WSU Health & Wellness Services, Vol. 1/ No. 5 | Dec-Jan 2012/13
Skin = Care Learn How! Olive Oil +Yogurt +Honey
Don’t feel
BLUE this
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2013
FRFF
New Year’s Resolutions EDITOR’S LETTER It’s true what they say—winter is a wonderland. Each time this year, I am filled with excitement and joy as the weather turns crisp and cool and the snowfall blankets the Earth with a fresh new appearance. It’s exhilarating to me that there isn’t a store in sight that’s not filled with holiday decorations, and it seems that I can never get enough of the Christmas music that follows me wherever I go. As a Christian, I am partial to this season because of the Christmas holiday, but there is more to the month of December that deems it my favorite month of the year. The winter season, to me, is a chance to reflect, remember and start over. It’s an opportunity to look over my life throughout the past year and learn from my mistakes, and more importantly, it’s a time where I can really appreciate the most significant things in my life and forget about the stuff that doesn’t matter. When Christmas is over, less than a week later marks the first day of a brand new year. Just as soon as a year begins, it always seems to pass in the blink of an eye. But the incredible thing about a new year is the opportunity
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it presents us with to leave our pasts behind us and to move forward in our lives to bigger and better things. The best is yet to come and the possibilities are endless. No matter where you stand during the month of December, or what your beliefs entail, the winter season can be a wonderful chance to give thought to your life and the person you are today. I hope you consider your health (and all of its dimensions), happiness and dreams during winter break, and take advantage of the new year to start fresh and go after everything you’ve always wished for. You are stronger, smarter and braver than you realize. Never underestimate yourself—you are capable of great things. Cheers to a brand new year, a brand new start, and a brand new you.
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contents 7 DIMENSIONS OF WELLNESS
pg21 Aegean Skin Care
Beat the Winter Blues
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pg09 Frozen River Film Festival
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Donate Plasma for Holiday Cash
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INTELLECTUAL Helping Others This Holiday Season SPIRITUAL The Frozen River Film Festival EMOTIONAL Holiday Perseverance ENVIRONMENTAL The Winter Blues SOCIAL Cyber Stalking OCCUPATIONAL The Green Prospect PHYSICAL Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
& HEALTH& WELLNESS
CALENDAR CREDITS
Monthly Events and Holidays Wellness Feature - Meet Holly!
HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES DIY Aegean Skin Care
BULLETINS
Future Events - Don’t Miss Out!
FIVE TIPS
Eat Smart this Holiday Season
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credits PUBLISHERS Erica Thibodeaux Shawnessy Mohawk EDITOR IN CHIEF Samantha Luhmann GRAPHIC DESIGNER Tegan Blank
January Observances
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National Stalking Awareness Month
January Events Begin
Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
Welcome Back!
National Blood Donor Month
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Martin Luther King Day
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Fit-Stop 22 11 a.m. The WELL
No Class! Cover Photo Credit: stock.xchng
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Commencement Congratulations Graduates!
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Meet Holly Fratzke WSU Nurse Practioner
Holly Fratzke is the 2012 recipient of the Winona Women’s Resource Center annual “Creating a Safer Community Award” for her individual promotion of the center’s mission to creating a safer community by eliminating sexual and domestic violence. Fratzke was chosen because of her initiative to go above and beyond to ensure the safety and the well-being of survivors of domestic and sexual assault by receiving specialized training as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner and participating in the Sexual Assault Interagency Council.
A letter from Holly... Hi! I’d like to introduce myself to you, our readers. My name is Holly Fratzke and I am one of the nurse practitioners that works in the Health and Wellness Services clinic here on the Winona State University campus. I am a native of Winona and a WSU alumni, class of..…. longer than I’d like to admit to. I have been working in the area of women’s health for over 20 years and this is my third school year working part-time at Health and Wellness Services. The other part of my time is spent at Winona Health in the Center for Women’s Health department. Prior to coming to WSU, I worked at the Semcac Family Planning Clinic and Planned Parenthood. Women’s health interests me because of the many complex health needs women have and the desire women have to learn about their health. One of the areas I have extensive training and experience in is cervical cancer screening, diagnosis, and prevention. January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month and I’d like to take this opportunity to encourage you to learn more about the current recommendations for screening and prevention of cervical cancer. Sami Schwanke, a reporter for the Wellzine, has written a great article in this month’s edition highlighting some of the important things to know about HPV and cervical cancer, including the newest screening recommendations. Although screening is important, prevention is even more consequential. Gardasil, the HPV immunization, and practicing safe sex are the keys to prevention. WSU’s Health and Wellness Services can provide Gardasil to students right here on campus. Come see us and help prevent cervical cancer. Guys, this means you too! Gardasil isn’t just for women; you can play a role in preventing cervical cancer, as well!
