The Office of Student Affairs, in conjunction with the Greater Washington Board of Trade's "Wellness Works" campaign, has begun a new university-wide health initiative toward better physical health.
The Wellness Works campaign is a six-week program, which began Sept. 27, promoting healthy eating habits in hopes of lowering health care costs.
"We are urging students and the entire Howard University community to focus on improving their health and life for the next six weeks," said Carol Crawford Shelton, executive assistant to the vice provost for Student Affairs. "[We as] African Americans have such a propensity for hypertension and diabetes, we need to improve our health so that we can live longer on this Earth."
Shelton is optimistic that this initiative will encourage students to begin a fitness regimen.
"We hope that for 30 minutes a day, five days a week, student groups as well as departments around campus will add exercise into their plans," Shelton said. "Hopefully after the six weeks, students will develop healthful habits and continue them for life."
Shelton, who is also participating in the program and has also recently started a weight loss plan, is encouraging girls to turn their high heels in for walking shoes for the six weeks.
"If students start the program now, it will still leave time for students to show results by Homecoming," Shelton said. She is also proposing several incentives for participating students, such as Howard's version of "The Biggest Loser" weight loss contest and a race around the reservoir against Catholic University, which is also enrolled in the program.
Nicholas Askew, a health science teaching assistant and evening pool manager, thinks the new program is an excellent idea.
"I'm glad to see that the University is taking the initiative to help students become more consciously active," Askew said. "Hopefully it will help remove the curse of the "freshman fifteen."
Askew also said that he plans to participate in the program and encourages students to start a support group for those who are serious about improving their health.
Sophomore electrical engineering major Kemal Simpson thinks the new initiative is a good idea, but admits that he did not even know about it.
"I feel that the program is a positive adjustment to the Howard community," Simpson said. "Howard is very big on self-improvement, to which they exercise us mentally all the time. This is a great opportunity for students and faculty to improve themselves physically."
Muhammad Salaam, a senior biology major, said initiatives like this are important because of all the health issues African Americans face.
"It's a good idea," Salaam said. "This is something that needed to be done. Obesity is a big problem amongst African Americans. Obesity leads to many diseases. It's a good that Howard is taking initiative to address this problem."
Shelton also added that as a part of this program, they would also partner with Sodexho to provide healthier food options over the next six weeks.
Sophomore radio, TV, and film major Alexis Taylor was excited about the prospect of healthier food at Howard's eateries.
"Hopefully this will help improve the quality of food in the cafeteria and around campus," Taylor said. "We [as] students sometimes find it hard to eat nutritious food and exercise on a regular basis. I would definitely like to participate in this program."
The Office of Student Affairs is also offering free pedometers. Students and faculty can register on-line, individually or as a group, at www.botwellnessworks.org, using Howard's id number: 32134.
