April 30, 2014 Volume 46 Number 13
Publication Mail Registration No. 40062527
GAZETTE A M E M O R I A L U N I V E R S I T Y O F N E W F O U N D L A N D P U B L I C AT I O N
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POWER HOUSE
A business student is on the hunt for multiple world records at the world powerlifting championships next month in South Africa.
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MUSICAL DUO Husband and wife classical music team take recording of Beethoven’s complete sonata collection on European tour.
COURAGEOUS HEART
A nursing student, imminent graduate and native of war-torn Kosovo is the 2014 Student Volunteer of the Year.
$3 million invested in frameworks By Sandy Woolfrey-Fahey
THE VICE-PRESIDENTS
Council (VPC) has
announced base funding totalling $3 million for the fiscal year 2014-15 to support ongoing and future work of the three frameworks across the university. “Memorial’s leadership remains committed to investing in our strategic frameworks: Teaching and Learning, Research and Public Engagement,” said Dr. David Wardlaw, provost and vice-president (academic). “We have dedicated people who are involved in worthwhile projects to transform the framework recommendations into actions and results. This funding will enable sustained efforts in support of framework objectives and help to achieve our vision to be one of the most distinguished public universities in Canada and beyond.” CHRIS HAMMOND PHOTO
The funding allocation and home portfolio for deployment and reporting of the funds is Public Engagement, $900,000, Office of the President; Research, $900,000, Office of the Vice-President (Research); and Teaching and Learning, $1.2 million, Office of the Provost and Vice-President (Academic).
END OF AN ERA Maggie Hennessey prepares the final mail out of the International Journal of Maritime History. The journal has been produced at Memorial for the past quarter century. See related story on page 8.
See ACTIONS story on page 8
‘If a brain is troubled, it doesn’t learn’ Student health survey reveals stress and anxiety as primary academic impacts By Laura Barron
FACEFORWARD A PICTURE OF HEALTH
The survey revealed that Memorial’s student health
Centre. “The Counselling Centre is very active in online
issues are comparable to those of other Canadian uni-
and in-person outreach. Students are aware of it, so there
versities, though it appears that Canadian students are
is less stigma and they are more willing to come and get
health is a major factor in determining
experiencing more stress than their American coun-
help. We try to make that as easy as possible. Once you
academic success, the Student Health Centre, which includes
terparts. Student stress levels in Newfoundland and
reduce stigma and you raise awareness, then people who
Student Health, Counselling Centres and the Wellness
Labrador are at 35 per cent, while the numbers across
were suffering in silence will seek help. More people will
Program, has been gathering data to inform planning for
Canada and the U.S. are 38 per cent and 28 per cent,
accept the diagnosis and start treatment.”
supports and services to help students succeed.
respectively.
AS STUDENT
With a team of six people, Memorial’s Student Health
The top five reasons Memorial students miss classes and
Memorial’s students reported a higher awareness of
Centre sees 18,000 visits per year. The most frequent
are unable to complete courses and have incomplete grades
health education and a greater sense of safety on cam-
reasons for clinical visits are depression and anxiety.
are stress, anxiety, sleep issues, colds and influenza, and work.
pus, and they reported less illicit drug use and less
The survey showed that Memorial’s students’ rates of
In the spring of 2013, a random sample of 5,000
physical sexual violence, compared to their national
common mental illnesses are comparable to elsewhere,
Memorial students were asked to participate in the
and international counterparts. While 60 per cent of
with anxiety at 14 per cent, panic disorder at seven per
National College Health Assessment (NCHA) survey,
students at Memorial reported receiving information
cent, and depression at 10 per cent. Dr. Lee explains that
which captured student behaviours and attitudes on
about depression, the numbers are only 50 per cent
the combination of survey data with clinical reports is
a broad range of health issues, ranging from nutrition
across Canada and the U.S.
crucial to the creation of informed student health plans.
and exercise, drugs and alcohol, personal safety, sexual health, stress, depression and anxiety.
“We are ahead of the curve with our health education efforts,” said Dr. Lee, chief physician, Student Health
See HEALTH story on page 3