Just over the peak of a new year, Student Life and the University Programming Board (UPB) teamed up to host a health and student organization fair in the Smith University Commons (UC) on Wednesday, Jan. 30
Assistant Dean of Students and UPB adviser LaTasha D. Brand said this was the first time the health fair and student organization fair were combined.
“This is the second year we’ve done a health fair in the spring semester,” Brand said. “We started organizing this event in the spring for students who were new to campus or missed it in the fall, but this semester UPB and Student Life came together so students could have a health fair and student organization fair at the same time.”
Representatives from the FMU Student Health center including Tracy Aniello, manager of health services, came to the fair to give students information on the range of services available to them.
“We want students to know we are here for them and there is no cost to be seen,” Aniello said.
Several local businesses came to offer students their services. The Florence Family YMCA gym offered a reduced membership fee exclusive to FMU students.
McElveen Body 2 Body, a personal training studio, offered FMU students service bundles at a reduced rate and added a free session to anyone who signed up on the spot. Monica McClary, the Accounting Manager for McElveen Body 2 Body, explained why this business differs to the traditional gym.
“You may have a gym on campus but if you don’t know how to work out properly, you aren’t helping yourself,” McClary said. “We create a plan tailored to you and your weight loss goals.”
Advantage Health and Wellness Center, a chiropractic office, also offered students special rates for their services. To showcase their work, students were able to get a free massage during the fair.
Student organizations that were present included Dance Marathon, sororities and fraternities, the NAACP and GLTBSA. A newer organization on campus called “The Absolutely Outrageous Club of All Things Nerdy and Awesome”, or T.A.O.C.A.T.N.A , was in attendance and gave students a chance to win a video game console. Habitat for Humanity and Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM) were also in attendance.