When

Wednesday, October 26th 5:00-7:00PM 

Where

Smith Dinning Hall and Smith Lounge 

What

• Intramurals – sign up for winter sports!

• StudentFit – TRX, Core, Spinning and more!

• Student Health Center Services - flu shots and more!

• A new fitness center in Welch 

• Student Health 101- a free online health magazine

• Free Professional Nutritionist Consultations

• Healthy Foods!

A committee of Ohio Wesleyan University students, faculty, and staff have joined forces to form the Healthy Bishop Initiative—an ongoing program to study how campus resources and programs can be improved to encourage recreation, fitness, and healthy lifestyles among the OWU community.

This effort was prompted by a request to administration from WCSA (Wesleyan Council on Student Affairs), says Sharif Kronemer ’12, WCSA vice president.

“The student body expressed an overwhelming interest and concern for the health and fitness needs on campus,” Kronemer explains. “It was clearly too large a student concern for WCSA not to work with the University on various health- and fitness-related fronts.”

Kronemer, a neuroscience major from Silver Spring, Maryland, co-chairs the Healthy Bishop Initiative with Vice President of Student Affairs Craig Ullom.

“We are very excited about bringing together this exceptional group of student leaders, faculty, and staff to develop a blueprint for what it means to be a Healthy Bishop and what we need to do to enrich opportunities for our community to more easily and completely engage in a healthy lifestyle,” Ullom says.

The four areas under study include ecology, services, recreation and fitness, and health education. Separate committees have been formed to study each topic.

Ecology

Chair – Brad Trees ’86, professor of physics and astronomy. Committee members include Ullom, Dustin Rudegeair, athletic facility and summer camp director; and Chardae Spencer ’11.

Services

Chairs – Emily Mowry-Dobran, counselor/substance prevention programmer, and Marsha Tilden, director of the wellness center. Committee members include Amanda Stewart, residential life coordinator, and Gene Castelli, senior director of dining services.

Recreation and Fitness

Chair – Cassie Cunningham, director of the intramural sports and recreation program. Committee members include Kronemer, Alina Ruzmetovia ’11, Carly Shields ’13, and Nancy Knop, physical education professor.

Health Education

Chairs – Vicki DiLillo, associate professor of psychology, and Chris Fink, assistant professor of physical education. Committee members include Hannah Berger-Butler ’11, Jillian Prusa ’12, and Mona Spalsbury, office manager for the student involvement office.

The committees are completing inventory of current conditions and practices, evaluating staffing and resources, and recommending action plans and timetables for implementation. They also are studying similar programs at other institutions.

Significant improvements are already in the works. In addition to increasing the hours of operation for the Fitness Center at Stuyvesant Hall, the Healthy Bishop Initiative will bring a speaker to campus on October 19 to discuss nutrition and its correlation with athletic performance. Chartwells, OWU’s dining services contractor, has provided funding for the visit by Tim Wierman of the sports nutrition Web site “Eat to Compete.” The time and location for this event were not available at the time of this publication.

The OWU Intramural Sports and Recreation Program also was re-evaluated over the summer by Kronemer and Cunningham, who also serves as head coach for the OWU women’s softball team.

Two students now will be paid to help coordinate and create a more structured intramural program. Matt Martin ’13 of New Brighton, Pennsylvania, is the student intramural director. A second student intramural coordinator is being recruited to assist with planning details.

Read more about the intramural sports program

The Healthy Bishop Initiative made significant strides this year to make OWU a healthier community.

First, the committee was divided into several subcommittees, including Recreation & Fitness, Ecology, and Health Education & Services. The subcommittees examined current health & fitness practices at OWU and similar liberal arts institutions. In January and February each subcommittee provided a comprehensive report of findings and action steps. In March and April the HBI has continued to assess the health & wellness needs of the campus through the Health Behavior Survey and has developed an action plan for implementing suggestions found in the subcommittee reports.

Early progress has been made through the hiring of a part-time dietitian through Chartwells and through purchasing a virtual health magazine, Health 101, which will be available to OWU students and parents beginning this summer. Future initiatives include vegan/ vegetarian cooking demonstrations, updating equipment in Edwards Gym and offering professional massages for students, faculty and staff.

In February, the HBI partnered with the Wellness Center for Healthy Bishop Day. Local health organizations presented facts, services, and tips for students in Hamilton-Williams atrium, and the HBI collected opinions and suggestions for the Edwards-Pfeiffer renovation plan.That evening, a sports nutritionist spoke on how to be nutritionally prepared for athletic exertion.

Finally, the HBI logo was development this semester and is currently displayed on most of Chartwells’ menus. We hope a healthy community can be built upon this symbol of health and fitness.

