Seeking Support
Your college years can be among the most exciting and gratifying of your life. At times, however, you may feel significant amounts of stress, confusion, and uncertainty. The staff of Ģ������Ƶ’s Counseling Center understands the emotional pressure that many of our students experience. Concerns that may lead to counseling include:

• Adjustment to college life
• Diversity and inclusion
• Depression and anxiety
• Substance abuse
• Eating disorders
• Gender and sexual identity
• Personal and family crisis
• Relationships
• Relational violence
• Loss and grief
• Academic concerns
• Loneliness

Going Beyond the Stigma
The stigma surrounding mental health often prevents students from seeking the support they need, as they may fear being judged, misunderstood, or seen as weak. This stigma can create barriers to healing and reinforce harmful ideas about vulnerability. However, reaching out for mental health resources should be viewed as a positive and empowering act of self-awareness and strength. Seeking help shows courage and a commitment to personal growth, just as one would seek medical care for a physical illness. When students normalize conversations about mental health and view support as a tool for resilience, it helps create a healthier, more compassionate campus culture.

Identity in Mental Health
Intersections of identity, such as race, gender, sexuality, socioeconomic status, and disability, play a significant role in shaping a student’s mental health and their access to support while in college. Students from marginalized backgrounds may experience additional stressors like discrimination, cultural isolation, or financial hardship, which can compound the typical pressures of college life. These intersecting factors can make it more difficult for some students to feel seen, understood, or adequately supported by traditional mental health services. Therefore, colleges must ensure that their mental health resources are inclusive, culturally competent, and accessible to all students. Ģ������Ƶ State works to ensure a diverse staff, safe spaces, and programs that acknowledge the unique experiences tied to identity can help promote equity in mental health care and foster a more supportive campus environment.

WSU Counseling Center
Students can make appointments in person at Counseling Services located on the third floor of the Student Center, Suite 325.

Appointments may also be made via phone (508-929-8072) or email (counseling_wsu@worcester.edu).

For students needing same-day support, walk-in/triage appointments are available on a daily basis between 10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm. During normal business hours (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm), come to the Counseling Center immediately or contact us via telephone (508-929-8072).

If you need immediate medical assistance or are in imminent danger, contact University Police at 508-929-8911.

After hours and during holidays: Contact the ResilientU 24/7 confidential support line: 833-646-1526 If you need medical assistance, call University Police immediately or off-campus dial 911 for local emergency assistance.

Resilient U and Resources to Use on Your Own
An extension of the Counseling Center, “ResilientU” is an all-encompassing wellness platform that consists of a 24/7/365 support line. Resilient U is free to all matriculated undergraduate & graduate students.

ResilientU, in partnership with Uwill, offers:

• Free 24/7/365 emotional support line at 833-646-1526. (1-984-268-2016 for international support while abroad)
• Wellness Hub with free tutorials on a variety of wellness topics, including fitness, healthy relationships, stress management, time management, and yoga.

On the Go Resources
Ģ������Ƶ State’s Counseling Center has compiled a list of apps that may be helpful to you in managing anxiety, mood and other stressors. These apps can be used in addition to meeting with a counselor, but can also be helpful to those who feel they may not need immediate counseling.

The post Making Change: Mental Health on College Campuses appeared first on Campus Life.

From beach-themed bashes to movie nights under the stars, there’s something for everyone. Here’s a look at what’s happening throughout Welcome Week!

The post Welcome Week 2025: Wicked Good Times Ahead at Ģ������Ƶ State! appeared first on Campus Life.

The post 2025 Year in Review appeared first on Campus Life.

What is Food Insecurity?

Food insecurity is an issue not limited to college students as it is something many Americans face. Food insecurity means not having consistent access to healthy, safe, and culturally appropriate foods to meet nutritional needs due to a lack of money and other resources.

While the percentage of households in the United States facing food insecurity sits around 12.8%, the percentage of college students facing food insecurity is much higher. The United States Government Accountability Office has confirmed that food insecurity among college students is around 30%.

Many universities report that growing numbers of their student population are facing some form of food insecurity. Average working college students report not making enough money and living on a budget. Many people assume college students have easy and affordable access to food while on campus, but this is inaccurate. Not having access to sufficient food has been proven to lead to lower academic performance and a higher risk of diet-related health issues.

The WSU campus provides many dining options, but sometimes that is not enough for all students. Thea’s Pantry, the on-campus food pantry, provides support to those WSU community members who need additional access to affordable, nutrient-dense foods that meet their dietary needs.��

What Causes Food Insecurity for College Students?

