Brandon Clack, Staff Writer
As you all know, on November 15th, 2023, SUNY Oneonta held a Wellness Day, which meant that all classes were canceled to allow our campus community to support one another and reflect on the tragic events that occurred this semester. This was held to promote mental well-being. Some things one can do to take care of their mental well-being could be speaking to someone you trust, listening to music, watching a beloved movie, going on a walk, being amongst friends, or retail therapy- whether that be purchasing food, clothing, accessories, or miscellaneous goods.
On November 13th, 2023, at 7:00 pm in the Quad near the Pillars, a student-led candlelight vigil was held for the members of our campus community that passed, to pay tribute to them. This semester, 4 members of our campus community have tragically passed away over the semester. In September, Ialasia “Alex” Callabrass, a first-year Psychology major, sadly passed away. In the middle of October, Marcos Fernandez, an Exercise Science major, passed away as well. Around the same time, an employee, Dr. Timothy Newton, a professor of Music, unfortunately passed away. Nearly 2 weeks later, Jordan Kenna, a Physics major, passed away, which ultimately led to Oneonta’s Wellness Day this semester.
The Wellness Day was held with the intent to usher in an opportunity for a campus-wide connection, as well as give everyone time to reflect, decompress, and take care of themselves. However, this didn’t mean to completely isolate one’s self, as gathering with others was encouraged. This is why the campus, offices, and events were all still accessible that day. At 12 pm, the Mobile Crisis Assessment Team led a group session on coping and grief in the Hulbert Hall event space. At 1:30 pm, there was an informal gathering of campus community members at the Hunt Union Pond to offer a place for people to connect with others. Also, on this day, the Meditation Room in Lee Hall was open all day to offer people a quiet space to relieve their stress and balance themselves. All of these activities were held and promoted to offer members a chance to connect with others or be alone, but really to highlight the resources the campus offers in times of need, like this one.
It’s important to know that the campus has a Counseling & Wellness Center, near the Human Ecology, Physical Science, and Hulbert Hall buildings. It is here that students can receive mental health services and receive medical attention! It’s important to take care of your mental health always, and hopefully, this Wellness Day highlighted the importance of this!
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