- Sharif Kronemer ’12

This semester the Healthy Bishop Initiative conducted a Health Behavior Survey. All OWU students were invited to participate in the on-line survey focusing on a variety of health related behaviors including nutrition, exercise, alcohol and other drug use, sleep, etc. The survey was developed at Indiana University and was selected because of the wide range of information the survey assesses. The hope is that the information collected will be useful for the Healthy Bishop Committee and for relevant offices (Health Services and Counseling Services) as OWU seeks to continuously review services and better meet the health needs of our students.

For more information on the Healthy Bishops Initiative, go here:http://hbb.owu.edu/healthybishopsinitiative.html

OWU and Chartwells are proud to announce the hiring of Becky Nardin-Hardy, R.D., L.D., as a part-time associate with the Student Health Center and the Chartwells team.

Becky is a Registered Dietitian and the first RD to be part of the OWU Student Health Center staff and Dining Services team. The idea to create this position originated in a Healthy Bishop Initiative committee meeting. Becky will be available to students for informal meetings at various dining locations around campus, and students can also schedule one-on-one sessions at the Health Center. Having a Registered Dietitian on staff has many benefits, from pointing out how a successful healthy diet can be maintained with the existing dining choices to advising students and the dining team on specific dietary needs of students.

Becky was the top choice for this position for several reasons. Her connection with OWU goes back to when her father was employed with the University. Fast forward to the present day (before she was hired as OWU’s RD) and you may have seen Becky on-campus, eating lunch in Smith with her sister Heather (who works in the Student Health Center). Having that personal experience with the dining program made it an easy choice to bring Becky on-board. In addition to her depth of knowledge and experience, Becky’s bubbly personality makes her a welcome addition to the campus community!

If you have questions about your diet, want to lose a few pounds before summer or want that extra edge to be more competitive in sports, contact Becky at 740-368-3160 to set up a private appointment. Becky is available for one-on-one consultations on Thursday afternoons from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. The cost is $15 for a 30 minute session and $25 for an hour. Students may pay by cash, check or by charging their student account.

Article Contributors:    Gene Castelli, Chartwells Resident District Manager and Marsha Tilden, Director of OWU Student Health Services

HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS

• make people happier and ease stress
• are realistic and flexible
• mean sharing and talking
• include self-care
• use fair fighting techniques

Ten Tips For Healthy Relationships

Healthy relationships bring happiness and health to our lives. Studies show that people with healthy relationships really do have more happiness and less stress. There are basic ways to make relationships healthy, even though each one is different…parents, siblings, friends, significant others, boyfriends, girlfriends, professors, roommates, and classmates.Here are Ten Tips for Healthy Relationships!

1. Keep expectations realistic. No one can be everything we might want him or her to be. Sometimes people disappoint us. It’s not all-or-nothing, though. Healthy relationships mean accepting people as they are and not trying to change them!

2. Talk with each other. It can’t be said enough: communication is essential in healthy relationships! It means—

• Take the time. Really be there.
• Genuinely listen. Don’t plan what to say next while you’re trying to listen. Don’t interrupt.
• Listen with your ears and your heart. Sometimes people have emotional messages to share and weave it into their words.
• Ask questions. Ask if you think you may have missed the point. Ask friendly (and appropriate!) questions. Ask for opinions. Show your interest. Open the communication door.
• Share information. Studies show that sharing information especially helps relationships begin. Be generous in sharing yourself, but don’t overwhelm others with too much too soon.

3. Be flexible. Most of us try to keep people and situations just the way we like them to be. It’s natural to feel apprehensive, even sad or angry, when people or things change and we’re not ready for it. Healthy relationships mean change and growth are allowed!

4. Take care of you. You probably hope those around you like you so you may try to please them. Don’t forget to please yourself. Healthy relationships are mutual!

5. Be dependable. If you make plans with someone, follow through. If you have an assignment deadline, meet it. If you take on a responsibility, complete it. Healthy relationships are trustworthy!

6. Fight fair. Most relationships have some conflict. It only means you disagree about something, it doesn’t have to mean you don’t like each other! When you have a problem:

