Climate check:
Danny Nguyen, student body president, started climate check with updates from Marlaina Widmann, coordinator of student wellness, regarding the Mental Wellness Initiative. The initiative officially launched last Friday with MANUAL, a mental wellness service geared toward men’s mental health needs but welcome to people of any gender.
Due to SGA funding, the number of Peer Health Educators (PHE) increased from six to 11. On Monday, Active Minds, an on-campus organization, is hosting their first mental health event of the year, Cycle Around the Globe, to promote awareness of World Suicide Prevention Day.
In response to a question about students wanting extended hours for Breakfast & Co., Harrison Tinker, junior senator and liaison between the Student Dining Advisory Committee (SDAC) and SGA, stated hours will soon be extended for both Breakfast & Co. and Mabee Market. Tinker stated both will be open until 1 a.m.; however, there is no concrete timeline for this change.
Staff Chats:
President Nguyen introduced Richard Reams, director of counseling services, to speak for the first staff chat of the year, a time to have conversations with different stakeholders on campus. These chats will give SGA members an idea of what each department does.
Reams updated SGA on the success of TigerCare Live, which is now in its second year of service. TigerCare Live is an alternative to in-person services and allows increased access to psychiatric support. Reams dispelled rumors involving difficulties booking counseling appointments, a limited number of sessions available per year and counseling services only offering mental health support. He clarified that counseling services allow unlimited sessions at no cost and offer couples counseling, discussion groups, the oasis room for de-stressing and support for situational challenges and identity development.
In response to a question from junior senator Allison Waters, Reams clarified that Trinity’s counselors choose not to diagnose students because from a developmental perspective, young adults are going through major changes and a diagnosis can be damaging.
Vice President Caterina Mora Androver asked what the strongest and weakest areas of the department were. Reams explained that all counselors are generalists, meaning they can treat a wide variety of issues, but they are especially good at identity development and neurodiversity. However, he stated that counseling services do not have specialists to treat obsessive-compulsive disorders and active eating disorders.
Judicial chair Pierce Jackson inquired about suicide prevention resources, to which Reams said counseling services maintain relationships with local hospitals and hospital liaisons. Counseling services help facilitate hospitalization and treatment plans if needed. Additionally, there is always a counselor on call, and TigerCare Live counselors are trained to call the counselor on call if their patient shows suicidal ideation.
In response to Jackson’s question, advisor Jamie Thompson asked what steps students should take if they have a friend experiencing a mental health crisis. Reams answered that if the office is open, they should bring their friend to the office and call ahead if they can. If it is after hours and they are not in immediate danger, they can talk to TigerCare Live or call TUPD and ask to talk to the counselor on-call.
Finally, President Nguyen asked how counseling services have shifted over time to meet the needs of students. Reams said that in response to rising demand, additional staff has been hired. This is possible because of the university’s support of the department. Reams also believes that the pressures students currently face are radically different from 20 to 30 years ago due to anxieties about entering the workforce, student loans, climate change and many other modern issues.
Cabinet reports:
During cabinet reports, President Nguyen announced a small delegation of SGA members will attend the Dallas Student Government Training Conference (ASGA) — one senior, two juniors, two sophomores, one first-year and two cabinet members. Within each party of SGA, students will decide who amongst themselves will attend.
President Nguyen reminded members about upcoming first-year elections where five senator seats will be available. On Sept. 14, there will be a first-year social in Witt-Winn lounge; however, Nguyen is still waiting on confirmation from residential life on the location. Applications will be open Sept. 18-22, and there will be two informational sessions on how first-years are allowed to campaign and how to vote. Additionally, there will be a special election for a senior senator which will be voted on by SGA.
Lastly, diversity, equity and inclusion chair Trinity Hatchett announced she is working on a list of cultural groups on campus and is making a database to allow better relationships between SGA and these groups.