Some of the main causes of food insecurity for college students include:

• Changes in student populations at the university level
• Increasing expense of college education
• Grants and financial aid have gotten weaker and harder to acquire
• College costs cannot be covered by working a single job
• Federal funds available to colleges have decreased

Many of these reasons are due to federal and economic changes throughout the United States. The result of this is there is no longer only a small number of students affected by food insecurity; many students varying in demographics have been hit with the need to address hunger insecurity for themselves or their fellow students.��

Thea Aschkenase, ’07

What is WSU Doing to Combat Food Insecurity?

Thea’s pantry opened in 2019 and has been successfully serving Ģ������Ƶ State students while growing to support the multiple needs of our student population. The pantry is named after Thea Aschkenase, a 2007 alumna of Ģ������Ƶ who was a life-long advocate against hunger. Aschkenase was a Holocaust survivor who was liberated from the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1945. In addition to being a voice of remembrance of the Holocaust, she also made it her mission to help others, and her legacy lives on through the pantry’s growing services. In addition to food, students can access a wide range of hygiene products, cleaning supplies, and school supplies.

A Confidential Service

Unfortunately, hunger insecurity has been stigmatized even though the need for services such as Thea’s pantry has become more necessary. At Ģ������Ƶ State, we are committed to supporting the many needs that promote a student’s well-being without shame.��

Thea’s pantry promotes discretion for all users. The pantry staff does not collect or share identifying information and the pantry is located in a low-traffic area accessible to all students. Thea’s Pantry is open Monday through Friday throughout the day and after business hours to meet the needs of community members who are on campus at different times, and the staff is committed to providing a comfortable service to all who stop by.��

How Can You Help?

A few ways to support Thea’s pantry include:

• Giving on-site donations during pantry hours
• Purchasing needed items off the pantry’s
• Hosting a food drive
• Sponsoring a shelf in the pantry
• Signing up for Thea’s Pantry newsletter��

Visit the Thea’s Pantry website or follow along at for more information on offerings, hours, and ways to support. You can also reach out via email to theaspantry@worcester.edu with questions.

More Resources to help hunger insecurity in our community

WSU provides several resources on campus to support student well-being and has information on off-campus resources to support different populations and needs. Visit our Food Assistance Resources page to find food banks and learn more about the resources listed below.

On-Campus Resources

• Counseling Services
• Employee Assistance Program
• Health Services
• Student Emergency Fund
• Urban Action Institute

Community Resources

The post Making Change: Campus Food Insecurity appeared first on Campus Life.

Book Club
The purpose of Book Club is to create a welcoming community where students engage in discussions about books to further appreciate and understand them, all while sharing common book-related interests and engaging in book-related activities.

Education Club
The purpose of the Education Club shall be to have a community of future teachers to collaborate with one another, provide educational workshops for professional development, and be a community where we can support one another professionally or socially.

Fire-Flow Club
Fire Flow teaches individuals the art of fire spinning while honoring and incorporating traditions inspired by Native American practices.

Investing, Money Management, and Trading Club
IMT helps to foster financial literacy among WSU students by providing a platform to learn and practice the principles of investing, money management, and trading.

Paw Print Club
The purpose of Paw Print Club is to offer students an opportunity to become more involved with the surrounding community of Ģ������Ƶ with core aspects of the club gauged towards animal well-being. This will not only offer a glimpse into the field of veterinary medicine but will allow students to contribute to a positive impact/cause to their community, ultimately providing a sense of fulfillment and happiness.

Also coming this semester:
Accounting Club, Newman Association, and Rock Climbing Club

Learn more about all of our club offerings by clicking here. Feel free to email��studentinvolvement@worcester.edu��with any questions or to learn how to join a club! While the deadline to submit to start a new club has passed, we would also be happy to meet with you about starting a student organization!

The post Welcome Spring 2025 appeared first on Campus Life.

Last week, the campus community was invited to participate in , an event for college campuses that features peer-centered interactive booths focused on educating students on good mental health habits. To encourage good mental health habits for our leaders, we wanted to share a few videos to help you be your best leader!

The post Leadership & Mental Health appeared first on Campus Life.

Understanding the 2024 Election
2024 is an election year for the president of the United States. For many college students across the country, this is their first or second time voting in the presidential election. While politics can seem overwhelming or a negative conversation for many, it is important to participate in voting to ensure your voice is heard in policymakers’ decisions. This post provides information and resources to help students feel informed about their decisions in this election.

The 2024 election is on Tuesday, November 5th. The winner will serve four years as president of the United States, starting in January 2025. The president has the power to pass some laws on their own but mostly he or she must work with Congress to pass legislation.

The Republican and Democrat parties each have their own candidate chosen to represent them in this election. The Republican nominee is former president Donald Trump and the Democratic nominee is current Vice President Kamala Harris. Other parties have candidates on the ballot such as the independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Green Party nominee Jill Stein. While all candidates have a chance to be represented on the ballot and get elected, the larger majority of the United States is a member of the democratic or republican party. This post will dive into information regarding Republican and Democratic nominees and how to register to vote in the upcoming election.