Southeast Tech Travel Safety
John Hale, Southeast Technical College Truck Driving Instructor The winter season has returned and in order to remain acclimated to the change in weather, it’s important that we look closely at our driving styles and prepare for the subzero weather and icy roads to come. With the holidays fast approaching, it’s likely that you’ll be spending a lot of time with your loved ones— particularly in the car. In order to ensure a happy and safe holiday, it’s important that we take time to think about any upcoming travels and the road conditions ahead. Before leaving on your trip, it’s a good idea to have your vehicle checked and washed, cleansing all of the exterior windows for the best possible visibility. Filling your windshield reservoir and carrying an extra gallon of solution in the trunk will aid in emergencies and double-checking the quality of your tires is crucial as they are often a cause of real problems in the winter weather. Make certain that your heater and defroster fans are in working order as well, and more importantly, be careful where and how you pack the vehicle—do not block your visibility from any window. Knowing the characteristics of the road you will be traveling on will be of great importance throughout your journey. Is it a county road or a state road? Is it well-traveled and how well is it typically maintained and plowed? Allow extra time for winter road conditions and reduce your speed by 10 mph in order to prevent accidents. Decreasing the amount of distance it takes you to stop will prevent a potential accident by 33 percent. Traveling an alternate route may take a little longer, but if the extra time will get you safely to your destination, then it’s well worth the wait. If an accident does occur, make sure you have some emergency supplies stored in case you should become stranded. Some necessities include candles, flashlights, blankets, reflectors and nutritious survival food. It’s ideal to stay inside of your vehicle until help arrives, but if your vehicle is stuck in the snow, clear the snow from around the exhaust to run the vehicle safely in order to keep warm without danger of carbon monoxide poisoning. Have a safe and happy holiday season, and remember, “the most important mile you will ever drive is the one directly in front of you.”
Looking to get involved during the upcoming Spring semester? Check out the bulletins page for available positions in a variety of clubs and organizations throughout the Winona State University campus. It’s never too late to try something new!
Freshmen News health & wellness services
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Helping Others Your Bank Account This Holiday Season
Stefani Schmidt, WSU Senior, Mass Communications Journalism and Political Science
W
ith the holidays in full swing, college students get to take a break from studying and enjoy time with their families and friends. They can go to parties, frolic in the winter weather and buy and receive gifts for the upcoming holiday season. However, such recreational activities cost a lot of money that oftentimes students are already lacking. There are only so many hours a week that students can work before wondering if having money for gifts is worth the loss of sanity. And because financial aid disbursements are most likely getting low, students are looking into some new alternatives to making some extra cash.
Intellectual
But what are they? One option that benefits not only students in need of some quick cash, but also thousands of people in need of better health is donating plasma. Plasma is the pale-yellow liquid part of blood that carries blood cells throughout the body. The body can restore plasma easily after it’s taken and donations are used to help those suffering from various immune deficiencies and illnesses. The nearest location to donate is at BioLife in Onalaska, Wis. BioLife offers donators $230 a
wellzine 2012/13 wellzine dec-jan | october 2012
A man donates plasma
Photo Credit: Corbis Images
month, two times a week, every week they donate. Austin Eschweiler, a senior at Winona State University, and Liam Krause, a WSU junior, visit BioLife with a group of students every Tuesday and Thursday. According to Eschweiler and Krause, carpooling helps a lot with gas. Eschweiler describes the feeling of donating plasma as about the same as giving blood, even though the process is a bit different. After having blood drawn, a machine separates the plasma from the fluid. Next, the plasma-less blood is pumped back into the donor, along with some room temperature saline to take the place of the plasma. “It’s a little cold so you get chilly, but that’s the only weird part of it,” Eschweiler said. After donating plasma, neither Eschweiler nor Krause felt any side effects. Both have had positive experiences through BioLife and would recommend the clinic to anyone who is interested. The first session includes a physical, so students should except to be at the clinic for up to three hours, Krause said. All other donating sessions should be around one hour long. It’s possible; however, for some people to be denied when trying to donate, even though they might be otherwise healthy. Megan Berry, a junior at WSU, was denied after her three-hour physical because she is currently taking an allergy medication. She can; however, get a doctor’s note and go back and try again. Overall, Berry described the experience as professional and would recommend others to at least try donating. Not only will donating allow you to help others, but it will also you get some additional perks from the clinic, she said.
