 "Photo: Natalie Duran")
 "Photo: Natalie Duran")
Richard Reyes
Sports Editor
A trio of on-campus organizations have joined together to boost the promotion of student wellness at NMSU through Healthy Aggie Week, which concludes today in front of Corbett Center.
Thirsty Thursday marks the end of Healthy Aggie Week and will focus primarily on student alcohol consumption. The NMSU Student Health Center, in collaboration with the Wellness, Alcohol and Violence Education Program and the NMSU Student Wellness Center, will provide information to students on responsible drinking habits.
"If students are going to drink alcohol, we want to give them tips so they drink within their limits in a safe manner," said Juan Suazo, health education coordinator and organizer of Healthy Aggie Week. "Instead of just telling them to quit, we want make sure they are responsible if they do choose to drink."
Along with alcohol consumption education, the health center, wellness center and WAVE will set up a canopy in front of Corbett Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to hand out general information on staying healthy as well as free fruit.
"Before you come to college your parents make most of your food choices for you, so for many students it's the first time they have to make their own choices to stay healthy," said Jenn Burrus, junior elementary education major and WAVE member.
Healthy Aggie Week kicked off with Mellow Monday in front of the health center, but due to its location, the event went unnoticed. Mellow Monday focused on healthy sleeping habits and the effects of stress on the body.
To better reach students, Suazo decided to move the event to the front of Corbett Center on Tuesday.
"It's more visible," Suazo said. "People going to the health center usually aren't feeling well so they are less willing to participate. Most students who are going to Corbett are on break so they have time to spare and check it out."
The second day of Healthy Aggie Week was Fat Tuesday, which focused on exercise and diet habits. Shon Meyer, director of the Student Wellness Center, provided free body fat analyses using a skin caliper to pinch different areas of participating students' bodies to determine their body fat percentage.
Drew Benage, a freshman athletic training and sports medicine major, stopped by to check his body fat percentage.
"I don't think I've ever had it checked before," Benage said. "It's good to know where you are at."
"Many students wouldn't seek that on their own," Suazo said about the body fat analysis.
The third day was Wellness Wednesday, dedicated to providing information about the health center and its services. Also, a blood-glucose monitor was used to determine students' cholesterol and glucose levels. First, their finger is pricked and a blood sample is drawn and put into the meter to calculate their levels.
Healthy Aggie Week is part of the health center's outreach calendar dedicated to educating the student population about their services and general health tips. Renee Williams, nurse practitioner, and Lori McKee, director of the health center, came up with the idea for the calendar.
The next event for the health center will be a "pink out" to provide information about breast cancer awareness on Wednesday in front of Taos. They will also be involved in the tailgate prior to the Sept. 29 football game, giving out free pink bracelets.
"Students need to keep current with their health, because, ultimately, that's all you have," Suazo said.
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