For a few days in March, Gina King will forget about classes and focus on partying.
But Olin Health Center representatives want to make sure MSU students stay safe while they’re away.
“We hope to soak up some sun and party a lot in Panama City (Fla.),” said King, a no-preference freshman. “The Olin people are telling me things that I wouldn’t know otherwise.”
Olin representatives are visiting nine residence hall cafeterias during February to promote spring break safety. The program, “Play Hard, Play Safe, Play Again,” is made up of four 5-foot posters made into a circular board game shaped like the United States.
Its goal is to challenge students to think about travel safety and personal health in the areas of alcohol use, sun safety and relationship choices, enhancing the potential for a safer and healthier spring break, they say.
“This game is a good way for students to gain information and they seemed to really enjoy it,” Olin Nutritionist Ronda Bokram said. “This will hopefully help them be safer on spring break and have fun at the same time.”
Some common spring break safety issues include locking hotel doors when no one is there, remembering sunscreen and making sure travel routes are mapped out.
The program, which began last week, also includes information from MSU police, self-defense programs and sexual assault experts.
Bokram said students learn about road safety, sexual assault and fitness while trying to win prizes during the board game.
Olin Health Advocate Nancy Musso, who helped facilitate the game, said the program is a good way for students to become informed about topics they don’t consider.
“People get so excited for spring break, they sometimes lose track of the basic things they should know,” the pre-med and Spanish junior said.
Olin Health Educator Jon Kermiet said the game is supposed to challenge students to think about spring break decisions.
“Some of the questions we ask them have to do with exercise and nutrition to prepare them for spring break,” Kermiet said. “A lot of students don’t know what’s safe in terms of dieting, exercising and toning.
“Research says people are more likely to develop an eating disorder when food is seen as an enemy. We educate students to try to avoid dieting and exercising excessively but safely toning up before spring break.”
Kermiet said a smaller version of the game is being made available to residence hall mentors so they can play with their floors.
Deaf education sophomore Leslie Metcalf isn’t going on spring break trip this year, but said the information would have made past vacations go smoother.
“We weren’t very smart about some things,” Metcalf said. “A lot of people on spring break leave their doors open and drink alcohol in the sun. The program tells you a lot of good tips you wouldn’t really know about.”