Homemade Gift Ideas Food & Beverages • Homemade pancake mix • Flavored hot cocoa mix
Handmade Clothing • Craft a scarf • Make a tutu
Beauty Products • Organic lip balm • Peppermint facial scrub
“I’ve even heard that you get a water bottle that says BioLife on it if you donate,” Berry said. If you’re denied to donate like Berry was, never fear—it’s possible to save money on homemade Christmas gifts. And if all else fails, load up your iTunes, grab a blank CD and make a mix tape. Everyone loves mix tapes.
health & wellness services
The
Frozen River Film20 Festival13
Kim Schneider, WSU Freshman, Mass Communications Photojournalism and English
As
the weather turns snowy and cold, many of us will likely seek refuge in our beds, avoiding the freezing Minnesota winter at any cost. However, there is one winter Winona event that has been heating up over the past nine years. From Jan. 25-29, Winona will be hosting its annual Frozen River Film Festival on the Winona State University campus. Each year toward the end of January, the FRFF partners with local businesses, organizations, and WSU to put together the oneof-a-kind event complete with art, music, food and films galore. “The whole thing is about art of various kinds and education,” Diane Stevens, the FRFF festival coordinator, said.
Spiritual
However, the festival was not always this developed.
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Belgium actor Maggie Jacquim and her husband, Will Kitchen, initially brought the idea to Winona because they felt the Midwest needed a film festival. The couple quickly put their thoughts into action and recruited volunteers in order to kick-start the event. However, a few years after the FRFF was created, its creators left Winona and moved to India. “It became our job to make sure it survived,” Stevens said. Each year the festival begins with Adrenaline Night that includes a keynote guest speaker and a series of films that are extremely active, oftentimes featuring mountain climbing and skiing.
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Top: The 2012 FRFF entertains festival attendees Photographer: Nicole Stark
Bottom: The 2012 FRFF display was created by WSU graphic design students Photographer: Nicole Stark
This year’s guest speaker is Sandra Steingraber—a well-known environmentalist who Stevens describes as, “the Rachel Carson of today’s world.” On Adrenaline Night, Steingraber will speak at 6:30 p.m. in Somsen Auditorium. Following her presentation, the festivities will continue at Lourdes Hall in an effort to better include WSU’s West Campus. The remaining festival will take place on Main Campus with the Science Laboratory Center as the central hub.
The difference between the Fringe Festival and the FRFF on campus is found in the films. The films that are featured at the Fringe Festival often contain more controversial material than the overall festival’s. The films are also more loosely defined according to the current festival themes. Each year the FRFF centers around four main themes: world cultures, environment, extreme sports and adventure. In addition to these themes, the festival always includes the WSU theme of the year. As a result, this year’s festival will include multiple wellness booths and a variety of healthy activities including Tai Chi, acupuncture, massage therapy and yoga as the university’s theme is revolved around health and wellness. The festival will also include outdoor activities, live music, a farmers market, an art show and food catered by Blooming Grounds Coffee House and Jefferson Pub and Grill. The films included in the FRFF are submitted from all over the country, screened and considered by a panel of judges based on specific criteria: the film must be a documentary, it must fit with one or more of the festival’s themes, it must be enlightening and encouraging—nothing too dark. The panel also chooses films that invoke deep thought in the audience.
The program has grown and changed in many ways over the years. Initially, the festival was held in one single location and the FRFF crew struggled to find volunteers. Today, attendance has grown so much that the festival has expanded to Saint Mary’s University and into downtown Winona for the Fringe Festival showings. The festival initially took place on campus, but many people could not attend because they were working downtown and on the opposite side of town. In response, the organization brought the festival to them. Each year, the Fringe Festival takes place in various downtown venues on the Friday of the FRFF. This year’s Fringe Festival will be held on Jan. 25.
