Mind, body, spirit:
Union’s integrated approach to wellness BY ERIN DEMUTH JUDD
A
lexa Steriti ’17 and Carolyn Connors ’17 have just one term at Union under their belts, but they’re glad they chose a school with a holistic approach to wellness. “The Wicker Center is very nice; it has everything you need, which is important,” Steriti said. “A lot of first-year students have trouble adjusting to college, so having counseling in the same place as medical help is great.” “It’s a really good idea,” Connors added. “It would be inconvenient and stressful to have to go somewhere else for either counseling or sickness.” Union’s leadership recognizes this as well, and has made expansion of the College’s integrated approach to wellness— caring for the whole student (mind, body and spirit)—a priority of its revised Strategic Plan. The new Wicker Wellness Center, dedicated at Homecoming in October (see pg. 4), sits next to Alumni Gym and is the home of Health Services and the Eppler-Wolff Center for Psychological Services. It has inspired the College to dedicate this year to promoting a culture of wellness on campus. “Silliman Hall, where health and counseling were located previously, was not appropriate for a school of our quality or size. So I was very enthusiastic about improving things,” said trustee Bill Wicker ’71. “The Wicker Center will be one of the most visited buildings in any given year. Something used by so many students should be beautiful, comfortable, functional, and located in a central place.” Wicker, and his wife Pamela, gave the lead gift that made the center possible. The project was also supported by Nancy Eppler-Wolff ’75 and her husband, John H. Wolff. The second floor is dedicated to 12 | UNION COLLEGE Winter 2014
Psychological Services, named in their honor. Other donors include Norman A. Lasda ’69, Charles M. Wilson and Amy Bermingham (parents of Jack Wilson ’14), Mr. and Mrs. Ronald DePoalo (parents of Daniel DePoalo ’14), and Dr. and Mrs. Marlon S. Rosenbaum (parents of Elliott Rosenbaum ’15). Life Trustee Neil Golub and his wife, Jane, also supported the center with their gift of the reception area. “As a clinical psychologist, I am very aware of the tough social, emotional and mental health issues college students are facing,” said Eppler-Wolff, a former trustee and inaugural chair of the President’s Council. “And today, we understand that the mind is part of the body and cannot be treated separately. For example, a student experiencing psychological symptoms (sadness, distractibility) may also experience physical symptoms (sleepiness, pain management issues), and even compromised immune function (frequent colds).” “By working collaboratively, psychologists, physicians and others can help the student address his or her issues comprehensively, so that he or she returns to optimal functioning as quickly as possible,” she continued. Marcus Hotaling, director of Psychological Services, knows the truth of this as well. He’s pleased Union is taking its commitment to the whole person a bit farther than many of its peers. “Most colleges are just starting to focus on the whole person,” he said. “They are integrating health and counseling centers into one office, but the idea of greater collaboration with athletics and religious life is somewhat unique to Union.” It’s also what invigorates the College’s culture of wellness, which nurtures not only mind and body, but spirit too. Winter 2014 UNION COLLEGE
| 13