Additional information on the Election can be found here:

Kamala Haris
Current Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee after current President Joe Biden announced he would not run in the 2024 election. Her running mate is the governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz.

Below are resources to learn about Kamala Harris and understand her policies and stances on different issues she is focusing on in her campaign:

Donald Trump
Former President Donald Trump is running as the Republican nominee for the third time. His running mate is Senator for Ohio, J.D. Vance.

Below are resources to learn about Donald Trump and understand his policies and stances on different issues he is focusing on in his campaign:

How to register to vote in Massachusetts?
You can register to vote in Massachusetts if you are a U.S. citizen, a resident of Massachusetts 18 years or older, not currently incarcerated because of a felony conviction. You can register to vote online, by mail, or in person. The deadline to register to vote, update your registration, or change your party is 10 days before any election or town meeting. If you have a signature on file with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, you can register online. You can also pre-register, update your address, update your name, and change your political party designation.

Visit for more information

��

Additional Resources
To increase your knowledge of the 2024 election below are some podcasts that provide user-friendly and accessible information.��

Every weekday, NPR’s best political reporters are there to explain the big news coming out of Washington and the campaign trail. They don’t just tell you what happened. They tell you why it matters. Every afternoon.

Vox audio helps you understand the world. From catching up on the most important news stories of the day to grappling with important discussions between deep thinkers to sparking curiosity about scientific mysteries, our podcasts offer an array of entry points to deeper understanding.��

FiveThirtyEight
The FiveThirtyEight team covers the latest in politics, tracking the issues and “game-changers” every week.

The post Making Change: Informed Voting appeared first on Campus Life.

Wednesday, September 11
11am-2pm, Student Center Patio
Rain Location: Student Center 1st Floor

Benefits of joining a club include:

• Meet new people
• Gain communication and collaboration Skills
• Build your resume with new experiences
• Give back to your community on and off campus
• Voice your ideas and make great events happen

We encourage you to visit this year’s Club Kickoff and stop by the OSILD table to enter our annual raffle!

The post Club Kickoff 2024 appeared first on Campus Life.

A Sweet Start, on September 4, provides an opportunity to kick off the new school year with candy box photos, ice cream, and a Welcome Week t-shirt giveaway! Stop by with your friends or meet some new ones! Skate Night on September 9 brings an outdoor roller-skating rink right to upper campus while the Quadfest Block Party on September 10, OSILD’s annual collaboration with Chartwells and the Alumni Office, features an exciting menu, inflatables, and more!

The Commuter Activities Board, LGBTQ+ Alliance, Student Senate, Drag Club, and Student Events Committee are also hosting events during Welcome Week. See the schedule below, or learn more on their Instagrams!

Whether you are attending one of these exciting events or supporting our WSU Lancers at one of their first home games, we can not wait to kick off the school year with you!

The post Welcome Week 2024 Schedule appeared first on Campus Life.

Student Organizations
OSILD works with over 40 student organizations on campus. There are many to choose from depending on your interests. If you are interested in cultural groups, you could check out , Asian Cultural Boba Club, and Intercultural Student Alliance, just to name a few. Campus activism and community service are also of interest to many students and they can join Student Senate, , and . Specific hobbies and major-specific groups include Fiber Arts Circle, Photography Club, Criminal Justice Club, and . For the complete list of active student organizations, please visit our website. The annual Club Kickoff event with reps from each organization will be held on Wednesday, September 11th from 11am to 2pm outside of the Student Center. This is a great way to meet students from all organizations and explore what they have to offer. If you don’t find something of interest, you can start your own organization. Just ask us how!

Leadership Opportunities
Gaining valuable leadership skills is essential to prepare yourself for your future career. Taking part in any of our leadership opportunities is a great way to improve those skills. Our Circles of Leadership program offers students the opportunity to learn about leadership-specific topics such as ethics in leadership, communication skills, problem-solving skills, and networking. Check out our leadership opportunities website to learn more about this program and others held throughout the year.

Campus Events
Our office provides social programming for all students to foster a sense of community and allows students to make connections with their peers while enjoying some exciting activities. Hosted by OSILD and student organizations, the year kicks off with our annual Welcome Week celebration. Events this year include the Club Kick Off, Quad Fest, Trivia Night, Skate Night, and many more.�� Also, keep an eye out for monthly programs for weekend events as well as daytime commuter events. OSILD and the student organizations provide up to 200 events a year that are open to all students.

For the most up-to-date information on events, keep an eye on your email for weekly notifications and follow us on . If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to email us at studentinvolvement@worcester.edu and we would be happy to talk with you about all of the opportunities offered through our office.

Best of luck to all students this year and we look forward to meeting you all soon!

The post Welcome Fall 2024 appeared first on Campus Life.