In addition to the various events and activities, all students can attend the festival’s events for free. That’s right guys—free food, too. When asked why students should attend this event, Stevens said the festival impacts education in ways that sometimes classes can’t. Through film, music, art and food, students are exposed to other cultures and information they might not normally be introduced to. Although the frigid Minnesota winter may make you want to stay curled up under a blanket, the Frozen River Film Festival is an event that is worth facing the cold.
health & wellness services
H
oliday
Perseverance
Jeremy Ertl, WSU Senior, Mass Communications Public Relations and Creative Writing
B
etween your fourth forced helping of overcooked ham and uncle John’s not-sopolitically-correct joke about the three-legged Jewish dog that walked into the wrong kind of Hanukkah celebration (that he’s telling you for the fifth time), a lot can happen around this time of year to stifle your holiday cheer. For a student who’s become accustomed to going out when he or she pleases and alternating between shared Netflix accounts and social networking, it can be stressful to return home after living alone for an extended period of time—especially if returning home means less-than-exceptional Wi-Fi and tedious household chores.
A conversation with your parents may go a long way toward your adult independence, Eunie Alsaker, assistant counselor at Winona State University, said. This way you are not operating on two different sets of instructions and they won’t still treat you like the kid who lost his HitClips player on the fifth grade playground and can no longer be taken seriously. It can be helpful to anticipate where the stressful spots of the holidays will be, Alsaker said. “If Mom flips out over the Christmas meal, for example, have realistic expectations that this may happen again,” she said. Remind yourself that particular times may be stressful based on prior experience. And butting heads with uncle John doesn’t have to be a bad thing.
Emotional
“Relatives make good stories,” Alsaker said.
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If you have a conflict with an immediate family member, it should lead to a head-on discussion. After all, you’re going to see them more than twice a year and probably have to talk to them again at some point. But crazy aunt Julie that you only see on Thanksgiving and Christmas shouldn’t put a metaphoric fork in your neck (or literal, if the ham is really that overcooked). A family sits down for dinner during the holidays Photo Credit: Corbis Images
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Unless it’s cruel behavior or abuse, try not to let it bother you. Put coal in their stocking and be done with it.
Annoying relatives may not be the source of your holiday woes. The absence of loved ones could be the cause instead.
Children play in the snow
Photo Credit: Corbis Images
Twenty-one percent of WSU students reported losing someone close to them within the last 12 months, Alsaker said. This means that many students could be returning home for the first time with someone missing for the holidays. “If a family member has passed, I encourage the remaining family members to talk about how they want to do the holidays ahead of time,” Alsaker said. This could mean doing the same thing you always do, or changing up your regular holiday routine. Either way, it’s healthy to talk about it and make the decision as a family. “Talk about the person that you have lost,” Alsaker said. “Pull that person into the celebration of Christmas or Hanukkah or whatever it is you celebrate. Light a candle. Share stories. Introduce a ritual of remembrance.” At the same time, it is important to remember that the loss is not front and center of the celebration. “You can still laugh and have fun,” Alsaker said. “It’s not either/or. It’s both.” For many people, there can be a lot of symbolism in holidays that can be helpful in terms of healing and growth. During Hanukkah, the light is central. In Christmas, it’s the star. Even the winter solstice can be seen as a chance for renewal or rebirth. As Albus Dumbledore said, “Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” And I, for one, can never deny that beard. And what about the new year? Resolutions can either be a much-needed boost or a hindrance to a person’s self-esteem. It might be helpful to look at them as “intentions,” as opposed to “resolutions,” Alsaker said. This way you’re striving toward something softer. Whereas you could potentially fail at achieving a resolution, the same is not true of an intention.
“One of the good things about New Year’s resolutions is that they imply we’re reflecting on our life,” Alsaker said. “We’re asking ourselves if there is something we want to add or remove to improve our self-worth or self-esteem.” The bottom line is to be realistic, set small goals and be specific. So sing loudly in elevators. Kiss in elevators. Apply for jobs in elevators. Apply for anything. Go to the gym. Attempt a pull-up. Run a marathon. Wave at the cute girl as you’re running the marathon. Get her number. Or his. Or both. Stop smoking, for real this time. Delete your ex off Facebook; he doesn’t matter anymore. Stop going out so much. Go out more. Hop a train to somewhere beautiful. Hop a plane to somewhere warm. Volunteer. Invest in something. Invest in a new wardrobe. Give away your old wardrobe to charity. Learn Spanish. Attempt Spanish at a new bar after you ran that marathon and quit smoking.
