and alcohol to sexual responsibility, from sleep to mental health. Each issue will feature in-depth articles, column written by students, a question and answer forum and a healthy recipe section, among other features. In addition to general health and wellness information, the magazine has a customized section for Vassar-specific news and tips, such as campus health and wellness-related events and resources and services offered by student groups. The magazine is advertisement-free, assuring students that advertisers’ interests won’t skew content.

While there are other campus sources for students who seek health information, Student Health 101 does have unique offerings. The magazine’s publishers have “the ability to do more research and bring a broader perspective to issues,” said Director of Health Education Michelle Soucy. Additionally, Soucy sees the magazine’s online format as a great benefit. According to a recent survey, 81 percent of Vassar students indicated that they get health-related information online, but only 19 percent of those students found the information on the Web believable.

Student Health 101 will “give our students a resource in a medium that they are willing to go to,” said Soucy. The magazine provides reliable, valid information for interested students who are not willing to go to one of Vassar’s health resource centers in person. Soucy believes that the online magazine “was a good marriage” of trustworthy information and convenient format.

“Why not bring information to [the students] in a reliable online source?” she said. Soucy does caution that because the magazine is published independently and Vassar only distributes it, the opinions expressed in the articles are not necessarily the views of the College.

Soucy does hope for a positive student response to Student Health 101, and eagerly awaits feedback on the magazine. This is not the magazine’s first installment on campus, however; two years ago Student Health 101 was available in print, and students responded very positively to the resource. While the past version provided a national look at student health issues, it did not include a section tailored toward Vassar students.

The magazine’s revival is the result of a collaborative effort from the integrated health unit, which consists of Vassar’s medical, counseling, and health education departments. The goals of the health unit, similar to those of the magazine, are awareness and prevention through education resources to ensure student health. Ultimately, Student Health 101 is a free, extremely accessible resource aimed at keeping the student body healthy in mind and body.