Members of Manhattan Media Network with free scarves from the Jasper Day of Wellness check-in. OLIVIA BAILEY / COURTESY
Leyla J. Mercado Features Editor & Asst. Social Media Editor
On Wednesday, Feb. 25, Manhattan University (MU) marked its third annual Jasper Day of Wellness. A day where no classes are scheduled, it’s instead filled with exciting activities centered around your mental, emotional and physical health.
Check-In occurred from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Smith Auditorium Lobby where students were able to receive free scarves and raffle tickets, while commuter students were able to claim their lunch vouchers for the day. The day also began with a Pilates session, offering students a calming and energizing start to the festivities.
From 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., the clothing swap occurred, which was shortly followed by local shelter animals being brought in to be cuddled by students until 1 p.m..
Throughout the day, additional wellness-focused activities were available. A hydration center was also present from 11 a.m. all the way until 5 p.m. in order for students to refuel for the day with some light snacks and refreshments in Squeri Lobby. “Smash the Plate,” organized in collaboration with the Psychology Club, gave students the opportunity to physically break plates as a symbolic way to release stress and negativity.
Other events hosted by the Residence Life team included a cotton candy station in Lee Hall and a popcorn event in the Horan Hall lobby.
Anna Maciolek, a senior marketing and management double major, spoke to The Quadrangle about her favorite event of the day and explained why it was especially meaningful to her.
“I loved the Pilates [session] and the puppies [from the local animal shelter],” Maciolek said. “Dr. Shields [dean of students] has done a great job for many years in a row now, inviting her instructor to teach us. The puppies are always a personal favorite of mine… they help students laugh and come together.”
Maciolek also offered advice to underclassmen on how to make the most of wellness day and shared her thoughts on whether initiatives like this should continue beyond college in professional and community settings.
“Make a schedule and invite friends,” Maciolek said. “Yes, I do [think initiatives like Jasper Day of Wellness should continue]. I’m currently working on a paper with Dr. Livne-Tarandach and Dr. Moulton-Tetlock about the importance of teaching well-being amongst management students… Practicing well-being improves so many aspects of life. I think it’s important for the MU to foster a space to take advantage of practicing and learning about well-being.”
Events departing from Squeri Lobby included a wellness walk with the president, a campus-wide cleanup and a gratitude walk, all taking place between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m..
Meanwhile, activities in Draddy ran from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. and featured student dodgeball, inflatable obstacle courses, a skills-and-drills basketball workout, cornhole and pickleball.
A food truck serving decorated brownies followed, along with activities such as slime making, a silent disco, a yoga session, a dance class and a movie night to close out the day. Faculty members also joined students in participating in the events, further fostering a sense of community throughout the celebration.
Anissa Latif, Assistant Director of Admissions, spoke to The Quadrangle about the meaningful moments that stood out to her throughout the day.
“Jasper Day of Wellness was an incredible day,” Latif shared. “It was perfect timing, especially after being cooped up from the blizzard and subsequent snow days… Working in Admissions and collaborating with other groups on campus means I’m deeply focused on the student experience and how we share that with prospective students. For me, seeing the campus this energetic truly makes me happy.”
Latif further spoke on events like wellness day contributing to long-term conversations about mental health on campus.
“Going to college isn’t just about learning in the classroom but growing as an individual.” Latif said. “Mental and physical wellbeing have the ability to impact all aspects of life… Events like this show students they aren’t alone and provide healthy outlets to relieve stress and demonstrate the MU’s commitment to helping you grow as a person. I always tell students that the Admissions team has an open-door policy to any student on campus and they should never feel alone.”
MU students themselves also feel wellness day’s beneficial impact on their own well-being. Grace Nirani, a junior education major with a split concentration between psychology and english, discussed how she feels that wellness day impacts her mental, emotional or physical health as well as the chance it provides her with to step away from academic stress.
“College students are so prone to stress,” Nirani said. “Having a day dedicated to fun activities which uplift your mental health is super important. Whenever I’m super stressed with schoolwork I find it difficult to take breaks and do things that I find enjoyable. Having a wellness day definitely serves as a good reminder to make sure you do your best to prioritize your overall happiness.”
Nirani also works as an admissions ambassador at MU. She went on to share what she would add or change if given the opportunity to modify Wellness Day.
“I would love for wellness day to be a bit later in the spring so we could take advantage of the nice weather and our beautiful quad,” Nirani said. “One of my favorite things to do is relax on the quad with friends because we always see so many people we know, so having a wellness day in April or late March would be nice too.”
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