The holidays are a good thing. health & wellness services
The
Winter Blues Samantha Martin, WSU Senior, Mass Communications Advertising and Sociology
You’re crabby for no reason; eating carbs like there is no tomorrow; in need of four naps a day even though you already slept for 12 hours. What is going on?! It’s called Seasonal Affective Disorder. And don’t worry—you’re not alone. Seasonal Affective Disorder is also known as The Winter Blues, SAD, or Seasonal Depression. Yes, it is a real condition, and yes, it does cause your mood to fluctuate.
Environmental
Seasonal Depression usually hits hardest on those who live in areas where winter days are short and sunlight is scarce. Sound familiar?
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Seasonal Affective Disorder is more specifically described as a seasonal depression caused by the limited sunlight that begins during the fall months and continues throughout the winter— your body’s reaction to the lack of serotonin and an abundance of melatonin. “Too little serotonin and we feel depressed,” said Eunie Alsaker, an assistant counselor at Winona State University. “Too much melatonin and we want to curl up and sleep.” I’ve personally had to live with SAD for nearly three years, and at first when fall came around, I just thought I was tired from school. However, as the seasons rolled by, I started to become aware that this depressed feeling started to reappear around the same time every year.
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A student sits in front of the light box located in WSU’s Health Services Photographer: Erica Thibodeaux
In order to figure out what exactly was going on, I went straight to Google and typed in my symptoms. Seasonal Affective Disorder explained my exhaustion, cravings for carbs and my insatiable appetite for sleep. After talking to my mom, she informed me that she too suffers from Seasonal Depression. Turns out that a person is more likely to have this disorder if a close relative has it, as well. That explained a lot. It can be hard to diagnose SAD because it has similar symptoms to non-seasonal depression; however, it is encouraged to go to a doctor to get checked out.
The sun peeks out from behind the tree branches Photographer: Erica Thibodeaux
It’s important that you don’t brush these symptoms off as simple winter blues. Depression is a serious issue that should not be ignored regardless if it is only seasonal. If you feel like you might be suffering from symptoms of SAD, Alsaker suggests making an appointment with Health Services and getting a professional assessment. If you think you may have a mild case of the winter blues and you don’t feel like visiting a counselor, Alsaker has advice for that, as well. “Get out in the sun no matter what,” said Alsaker. “Even if it is freezing outside, bundle up and get in the sunshine.”
“Exercise, any type of exercise, just move your body,” Alsaker said. “Not only that, find something to look forward to. Like Christmas or New Years, it doesn’t have to be big, just find something to look forward to.” Your diet also plays a huge role in how you feel, Alsaker said. Try eating more complex carbs, protein, seafood and vegetables, and avoid eating simple carbohydrates and drinking alcohol when you’re feeling down.
Creating a healthy sleeping pattern will work wonders, as well. Staying up until 2 a.m. and waking up at noon does not your body, regardless if At the end of each day, reflect help you’re dealing with seasonal and find five things for which depression or not.
you are greatful
However, if you can’t muster up the courage to face the frigid wind and snow, you can always set up an appointment to use the light box on campus. Using a light box five days a week can help balance out the chemicals in your brain and therefore help you to feel more upbeat. All you have to do is sit in a room with the light box on and read or do homework. But if sitting in from of a light sounds too dull for you, Alsaker suggests getting active.
“Get a uniform sleep schedule with a minimum of seven hours of sleep,” Alsaker said. “Avoid taking naps, and if you can’t, take short naps of 10-30 minutes before 3 p.m.” However, in my experiences, I do support getting checked out by Health Services if you feel like you could be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder. It is a serious disorder that affects more people than expected. “Be thankful,” Alsaker said. “At the end of each day, reflect and find five things for which you are grateful.”
health & wellness services
Cyber
Stalking
Eileen Jennings, WSU Sophomore, Spanish and English
If
you’re one of millions of college students who are registered with Facebook, it’s likely that you’ve used the medium to look at a potential or past infatuation’s profiles, their posted pictures, their interests and “likes,” or even their daily schedules through frequent status updates about what they are doing on a day-to-day basis.
