November 3, 2022
Cornell has long recognized that health and well-being of all students, staff, and faculty is foundational to the academic and personal success and ability to thrive on campus and into the future.
This past month, Cornell University administrators signed the Okanagan Charter signaling Cornell's continued commitment to support holistic well-being for students, staff, and faculty in a formal pledge to promote health and well-being across all facets of university life.
“The Okanagan Charter is an important way for Cornell to both reaffirm and formalize our commitment to supporting the health of our students, faculty and staff. It will support us in seeking new ways of incorporating health-promoting behaviors into our campus culture, and in identifying and sharing best practices to support community well-being.”
- President Martha Pollack
“The Okanagan Charter provides a robust set of principles for how we will continue to approach health and well-being across all domains both inside and outside of the classroom. I’m proud to be making this important public health commitment that will
support all members of the Cornell community.”
- Ryan Lombardi, Vice President for Student and Campus Life.
Additional campus programming will take place throughout the rest of the fall semester for students, staff, and faculty in an effort to continue to support everyone's health and well-being. Take a look at the resources and upcoming events highlighted in this newsletter and make a plan to attend an event or use a resource in support of your health and well-being in the weeks ahead.
In community,
The Skorton Center for Health Initiatives at Cornell Health
part of Student and Campus Life at Cornell University
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Students Can Vote on Campus On Election Day - Tuesday, November 8, 2022
The polling place for all students who live on Cornell's campus is Alice Cook House at 709 University Ave. from 6 a.m.-9 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Students looking to vote early can find information on the Tompkins County Board of Elections website.
Looking for a Space for a Group Project Meeting?
Libraries with spaces available for reservation include: Olin, Uris, Catherwood, Law, Mann, and Carpenter. To see details about the space, including capacity, accessibility, availability, and a photo of the space visit https://spaces.library.cornell.edu/allspaces
The Power of Art & Creativity
The Museum’s permanent collection numbers 40,000 works, spanning six millennia and encompassing art from most world cultures. Anyone can visit the Museum for free. You can also visit the Rebecca Q. and James C. Morgan Garden located outside adjacent to the Museum building.
Consider signing up to be on the Johnson Museum of Art Student Listserv.
November is Transgender Awareness Month
Cornell Health offers medical and mental health services to students who are transgender, gender-expansive, non-binary, questioning their gender identity, and/or considering hormonal or surgical gender transition. Learn about Cornell Health’s services for gender-expansive students at Gender-Affirming Services.
Two more chances to get your flu shot!
- Thursday, November 10 from 10am - 3pm at Willard Straight Hall
- Tuesday, November 15 from 3 - 7pm at Becker House.
Sustainability: Pumpkin Composting
November 4 from 12 - 6pm
West Campus (Lawn between Bethe House and Rose House)
North Campus (Lawn in front of 626 Thurston Ave)
Join the Residential Sustainability Leaders and Cornell Compost by bringing your unpainted pumpkins to either West Campus or North Campus to help us divert waste from landfills and reduce the environmental impact of your fall celebrations!
Karaoke Night by Class Councils 2025
Kaufmann Auditorium (GSH G64)
Join Class Councils in a night of Karaoke featuring DJ Dale!
Participate in a Cornell Well-Being Visioning Session
December 7 from 4 - 5pm
Via Zoom People may register here
Cornell has been working to implement and evaluate a series of recommendations from the Mental Health Review report over the past few years. You are invited to participate in a Cornell well-being visioning session with other Cornell community members (undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, staff, and faculty) to inform the creation of a well-being vision for Cornell.
Consider joining for the live visioning session over Zoom on 12/7/22 or sharing your thoughts on a well-being vision for Cornell here.
Wellness Wednesday! Connect with Nature: Nature Rx
November 16 from 7 -8pm
RPCC 101
Join Tatkon Peer Leaders and Nature RX leaders for an engaging discussion and workshop on ways to connect with nature on campus and how spending time in nature promotes your overall well-being. Nature Rx @Cornell is a dynamic and growing movement, represented by numerous individuals and units at the university, who have come together with a shared passion for the ways in which the natural beauty of our campus can positively impact every person's well-being. Multiple studies have concluded that spending even a few hours each week in nature can improve mood, cognitive ability, alertness, ability to concentrate, social connection and overall sense of well-being. All students would benefit from spending even a few hours each week exploring the great natural beauty of the Cornell campus.
Houseplant Sale at the Cornell Botanic Gardens
Nevin Welcome Center at the Cornell Botanic Gardens
Enjoying the seasonal changes, but anticipating winter? Liven up the upcoming months with a houseplant! The Learning by Leading Horticulture Enterprise students will be selling a wide variety of houseplants. Beat the seasonal blues by bringing new life and joy into your life and come support the future endeavors of Learning by Leading.
Wreaths and Winter Greens
Nevin Welcome Center at the Cornell Botanic Gardens
Fee: $35 general admission, $30 Botanic Gardens members, $25 Cornell students
Register by Friday, November 18
Join the Cornell Botanic Gardens for a tour of the Mullestein Winter Garden and make an evergreen wreath to take home in this special holiday program.
Students in the Learning by Leading program will introduce you to the Winter Garden, which features a wide variety of evergreens and plants with winter beauty, and guide you through making your own wreath using cut greens and other decorations. Learn about the cultural lore surrounding evergreen plants and the historical significance of wreaths, and savor some festive holiday treats. Refreshments and all materials will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own decorative embellishments to make your wreath uniquely yours!
