Class of 2010

“My father died a little less than a year ago.  My friends here at school were very supportive when it happened and for a time afterwards.  My professors were also understanding at the time and I was able to finish that semester.  But now I watch as everyone else is moving on and I am still struggling.
 
There are still a couple of holidays that I will have to deal with for the first time without my father there.  I do not know what I am going to feel during my first Family Weekend here without my father.  I do not want to burden my friends by telling them how I feel but I also am somewhat jealous of them because they seem so carefree.  And sometimes when I hear others start complaining about too much work and not getting the highest grade I get pretty annoyed that they are getting upset by such little things.
 
It would help if somebody, anybody would just understand what I am going through.”
 
These are common reactions of students who are trying to move on with their lives while grieving the loss of someone close to them.  Grief is a natural physiological and emotional process that occurs in reaction to a significant personal loss.  While grief is highly individualized, it is an ongoing process that changes over time but has no pre-determined end point.  
After a while, even your friends forget you may be mourning.  It is not uncommon for grieving students to feel isolated and unsupported.
 
Grief is a time of suffering.  It also can be a time of personal reorganization and growth.  The Office of Behavioral Health for Students can be a resource for grieving students.
 
Use our consultation service as a safe and comfortable place to talk with someone about your loss and maybe get some ideas about how to best take care of yourself during this time.
 
Or you might want to drop in and check out the Peer Grief Support Group that is sponsored by OBHS and which meets once a week throughout the academic year.  Come sit and talk with other students who have at least one thing in common, that is, experiencing the loss of a loved one.  Come once, twice, a few times or regularly just to be with others who do understand what you are going through.

Call 685-2910 for all services offered by OBHS.

Dear Wesleyan Musical Performers,

In an effort to collaborate and combine programming efforts, a new committee has been established.  The Usdan Common Connections Committee is looking to work with musical performers within the Wesleyan Community to provide opportunities to showcase your talents.

These performances will take many different forms and will happen in a variety of venues.  We are currently planning a series of Coffee House performances that will feature two or three artists or groups and will likely be held in the Daniel Family Commons on the third floor of Usdan.  The committee is also putting together a “Last Waltz”esque jam that will happen on December 14^th in the Marketplace Dining wing.  This event is tentatively being billed as “Classes Ending on a Good Note”. 

Our hope is that throughout the year many different performers or groups will take advantage of the opportunity to let the Usdan Common Connections Committee plan their performance event.  If you have ideas for performances or would like to play in either a Coffee House or in the December jam, please contact Michelle Myers-Brown via email (mmyersbrown@wesleyan.edu) for more details.

 If you, or your group, are interested in performing in Usdan at these or other events, please email Michelle Myers-Brown by 11/20/09.

We look forward to hosting performances that showcase the diverse musical styles and the musicians helping to continue the tradition of great music at Wesleyan.

Sincerely,
The Usdan Common Connections Committee

Bill and Sarah are seniors who have being dating each other since the end of their sophomore year. They are living together in a wood frame house and have settled into a routine and, if asked, would say, “Yes, we’re in love.”  As graduation approaches they know that the relationship may change or end, but both seem content to avoid talking about the future.  They get into more frequent arguments and find themselves being short with each other.  Bill also finds himself attracted to other senior women and fantasizes about being single again. Sarah notices Bill’s distance and responds by increasing her surveillance of Bill.  (On one or two occasions she’s even checked his email and text messages).
 
OBHS is available to assist Bill and Sarah individually and as a couple.  A therapist can help them sort out what each wants from the relationship and develop the tools necessary to confront these difficult issues directly.
 
Call 685-2910 for all services offered by OBHS.

Just wanted to let you know that students and staff alike had a great time at WesWars 2009 last Friday! We had about 150 students participate (playing games, answering trivia, bouncing etc.) and the Seniors and the Freshman were very much into the competition, battling it out until 6 p.m. at the base of the hill. The current scores  are as follows with the Seniors in the lead:

Seniors: 4916
Freshmen: 4021
Sophomores: 1532
Juniors: 1210

The Cardinal Council and other student groups will continue to host challenges throughout what’s left of the week and the final event will take place on Friday night – a cell phone Scavenger Hunt starting at the Usdan Courtyard.

