ENDOWMENT NEWSLETTER 2024 Our health in their hands

Delve into the intricate world of weight loss trends on UNL’s campus, as the rise of Ozempic sparks debate and intrigue. Explore the implications of its popularity among students and the complex relationship between social media, health and pharmaceuticals.

Loving your body and feeling confident in your own skin isn’t always easy. Body neutrality proves that liking your body isn’t a requirement for loving yourself. Many students struggle with eating disorders. Brenna Schmader, the Nutrition Educator and Coordinator at UNL, encourages students to consider the media they consume online, the language they use when talking about weight and focus on what their body does for them.

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Navigating health challenges is a journey filled with complexities and financial burdens. Despite so many obstacles, Isabelle Droste remains resilient, advocating for their health and maintaining hope for the future.

.Moving from one country to another for school is tough. More students are doing it, like Maria Nunes Dias. She traveled from Brazil to study in Nebraska. But along with the excitement of learning, there's another big challenge.

Sophi Throener Rodriguez, a junior at UNL, faces daily challenges navigating campus due to her mobility issues. Like many students with disabilities, she highlights the importance of universal design for inclusive spaces. Read her story and UNL’s ongoing efforts for accessibility.

Counseling and Psychological Services, or CAPS, is a crucial yet often unnoticed resource for UNL students. Supported by student fees, CAPS offers counseling sessions with licensed professionals at no extra cost. However, many students are unaware of CAPS' services. Outreach coordinator Mariah Johnson is working to change that by raising awareness. There are calls for more empathy and outreach from CAPS to better serve the student body.

At the forefront of inclusivity, UNL lacks accessible transgender healthcare for its students. Despite advancements by the Gender and Sexuality Center, obstacles remain in providing comprehensive physical and mental health support.

Injuries can be a devastating setback for student-athletes, impacting not just their physical abilities but also their mental health and sense of identity. At UNL, injured athletes like Sam Phillips, Annie Worley and Gwen Lane find support through the university's comprehensive care program. From surgeries to rehabilitation, the certified trainers at the program ensures athletes receive the best medical treatment and emotional support.

Located in the Campus Recreation Center, the IPC offers free injury evaluations, rehabilitation services and emergency response for all students, thanks to student fees. While the IPC may not have all the high-end technologies of Division I programs, club athletes like senior rugby player Mike Wood trust the care they receive, noting that it allows them to compete at their best.

Discover the untold reality of freshman year. It’s a rollercoaster ride that can take a serious toll on students' physical, mental and emotional well-being. From battling illness outbreaks in communal living to navigating newfound independence and academic stress, opinion writer Kennedy Lawrence explores the daunting health challenges faced by freshmen at UNL.

UNL offers many mental health resources, but many students overlook the Campus Recreation Center as a resource. Discover many reasons as to how physical activity has been proven to improve mental health for all people, when even the smallest amount of exercise can lead to big results.

Free vaccines offered by the University Health Center make it easily accessible for students to get their flu shots. Despite this, many students believe they are healthy without them. Discover why it’s important for students and people everywhere to get vaccinated, while educating yourself on how widespread vaccination improves not only our health, but everyone’s.