The Triangle

Issue date: 5/6/05 Section: Sci-Tech

Media Credit: Kaushal Toprani Freshman Alissa Menges demonstrates good rowing form. Menges is a member of Drexel´s Womens Crew team.

"Educate in a creative, innovative way," remarked Tracy Gallagher, Health Educator from the University's Department of Counseling and Health.

In an event that featured education on a variety of topics from drug and substance abuse to cycling, rowing, and breast cancer awareness, students learned about their choices at the Drexel Health Fair Thursday, May 05, 2005.

Gallagher and the Dragon CHOICE (Creating Healthy Options In Challenges Everyday) Network were responsible for coordinating the event.

CHOICE is a group of student leaders including RAs, athlete's, and student government who promote healthy events on campus.

Gallagher wanted it to be community gathering; students shared their in-class experiences from nutrition and sports management class and national organizations like Security on Campus, Inc. informed students on crime prevention on campus.

Many simulations focused on the effects of various drugs. Want to know what if feels like to breathe like a smoker? Close your nostrils and breathe through a coffee stirrer.

Pre-junior John Sarracino, decided to test how his motor skills would perform while drunk. It took him multiple tries to throw a ball into a basket while wearing beer goggles.

Andrew Bleaken, a freshman sports management major, said this whole event was a "great way to get the word out [about substance abuse]."

Sarracino, who was also enjoying the beautiful weather, free food, and other free toys, was "hanging out with friends, having a good time."

One of the other stations setup around the DAC quad was the Drexel Cycling Club. Training on rollers was Joe Kopena, a senior computer science major. Kopena, Chris Hair, and Steven Bronstein were getting the word out about cycling.

The club practices in Fairmount Park, and rides competitively in many different races held in places like Dover, Vermont, West Point, Penn State, and Boston.

Hair believes cycling is a great sport for anyone to get into, beginners can ride in races that are 30 miles while more advanced riders participate in races that are 83 miles.

Cycling is one of the few collegiate sports where you "can jump in as an amateur and compete against other D-I schools," remarked Hair. Students interested in joining are urged to contact Kopena at jbk23@drexel.edu.

Also available for the sports enthusiast was Tom Toland, men's varsity rowing coach.

Toland said most people did row correctly for a good aerobic workout, however most people need to learn the correct sequence of arm and leg movements for a good muscular workout.

Elizabeth Jones and Jai-Marie Zacco were also on hand to promote breast cancer awareness.

Using models, the two were able to show the correct procedure for doing self-tests for breast cancer. Jones said she wanted to "teach men and women the importance of testing once a month."

Nutrition was also another area Gallagher hoped to educate students about.

Media Credit: Kaushal Toprani Joe Kopena trains on rollers at the Drexel Health Fair. Kopena is a member of the Drexel Cycling Club, which is preparing for the mountain biking season.

Students from her class, Heath Issues of Modern Athletes, were available to promote awareness about what kinds of foods athletes should consume.

"They need to know what to put in their body to perform at their highest level," remarked sophomore Patrick Hardin, a sports management major.

The Department of Counseling and Health hopes to educate students on variety of health issues using various events through out the year.

However, the Cinco de Mayo health fair is definitely the "highlight of the year," according to Gallagher.

Gallagher hopes that events like these will attract all students, even those who are less health conscious than others, so all students will benefit.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools