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Part of Healthy Snacks and HIV tests, February 11, 2009

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The Spectrum

February 11, 2009

Healthy snacks

and HIV tests

By DAVID JARKA
Asst. News Editor

In an effort to encourage UB
students to make healthier life­
style decisions, the Black Stu­
dent Union (BSU) sponsored a
wellness fair Tuesday afternoon
in the Student Union.
The wellness fair is a. free
annual event held by the BSU
that allows students to try out
healthy foods and smoothies,
receive condoms and take HIV
tests at no charge.
Several of the event attendees
felt that HIV testing is a critical
issue for the student body.
"HIV in African-Americans
count for about 50 percent of
all new infections," said Nandi
Joseph, BSU community service
coordinator. "It needs to-be talked about in every community
and is why we brought it here."
Event organizers made sure
that the HIV testing was easily
accessible to students in a private
setting.
"It's definitely important
because I think people are still a
little embarrassed about it," said
Rita Groetz, a junior aerospace

Katie Corlett/ The Spectrum

Students learned how to make healthy decisions at a wellness fa ir sponsored
by the Black Student Union on Tuesda y.

engineering major.
The fair included several
games, prizes for getting a blood
pressure reading, and stress ball
making for students.
Claire Scherder, a freshman
nursing major, saw this event as
an easy way to spread the word
about how students often over-

look simple things that can go
towards living a healthier life.
"It's good for people that
don't know a lot about [health
issues] like high blood pressure,"
Scherder said.
E-mail: spectrum-news@buffa lo.edu