WesWars will culminate in a short award ceremony during halftime of the Homecoming football game, approx 2:30 p.m.

Some great photos taken by Olivia Bartlet:
http://community.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2009/10/30/ever-roll-down-foss-hill-you-will-at-weswars/

• The last day to withdraw from full-semester and second-quarter classes is Thursday, November 19. Completed forms are due in the Registrar’s Office by 5 p.m. and must include the following signatures: instructor, faculty advisor, and class dean.
• The deadline for submission of leave of absence applications for Spring 2010 is Tuesday, December 1.
• Spring 2010 November Pre-Registration will begin at 8:30am on Thursday, November 5.  Be sure to confirm your fall class schedule if you wish to participate.
• Partial Enrollment: If you think you qualify for partial enrollment please see me as soon as possible if you have not discussed with me.

Where On Earth Are We Going? – November 7, 2009 – Exley Science Center, Room 150

9am – Global Environmental Change and Freshwater Resources: Hope for the Best or Change to Prepare for the Worst?
Patrick L. Osborne, PhD
Executive Director
Harris World Ecology Center, University of Missouri – St. Louis

10:15am – Water in a Changing Climate – The Role of the National Forests in the Water Infrastructure
Frank H. McCormick, PhD
Program Manager
Air, Water and Aquatic Environments
Rocky Mountain Research Station

Both events are sponsored by the Robert Schumann Lectures Series in the Environmental Studies Program. For more information, please contact Valerie Marinelli, vmarinelli@wesleyan.edu.

Published in 10/30/09 edition of THE ARGUS, p. 5

OBHS SAYS . . .         IS THIS YOU?

Sleepless In A Wood Frame

Bill is a senior who has a lot on his plate.  He is writing a thesis and trying to figure out what he is going to do after graduation.  Although he is busy with his academic work, he is organized and uses his time efficiently. He does not have as much time to socialize as he would like, but he has friends and goes out on weekends.  He seems to be functioning well, but he has one problem.  There are nights when he has difficulty falling asleep.  Generally he is able to fall asleep within twenty minutes of going to bed.  On his “bad” nights it can take him several hours to fall asleep, leaving him sluggish and irritable the next day.  One “bad” night generally leads to several consecutive nights of difficulty.  Bill has had some difficulties with sleep in the past, but never to this extent.  He is now worried that his academics will suffer and that he will not be able to complete his thesis.

What can Bill do and where can he go for help?

There are resources for Bill at OBHS.  OBHS knows how important sleep is to maintain good mental health.  We have worked with many students to help them restore normal sleep patterns.

 Call 685-2910 for all services offered by OBHS.

Bill Blakemore, ABC News Correspondent and Wesleyan alum, is coming to Wesleyan. 

His topic will be “The Many Psychologies of Global Warming”.

November 3, 8:00 PM in the Chapel. 

Sponsored by the Wasch Center, Department of Psychology, and the Robert Schumann Lecture Series in the Environmental Studies Program.

Yale Women’s Slavic Chorus will be performing folk and religious songs in Russian and Ukrainian at Wesleyan University. The chorus is the oldest all-female singing group at Yale University.

 When: 7PM Friday 10/30/2009

 Where: Crowell Concert Hall

 Free Admission

Calling all SENIORS, it’s time to REPRESENT!

 WesWars ’09!

 What is WesWars?

WesWars is a series of interclass games and challenges,  athletic and intellectual. The Cardinal Council’s fresh take on interclass competitions of old and “Cannon Scraps” that were popular in the 1800’s. Games will be hosted from Friday October 30 – Friday November 6th. Win a game, score points for your class!

 This is an INTER-class battle!!

 Check out the website: http://cardinalcouncil.blogs.wesleyan.edu/

EVENTS FOR FRIDAY (Oct. 30^th) AT THE BASE OF FOSS HILL:

1. Tug of War Tournament – 4:15
2. Frisbee Long Toss – 4:30
3. Fastest 10-Person Pyramid 4:45
4. WesMoan – 5:00 –
5. Capture the Flag – 5:15

You can pre-register on the website to save yourself a spot in an event or just show up and join in!

 INVITE OTHER SENIORS!!
AND WEAR BLACK!!!