Alfred University Wellness Center Presents:
The Morning Reflection
April 2015
Let The Season Inspire You...
April Events:
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4/2: Mental Health Movie Night
Smashed. Location: Nevins
Theatre (5:30 PM)
4/6: Leadership Assessment.
Location: Judson Leadership
Center (12:20-1:10) Learn your
unique leadership style and
what it means for you!
4/8: Chief Medical Officer at
Alfred University’s Wellness
Center, Dr. Collins’ presentation on STDs. Location: Nevins
Theatre (12:30 PM)
4/14-4/17: Virtual Career Fair.
Location: Your computer. Follow the Saxon job link:
www.alfred.edu/cdc
4/14: AVI Dietician, Michelle
Apple on campus to answer
questions regarding nutrition.
Location: Knight’s Den (11:00
AM-1:30 PM), Ade Dining Hall
(5:30 PM-7:30 PM)
4/25: Wellness Center’s 5K
Color Run/Walk. 9:15 AM Registration and 10 AM Start
Try these Spring outdoor activities:
 Bike Rides (Saxon Bike Hub)
 Hiking (Pine Hill
Trails)
 5K Color Run
Fresh start, Fresh Food: What’s in
Season?
 Asparagus
 Broccoli
 Scallions
 Greens
 Peas
 Radishes
 Strawberries
 Beets
Important Phone Numbers:
Counseling Services:
607-871-2300
Health Services:
607-871-2400
Public Safety:
607-871-2108
Counselor-on-Call:
(For after-hours counseling
emergencies)
607-742-5485
Student Affairs:
607-871-2132
Residence Life:
607-871-2186
Isaman’s Taxi Service:
607-281-0029
Also find us on :
FB: AU Wellness Center:
Counseling & Health Services
Spring has sprung in Alfred, and with it, the opportunity for a fresh start. Spring is the perfect time to shake off old
habits that no longer work for you and begin healthy new ones. Take the time to consider your daily habits. Which
ones contribute the most or least to your happiness? From there, pick one or two changes you’d like to make. Set
goals for yourself and “spring” into action!
As the new Health and Wellness Coordinator, I plan on being out and about as much as possible. I hope to see many
of you during my travels. If you have any questions regarding health and wellness on campus, please don’t hesitate to
contact me at [email protected].
Morning After Pill
What is the morning-after pill?
Emergency contraception pills, commonly called the
morning-after pill, is a safe and effective way to prevent
pregnancy after unprotected intercourse. There are two
types of pills:
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Levonorgestrel pills, including the brands Next Choice One
Dose and Plan B One-Step (available at Health Services on
Campus).
Ulipristal acetate, known by the brand name Ella.
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Next Choice One Dose and Plan B One-Step can be used
72 hours after unprotected intercourse and Ella can be
used up to five days (120 hours) after unprotected intercourse. However, the sooner you receive the pills, the
more effective the medication is. You may want to use
emergency contraception if:
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How does the morning-after pill work?
Pregnancy doesn’t happen right after sex. That’s why
it’s possible to prevent pregnancy even after the fact.
It can take up to six days for the sperm and egg to
meet after having sex. Emergency contraception pills
work by keeping a woman’s ovary from releasing an
egg for longer than usual. Pregnancy cannot happen if
there is no egg to join with sperm.
You might have also heard that the Morning-After pill
causes an abortion. However, that is not true. The
morning-after pill is not the abortion pill. Emergency
contraception is birth control, not abortion.
Information provided from
Planned Parenthood of America.
You weren’t using any birth control when you had sex
You forgot to take your birth control pills, patch, ring, or
other birth control method
Your partner’s condom broke or slipped off
Your partner didn’t pull out in time
You were forced to have unprotected vaginal sex
Call Health Services #871-2400 to make an appointment and see if this option is right for you.
Safe Night Out
While the days get longer and the sun shines brighter, so does the opportunity to go out and be social with friends.
Many of us will want to celebrate the fact that we no longer have to wrap ourselves in multiple layers for fear of
getting frostbite. If celebrating is on your list of things to do, make a plan before heading out with friends for the night.
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Decide whether or not you are going to drink. Keep
in mind that if you are under 21, it is illegal in all 50
states to possess or consume alcohol.
 Let your friends know of your decision and respect
their decisions to not drink or to drink at a lower-risk
level.
What do AU students do to lower their risk level
when drinking? (2014 AU Wellness Survey)
 Keep count of how many drinks they are consuming
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Don’t use alcohol with stimulants such as Red Bull
Space your drinks over time
Designate a sober driver
Do not leave your drink unattended
Friends take care of friends: Know the signs of alcohol poisoning:
 Person cannot be awakened
 Person is cold or clammy
 Person is breathing slowly or irregularly
(a standard drink= 12 oz. beer, 5 oz. wine, 1.5 oz. 80 proof liquor)
 Excessive vomiting
 Mix their own drinks
 Incoherent speech
 Eat before they drink
 Person is unable to support their weight
What are some other harm-reduction strategies?
If you think someone is suffering from alcohol
 Set a lower risk limit for the night (4 or fewer drinks poisoning, call for help (911 or Campus Safety) and
for a male and 3 or fewer drinks for a female).
never leave the person alone.
 Avoid drinking games
Beware of the Flip Flop!
Healthy Tips (and toes): those cute flip-flops you are thinking about wearing out for the night might not be the best choice of
foot wear. Flip-flops can increase the chance of serious foot problems such as damage of dropped objects and stubbed toes to
ankle and insole woes caused by their lack of support. The thin soles and the need to grasp the sandal onto our feet force us to
walk differently, causing problems with legs, knees, hips and backs. Not to mention the chance of slipping out of them and
falling. They don’t call them a flip flop for nothing!
So, rock your flip flops, but just not all the time and without considering the activity you will be partaking in.
Beyond Consent
Consent is the first, necessary step of a healthy and fun sexual encounter or relationship. But what about when two
consenting adults are ready to take things beyond a “consensual” level to a mutually enjoyable and satisfying one?
This requires talking openly about our sexual wants and needs, and sometimes even our concerns or prior negative
experiences. Opening up to one another in the bedroom (or the kitchen, or the closet, or, you know, wherever) makes
us vulnerable in ways that can feel uncomfortable and even frightening. However, the best recipe for great sex is
meaningful connection, and the most basic building blocks of meaningful connection are solid communication skills
and openness. So, after consent is clearly given and received, why not begin to think about designing the best
possible sexual experiences you can? Here are a few ideas:
 Learn more about your own sexual wants and needs by exploring your body on your own before having partnered sexual encounters
 Practice talking about your sexual desires and/or experiences with trusted friends
In short, the more comfortable you become with asking for what you want from your sexual partner or partners, the
farther beyond consent you can go! Check out the Wellness Center’s website for more information and great
resources!