Over 300 Attend Wellness Fair

---

   The University of Arkansas at Monticello’s Wellness Fair drew large crowds Wednesday, March 7 in the John F. Gibson University Center Green Room. 

   From 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., approximately 305 students participated in vision tests, drunk-driving simulations and other activities. Thirty organizations from around campus and around the state hosted activities for the Wellness Fair. 

   Julie Gentry, director of intramurals and recreation, said putting together an event with so many participants takes a lot of work. 

   “To get 30 participants it takes repeat phone calls to about 100 people,” Gentry said. “Not to mention the hard work that the committee, student organizations and maintenance staff have to do before and after such an event.” 

   The participating organizations range from junior class nursing students to the Army National Guard. Arkansas State Troopers also volunteered for the event, bringing a drunk-driving simulator.  

   The simulator consists of a golf-cart, a pair of goggles and orange cones. The first stage of the simulator has students wear a pair of goggles, simulating vision impairments at two times the legal amount of alcohol in the blood stream. Students then try to walk a straight line, just like a field sobriety test; after that students walk to the cart and try to get in. 

   Most students entering the cart grabbed the rail for stabilization. Their behavior elicited a smile and joke from Corporal Morris Knight of the Arkansas State Troopers. 

   “Is that how you always get into you car?” Knight joked. 

   Upon entry students saw the Wellness Fair had prizes, food and pamphlets, and interactivity highlighted the experience. 

   Serious issues also held a presence at this year’s Wellness Fair. The National Marrow Donor Program, represented by Mary Lesueur, invited students to add their name to the registered donors archive. To be placed in the archive, students must swab their mouths for a sample and fill out a form with contact information.  

   “The need, of course, is great – it is a universal need,” Lesueur said. “You may not match anyone, but if you do that is a chance to save a person’s life.” 

   Lesueur said the need for minority donors is great. Bone marrow matches can more easily be found inside one’s ethnic or racial group. For more information, visit the NMDP Web site at www.marrow.org.

Have a comment? Please e-mail us.