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Life on the Hill can be described as a place where the only constant is change. The ever-present construction going on near the dorms serves as a physical manifestation of the constant internal restructuring of residential life programming.

The student health advocate program is no different, as it is making modifications for next year. While these changes offer numerous benefits and expanded services, the SHA program must also retain the current qualities that make it effective.

According to Tiffani Garnett, SHA program coordinator, the program will “shift focus from student health and wellness to student development,” which will emphasize the emotional well-being of students through programming and activities.

Though much is still tentative as the reorganization process is ongoing, one thing is for sure: The program is not recruiting any new SHAs for the 2006-2007 school year.

Although the number of returning SHAs has not yet been released, it will most definitely be fewer than the number this year, as some SHAs are not returning because of graduation or for other reasons.

According to Pam Viele, director of student health education, an advantage of next year’s plan is the expanded knowledge and experience of the returning SHAs, who will not have to sit through training with new recruits; rather, they can direct their energies toward developing their current skills and knowledge and expanding their responsiveness and aptitude.

Viele stated that the program plans to raise awareness of students’ overall well-being through various kinds of programming sponsored through the Center for Women & Men and the Arthur Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center health education unit (of which the SHA program is a part). The workshops provide advice on issues such as time and stress management and conquering procrastination.

Viele stated that the SHA program will also strive to aid students in accessing resources and information at a large public university and in guiding college life success.

While the above adjustments are significant in the program’s expansion to serve student needs, the clinical aspect of the SHA is one of the most valuable features of the program.

Within the multi-faceted role of the SHA, some of the most prominent duties include assisting and advising fellow student residents in the dormitories about health issues and providing over-the-counter medication and first-aid supplies – like a live-in health adviser with a wider range of availability.

As the roommate of a SHA, I’ve witnessed the immediate impact of a SHA’s presence on residents. SHAs can conveniently and reliably serve students when health problems arise, at all hours of the day. Peak cold season and additional stress during finals week make such services essential to students’ health by giving students immediate access to medications and other forms of alleviation.

“Just having (the SHAs) there is comforting. ... When I need drugs, they’re there,” Stephanie Wang, a second-year psychology student, said.

Though my dormitory has a sizeable number of SHAs compared to other residential buildings, I feel that even with these numbers it is difficult to cater to the large population, especially since not all of the SHAs are available all of the time.

In light of the upcoming program reforms, maintaining accessibility and convenience will be crucial in continuing residential life enhancement.

With fewer SHAs, it would be helpful to have centralized, 24-hour locations throughout the Hill (such as at the front desks of each building) to dispense medication and supplies, in addition to the returning SHAs.

In addition to the newly proposed programs and projects, workshops on the Hill covering basic first aid and treatment of common ailments would greatly benefit residents (and even non-residents), and would lessen their dependency on SHAs. Though they might not be attended by all students, it would be nice to have these options in case a SHA is not around.

Also, in order to effectively integrate these new programs into residential life, proximity should be considered. Instead of on-campus locations, holding these workshops and other activities on the Hill (at Sproul lecture hall, Rieber Fireside Lounge, or De Neve auditorium or quad) would draw greater participation and interest from residents.

Health is often neglected – even taken for granted – during the busy course of everyday college life, and the SHA program is valuable in safeguarding neglected student health. Beneficial aspects of the program should be preserved as the SHA program expands its vision of student health. These can be safeguarded most effectively with active student feedback, which Viele said the program seeks and welcomes. Such responsiveness would productively sustain the constantly changing tradition that defines life on the Hill.

E-mail Yoo at jyoo@media.ucla.edu. Send general comments to viewpoint@media.ucla.edu.

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