Using Facebook to check in on people may seem innocent enough, but as with all things in the world, innocence has a darker side. A horror story can begin and end with a social media website such as Facebook or Twitter. Cyber stalking has become one of the devious sides to social media sites that are most commonly used in our current generation. The careless placement of one’s personal information is the beginning to what could be a potentially terrifying end. More often than not, harassment is the end point of cyber stalking. Oftentimes this harassment begins with incessant calling, as with Kristen Pratt, the victim of Patrick Macchione, a former classmate at the University of Central Florida. Macchione bombarded Pratt with massive amounts of Facebook messages, Tweets and phone calls and even put videos up on YouTube threatening her life.
Social
Macchione was sentenced to jail for four years with 15 years probation. Pratt was never murdered; however, Lottie Spencer and her loved ones were not so lucky. Waseem Daker, a convicted murder, was charged for killing Karmen Smith and attempted homicide of Nick Smith, her son. Draker stalked Spencer 17 years ago when Daker began incessantly calling and showing up in random places that Spencer frequently visited. Cyber stalking has become simpler through recent technology Photo Credit: Corbis Images wellzine
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Daker appeared at her house and killed her roommate, Karmen Smith, and attempted to stab Nick Smith, as well.
Even though some cases of cyber stalking do not end in the death of the victim, the effects of the harassment are longer lasting to the victim, both emotionally and psychologically. In the last decade, social media’s influence in stalking has changed the way stalkers function. They are able to stalk their victims without the victim’s knowledge and the ability to delete their profile or change their name allows for stalkers to be easily hidden, sometimes even able to stalk their prey through someone else’s profile. According to a study performed by Western University, 88 percent of people’s ex’s have confessed to monitoring their ex-partner’s profile on Facebook. Recognizing the signs of a stalker is the most important part of prevention as more than 6.6 million American adults are stalked each year, according to the Stalking Resource Center. The most obvious sign of a stalker is frequent contact without any apparent reason. This contact is often discouraged or unwanted, though typically persistent. Another sign of a stalker is the frequent need to for the victim’s personal information and constantly trying to find ways to connect with that person. Stalkers come in all shapes and sizes and don’t necessarily fit into any specific category.
16 counts of stalking on the WSU campus, the majority of them based on social media harassment. According to Walski, the best way to avoid cyber stalkers is to keep as much personal information offline as possible. The amount of information that can be found online is stunning, he said. Aside from monitoring personal information on display, it is best to document all that happens between a stalker and its victim. The more information that can be used, the easier it will be for authorities to understand the situation and make a judicial decision about what needs to be done. Stalkers can turn at any moment and it is best to contact the local police department or campus security to be safe. As January is National Stalking Awareness Month, it’s important that stalking, in all kinds, is taken seriously and more importantly recognized throughout its early stages. Common social media users are at risk for being cyber and if you feel as though you are being stalked collect evidence of the stalking and harassment and contact your local police department or campus security to get help. Ignoring a potential stalking situation could turn deadly.
Winona State University’s director of security Don Walski said that in the past year, there have been
Facebook allows users to access a wide variety of personal information Photgrapher: Linzey Sarreal
health & wellness services
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Green Prospect the
Jessica Cahoon, WSU Senior, Psychology
W
inona State University can be considered one of the greenest campuses in the country. From the Environmental Club to the Sustainability Theme House, WSU shows students the importance of supporting sustainable living. As with most things, living sustainably begins with education.
Occupational
WSU offers a sustainability minor teaching students to have an efficient and resourceful lifestyle. It also offers an Environmental Science Program with a combination of basic studies of biology, chemistry and geosciences with a deeper focus in one. Students gain a wealth of knowledge about the Earth and the importance of sustainability in which they can carry with them throughout college and into their individual careers.
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Environmental Club For more information on the Green Grant, contact Courtney Juelich. The Environmental club hosts weekly meetings at 7 p.m. Tuesdays in the Winonan Room located inside of Kryzsko Commons. Anyone who is interested in the environment is welcome to attend.
Right: WSU ‘s Sustainability Theme House
Photographer: Tegan Blank
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WSU contributes in many areas to sustainability thoughout campus. They provide a green housing facility, better known as the Sustainability Theme House, that houses select WSU students to reside throughout the academic year while participating in and hosting community events to promote sustainable living. WSU also created their own initiatives, such as living without the use of lights after dark for a week, employing the use compostable paper products, purchasing local products and recycling as much as they can. The green reach extends to WSU transportation services by using electric trucks on campus that have no tailpipe emission, as well. Many students show support for the green movement throughout the WSU campus by
the creation of environmentally friendly clubs and enrollment in sustainability classes. The Environmental Club participates in various events during the academic year to support the environment and to inform students and the Winona community about environmental-related events.
these legislations extend into the private market where it will affect businesses.”