• Negotiate a time to talk about it. Don’t have difficult conversations when you are very angry or tired. Ask, “When is a good time to talk about something that is bothering me?” Healthy relationships are based on respect and have room for both.
• Don’t criticize. Attack the problem, not the other person. Open sensitive conversations with “I” statements; talk about how you struggle with the problem. Don’t open with “you” statements; avoid blaming the other person for your thoughts and feelings. Healthy relationships don’t blame.
• Don’t assign feelings or motives. Let others speak for themselves. Healthy relationships recognize each person’s right to explain themselves.
• Stay with the topic. Don’t use a current concern as a reason to jump into everything that bothers you. Healthy relationships don’t use ammunition from the past to fuel the present.
• Say, “I’m sorry” when you’re wrong. It goes a long way in making things right again. Healthy relationships can admit mistakes.
• Don’t assume things. When we feel close to someone it’s easy to think we know how he or she thinks and feels. We can be very wrong! Healthy relationships check things out.
• Ask for help if you need it. Talk with someone who can help you find resolution—like your RA, a counselor, a professor, a chaplain or even parents. Check campus resources like Counseling Services at (740) 368-3145. Healthy relationships aren’t afraid to ask for help.
• There may not be a resolved ending. Be prepared to compromise or to disagree about some things. Healthy relationships don’t demand conformity or perfect agreement.
• Don’t hold grudges. You don’t have to accept anything and everything, but don’t hold grudges—they just drain your energy. Studies show that the more we see the best in others, the better healthy relationships get. Healthy relationships don’t hold on to past hurts and misunderstandings.
• The goal is for everyone to be a winner. Relationships with winners and losers don’t last. Healthy relationships are between winners who seek answers to problems together.
• You can leave a relationship. You can choose to move out of a relationship. Studies tell us that loyalty is very important in good relationships, but healthy relationships are NOW, not some hoped-for future development.

7. Show your warmth. Studies tell us warmth is highly valued by most people in their relationships. Healthy relationships show emotional warmth!

8. Keep your life balanced. Other people help make our lives satisfying but they can’t create that satisfaction for us. Only you can fill your life. Don’t overload on activities, but do use your time at college to try new things—clubs, volunteering, lectures, projects. You’ll have more opportunities to meet people and more to share with them. Healthy relationships aren’t dependent!

9. It’s a process. Sometimes it looks like everyone else on campus is confident and connected. Actually, most people feel just like you feel, wondering how to fit in and have good relationships. It takes time to meet people and get to know them…so, make “small talk”…respond to others…smile…keep trying. Healthy relationships can be learned and practiced and keep getting better!

10. Be yourself! It’s much easier and much more fun to be you than to pretend to be something or someone else. Sooner or later, it catches up anyway. Healthy relationships are made of real people, not images!

Woodford, J. (2000). Healthy Relationships. In Kansas State University Counseling Services. Retrieved January 25, 2011

Healthy Bishops Bulletin Contributor: Megan Johnson, RLC for YearOne

Save the Date: Wednesday, February 16, 2011

The Healthy Bishop Initiative is organizing Healthy Bishops Day (HBD) on Wednesday, February 16, 2011. HBD will kick-off with the annual OWU Health & Wellness Fair in the HWCC Atrium from 11:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. This fair provides the opportunity for various campus and community organizations to advertise their fitness/health-related goals and programs. Students, faculty and staff will be able to benefit from free health services, products, and food.

The capstone of HBD will be a presentation by college sport nutritionist Tim Weirman. Weirman has spoken to hundreds of college students across the country about how they can spot healthy options and develop healthy eating habits. The presentation will take place at 8:00 p.m. in the Benes Rooms.

If you have any questions regarding Healthy Bishop Day, contact Christina Trusty (cetrusty@owu.edu) or Sharif Kronemer (sikronem@owu.edu). 

Note:The Healthy Bishop Initiative (HBI), which consists of students, faculty members, and administration, is dedicated to the health and fitness needs of the OWU community. The HBI aims to facilitate the implementation of health and wellness improvements on campus.

For more information on the HBI, visit:http://connect2.owu.edu/issues/20100923/newsAndViews/healthyBishopInitiative.html orhttp://hbb.owu.edu/healthybishopsinitiative.html

Healthy Bishops Bulletin Contributor: Sharif Kronemer ’12 

Happy February!

I am sure everyone has been enjoying all the cold, snow and ice we’ve been having here in Central Ohio, or, at the least, enjoyed having a day free of classes last Wednesday. Thank goodnessPunxstawney Phil and Buckeye Chuck both predicted an early spring!

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it seemed appropriate to include an article on healthy relationships. Relationships, whether they be romantic, friendship, family or professional relationships, have an enormous affect on our emotional health and well-being, and this article is jammed-packed with sage advice on how to improve/maintain all relationships in your life.

This issue also features information about OWU’s very first Healthy Bishops Day on Wednesday, February 16, 2011. This is a very exciting campus event created by the Healthy Bishop Initiative and I hope you will take advantage of all it offers.

Thank you for reading the Healthy Bishops Bulletin. Until next time – stay safe, warm and start thinking happy thoughts of an early spring!

Sincerely,
Amanda Stewart
Editor, Healthy Bishops Bulletin
Residential Life Coordinator, Stuyvesant Hall