SAB launches SWARM initiative to enhance wellness
Although college students lives maybe stressful, The Student Activities Board (SAB) has a program to help students cope with that.
The SAB activity, SWARM, is just around the corner. The two-year-old program was designed to give students a time for a break.
Although the program existed last year, most students do not know what SWARM is. Both Pat Bristor, assistant dean of students, and Julie Wise, graduate assistant for student activities, hope to change that this year. SWARM, which is an acronym that stands for ‘Stop Working And Relax More,’ is a series of spontaneous events funed and planned by the SAB. The duo hopes to have the events promoted via social media to show students what is going on. The events are spontaneous and only Bristor and the people helping know the plan. The activities are based on the day, supplies available and ideas for events that Bristor has in mind. The events are normally shared via social media through Twitter, Facebook and Snapchat.
“We are hoping to reach more people and get people to just come out,” said Bristor. “It’s not something you have to pay for, it’s just a break. Were hoping to entice people to come take a look and enjoy.”
Past SWARM’s have been Ritaís Ice, 5 Kidz Kandy ice cream or a coffee from the campus Starbucks.
The next scheduled SWARM event is the week of Nov. 14. The SAB and Institutional Advancement are teaming up due to Waynesburgís ‘Day of Giving’ on Nov. 17. Although the day of giving is aimed at alumni, the idea is to showcase the community of Waynesburg to their friends and family.
Wise hopes students will enjoy a breather the SWARM event provides during a busy week.
“I hope they enjoy it and have time to relax and throughout their busy schedule,” said Wise. “We want them to come and bring their friends to come by and see whatís going on and why we’re having it.”
Bristor hopes to bring in a different group of people by offering events at different times of the day.
“I am hoping it will pull in a different group of people. We are having it at different times of the day so we can reach commuters as well as faculty and staff, ” said Bristor. “It’s an opportunity for social interaction students might not normally get. You see the same people day in [and] day out, one of these events might help to encourage conversations with people.”
Wise hopes that, with new advertisement through social media, SWARM will take off better than when it was incepted.
“Social media [is] how we will get [people] there and tell them what’s happening,” said Wise. “We are really pushing SAB to spread word and promote SWARM.”
For more information on SWARM events, follow SAB on twitter at @WU_SAB or the Waynesburg University Snapchat at WaynesburgU.