The Green Grant was a student-led initiative to bring composting to WSU. There are currently three composting bins throughout the WSU campus in which the grant provided: the Sustainability Theme House, Kryzsko Commons and Sheehan Hall. The composting bins are imperative for the students in that it brings usage full circle at WSU with a compost system. In addition to the recycling program, virtually all waste is disposed of properly and in a socially responsible manner.
Energy, a course offered at WSU in the physics department, showcases the renewable energy options such as solar energy and the work involved throughout that initiative. There are many jobs tied into solar energy that students are sometimes not exposed to including engineering, marketing, public relations, accounting and human resources. Such areas are all fields that are required to make an idea such as solar power a reality and provide opportunities for students looking into obtaining green jobs.
The Green Grant workers are currently looking into additional options of setting compost collection bins inside the Smaug or in Sheehan Hall, Kirkland Hall, and New Hall. The work of the students on Green Grant contributes even more to the Green movement at WSU. “Green jobs and living green are increasingly important as the social climate redirects itself in support of environmental efforts,” Courtney Juelich, WSU senior and author of the Green Grant, said. “Our national and state governments have passed numerous legislations promoting green living and it’s only a matter of time before
The foundations WSU lays for its students entering the job markets after graduation opens the door for many opportunities in the green world. There are many jobs that students can be exposed to and made aware simply by attending the university.
The following is a list of jobs that goes into making Green Initiative companies successful:
1 Business Development 2 Green Marketing 3 Policy Director 4 Sales 5 Engineer 6 Program Manager 7 Operations 8 Legislative Affairs 9 Finances 10 Community Organizer The field of sustainability and the Green Movement is increasing in our world. Taking advantages of the opportunities WSU has to offer will improve our living environment as well as create paths that could lead to a very lucrative future. health & wellness services
Cervical Cancer
AwarenessMonth Sami Schwanke, WSU Junior, English Writing and Business Management
J
anuary is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month and even though cervical cancer diagnoses have gone down in America in recent years, it is still important to become educated on this fairly preventable type of cancer. Cervical cancer starts out as a condition, usually the human papilloma virus, which is spread through sexual intercourse and takes many years to develop into cancer. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, these precancerous conditions can be detected by a Pap smear and are 100 percent treatable, which shows why having examinations and screenings at the appropriate intervals are so important. Another one of the main preventive steps is getting a vaccine against HPV.
Physical
There are two main kinds of vaccines that are commonly used: Cervarix, which prevents two
strains of HPV, and Gardasil, which prevents four strains of HPV. Gardasil is offered to both male and female students at Winona State University and Southeast Technical College and is usually covered by health insurance. Gardasil is a series of three shots given over a total of six months. Holly Fratzke, a women’s health nurse practitioner at WSU’s Health Services, said that if patients end up not following the schedule, it’s OK. “You don’t have to start over if you wait longer than the suggested amount of time,” Fratzke said. “I have patients who come in for annual check-ups and we just get the shot then. It’s not a big deal if there’s six months or a year between the shots, as long as they eventually get all three.” It is recommended that the shots be taken at the suggested intervals, though, to provide optimal immunity to HPV.
Semcac Family Planning Clinic is located on Third Street in downtown Winona
Photographer: Tegan Blank
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dec-jan 2012/13
It’s also important to remember that no vaccine guarantees that you’ll be 100 percent protected from ever getting HPV. According to Fratzke, it’s essentially impossible to prevent HPV with just condoms because not all of your skin is covered. “Maybe they should invent a body condom,” Fratzke said. HPV is a sexually transmitted disease (or infection, depending on what your health class taught you) that can easily be prevented by using safe sex. It is very important to know the history of your sexual partners, have limited sexual partners and to always use appropriate protection, especially condoms, to try to prevent the spread of HPV and this type of cancer. There are many resources available on and off campus when it comes to caring for your sexual health. On the WSU campus, several pamphlets regarding Pap smear results, Gardasil, HPV, and colposcopies are available to students. Health Services also provides several procedures regarding all kinds of health-related issues in which students can take full advantage of. Winona Health and Semcac Family Planning Clinic are alternative resources to receiving information, as well. Chrissy Feine, the clinic director at Semcac, said that Semcac can also provide Gardasil and cancer screenings to students. She also emphasized that getting the vaccine before becoming sexually active is key. There are a lot of myths and opinions about screenings for cervical cancer. According to The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, women under the age of 21 should not be screened, no matter their sexual habits. Cervical cancer is extremely rare for this age group and over-treatment of abnormal test results can lead to problems with birth and pregnancy. When a woman turns 21, she must start this process and continue every three years until she reaches 29. According to the ACOG, testing should be done regardless of the age of sexual initiation or other risk factors. Also, it is important to not start HPV testing until a woman is 30 years old because HPV is naturally fought off by your immune system. It is also common for women younger than 30 to have HPV and should not be over-treated because of the reproductive risks.
Semcac offers a variety of informational phamphlets
Photographer: Tegan Blank
Another myth, Fratzke said, is on cervical cancer and genetics. “One big misconception of my patients is that HPV and cervical cancer are genetic,” Fratzke said. “It’s not; it’s just that HPV exposure is very prevalent and it’s very common for people to come back with abnormal test results from a Pap smear.” Your body’s immune system will naturally get rid of HPV, Fratzke said, but when a woman does not get regular screenings or ignores abnormal test results HPV can turn into cervical cancer. Despite contrary belief, men can get HPV too; however, in another form aside from the cancerous strand. Instead, men contract what is more commonly recognized as genital warts. HPV comes in several strains that can be categorized into high and low risk, with high being cancer in women and low being the warts. It is just as important for guys to be vaccinated against HPV as it is for women.
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Healthy alternatives
DIY Aegean Skin Care: Honey, Yogurt and Olive Oil Recipes Homemade skin care isn’t as complex as it seems. In fact, most of the ingredients can be found right inside of your very own kitchen. During the cold winter months, it’s essential that we take care of our skin as it often becomes cracked and damaged. Instead of spending money on expensive skincare products at the store, give one of our Aegean skin care alternatives a try! Each recipe is comprised of all-natural ingredients including honey, yogurt and olive oil—beneficial for all types of skin. Before applying facemasks, always cleanse your face and neck with a gentle cleanser and warm water. Apply the facemask to your face only and let the magic begin. Olive oil an be used on the entire body, face and hair as a moisturizer. It can be added to a warm bath, applied directly to your skin and even used to heal damaged cuticles. Olive oil has many antioxidants and is high in vitamin E which assists with healing the skin and can also be used to heal dry, brittle nails increasing the elasticity of the skin.
Honey and Olive Oil Hair Conditioner • Combine a half-cup of honey and 2 tbsp to onefourth cup olive oil (depending on hair length) • Massage mixture into the scalp and cover hair with a shower cap for 30 minutes
OLIVE OIL
• Shampoo and rinse as usual
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Yogurt is excellent as a mask for firming the skin. It’s used best after traveling when skin is often dry and damaged. Yogurt can also be mixed with honey as a firming and moisturizing mask.
Honey Yogurt Face Mask • Combine 1 tbsp of natural yogurt (full fat) and 1 tsp of warmed honey (for dry skin, use an extra tsp of honey)
YOGURT
• Apply mixture to face • Let sit for 15 minutes • Gently rinse face with warm water
Honey has anti-microbial properties and works as a natural antioxidant. It can be used as a mask or moisturizer and is great for reducing redness and inflammation. It also absorbs impurities in the skin and can be used on minor acne.
Honey Face Mask • After cleansing your face, rinse with warm water using a face cloth and gently cover your face and neck allowing your pores to open • Warm the honey by pouring it into a small glass container and placing the container into a bowl of hot water
HONEY Photographs and recipes provided by Erica Thibodeaux
• When the honey is slightly warm and fluid, cover your face and neck generously, being careful to avoid contact with your eyes • Leave the applied facemask on for 20 minutes • Gently rinse with warm water when ready • Pat dry
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Holidays
Eat Smart During the
Wait 15-20 minutes before going back for seconds
Make sure to drink plenty of water Try using a smaller plate to help pick more sensible portions
Instead of watching what you eat, watch how much you eat Use an appetizer to get your metabolism going Ben Strand, WSU Freshman, Mass Communications Journalism