Thrive @ Cornell
Newsletter Supporting Your Health and Well-Being
Tuesday, May 3, 2022
Dear Community,
We are heading into one of the busiest months of the academic year. May is filled with deadlines, changes, and transitions for everyone on campus. It is also Mental Health Awareness Month, and this year The Jed Foundation (JED)* is focusing on encouraging finding joy and connection, even—and especially—in the midst of great challenges. Here are a few of their suggestions:
- Reach out to a friend
- Walk or sit outside
- Listen to a favorite song or playlist
- Spend time on a project or activity you enjoy
- Stream a funny show or movie
- Dance alone or with friends
- Express gratitude - to someone or in a journal
*The Jed Foundation is a non-profit dedicated to supporting emotional health and preventing suicide for our nation's young adults.
In community,
The Skorton Center for Health Initiatives at Cornell Health
part of Student and Campus Life at Cornell University
*For an optimal viewing experience, view the newsletter in your browser.
Feel free to invite others to sign-up for the Thrive @ Cornell newsletter and/or share it with your networks!
Things to Do This Week for Connection and Joy
Express Gratitude
It’s Back! Thank a Professor
Running virtually until May 16
Your professors are deeply invested in your educational experience. Perhaps they worked to create an inclusive learning environment, made class especially interesting or engaging, or gave you important advice at just the right time. Let them know that you appreciate their contributions to your learning. Thank one or all of the professors who taught your classes this semester. Sponsored by Center for Teaching Innovation.
Need Some Words of Wisdom and Inspiration?
The 15th Soup & Hope season may have officially concluded but we're happy to report that — as the first flowers of Spring bloom — links are now available to each of this year’s talks!
Visit the video links on the Speaker Bio’s page whenever you need a little pick-me-up or would like to revisit the wise words and inspiration.
NatureRx - What Is It?
Have you ever felt refreshed after taking a walk through campus or the Cornell Botanic Gardens? Or been in a better mood after relaxing on Libe Slope? While such positive experiences in nature may feel like they are only in our heads, research shows that spending time in nature can have real, tangible benefits for your health and well-being such as:
- Improving your cognitive ability, specifically by boosting your ability to concentrate and increasing your attention span.
- Positively benefiting your mood and improving your sense of overall happiness.
- Reducing feelings of and physiological responses to stress.
- Increasing your number of social connections and the quality of your social relationships.
- Boosting your physical health and well-being.
In the US and Canada, doctors can prescribe "nature time," including free passes to national parks. Dr. Melissa Lem explains why being outdoors in nature is so important to our health in this video from CNN.
Your Cornell Health provider may also talk with you about the health benefits and "prescribe" spending time in nature to support your physical and mental health. Find on and near campus places to explore and experience nature during these final weeks of the semester and beyond: Nearby Nature - Cornell NatureRx
Boost Your/Others' Mental Health This Week
Connect With Like-Minded Folks
The A.D. White Professors-at-Large Program welcomes to campus world-renowned Linguist and award-winning Author John Rickford (Stanford University).
- Public Lecture-May 3 4:30PM, 132 Goldwin Smith Hall
“Speaking my Soul: Race, Life and Language-A Reading”.
Open to the public in-person (in adherence with current University health requirements) and via Zoom
- Linguistics Colloquium-May 5 4:30PM, 106 Morrill Hall
“NOT hearing African American Vernacular English, as shown by errors in the Automated Speech Recognition Systems (ASRs) used by Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Google, IBM"
Both talks are open to the Cornell community in adherence with current University health requirements. ASL interpretation will be available for both talks.
All events are cosponsored by the Department of Linguistics.
Thursday May 5 from 4:30-6pm, Big Red Barn
Click here to register.
Interested in networking with Cornellians working on campus sustainability and climate action? Meet members of the Sustainable Cornell Council and network at this fun mix & mingle - with green drinks! Open to the Cornell Community.
Sponsored by Campus Sustainability Office.
Lavender Graduation
Thursday May 5 at 7pm, G10 Biotechnology
Join the LGBT Resource Center in celebrating the class of 2022 at the 26th annual Lavender Graduation. Lavender Graduation is a ceremony that celebrates the achievements of graduating undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, and ally (LGBTQQIA+) community from Cornell University.
Since this ceremony only takes place once a year, all graduating students from January 2021 to December 2022 are encouraged to participate.
- For more information about the event visit here.
- For graduating students who want to register visit here.
Starts at 8:30pm with seats opening at 8pm. Grab a friend or two and enjoy a movie together!
The first 100 students staying for the movie will receive a MOTAQ picnic blanket! Bring extra blankets + dress warm.
Hosted by Class Councils, CU Tonight, and Campus Activities with support from Cornell Cinema.
Friday May 6 at 7pm
604 E. Buffalo St. (WVBR station)
Sign-up here to compete.
Calling all artists interested in competing in Electric Buffalo Records' Battle of the Bars, a style rap battle showdown of Cornell's very own emcees. All are welcome and encouraged to come watch! Winner receives a free 3-hour recording session and all participants will receive a 25% studio discount.
Sponsored by Electric Buffalo Records.
Cornell Figure Skating Spring Show: Lynahpalooza
Friday May 6 at 7:30pm
Lynah Rink
Please join us for Cornell University Figure Skating Club's spring show, Lynahpalooza! We're proud to share our skaters' hard work in our spring festival-themed show. Tickets will be $5 online via Eventbrite or $7 at the door. Please direct any questions to Emma Garrison, ekg48@cornell.edu.
Saturday May 7 from 4:35pm-8pm
Depart from Allan H. Treman State Marine Park Dock
$20 (covers Luna Catering, Senior giveaways, goodies, snacks & beverages)
OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS but CAPACITY IS LIMITED, so confirm your spot now: https://cornell.campusgroups.com/events?search_word=Junking+on+Cayuga
The event mirrors a traditional Hong Kong junk boat tour, but with a unique Ithaca twist. Our CHARTER BOAT sets sail on Cayuga Lake. Come out to socialize, enjoy food, photo ops, and the beautiful sunset.
Sponsored by Hong Kong Student Association.
Graduate & Professional Students Connect
Grad Karaoke Night @ the Big Red Barn
Wednesday, May 4, 8:00 - 10:00 p.m.
· Sing your favorite songs, meet new people, grab a beer (or wine or cider), and enjoy free pizza!
Intercultural TGIF Celebration @ the Big Red Barn
Friday, May 6, 4:30 p.m.
· Join us for beers and food from cultures around the world.
Slope Day Volunteers Needed
On Slope Day, approximately 500 volunteers are needed to assist in the operations on and around Libe Slope. By volunteering, you get a behind the scenes look at the event and all of the effort it takes to run Slope Day, and an awesome t-shirt and branded reusable water bottle as a thank you for your efforts! As an added bonus, if you sign up for two or more shifts (4 or more hours) you can be entered for a chance to win a Nintendo Switch or Cornell Store Gift Cards.
Cornell Outing Club Offers Canoeing Experience in Adirondacks
Have you ever wanted to run away from school and canoe to your hearts content (and then paddle some more)? Or do you just love the Adirondacks and want to hang out there with fun people as they paddle 90 miles?
If you said YES to either of those questions, come to 103 Kennedy Hall at 7:30pm this coming Wednesday 5/4! We will be hosting an info-session on the Adirondack Canoe Classic, a 90 mile canoe race that COC has participated in for the past few years. The official race website can be found here if you want to check it out before the meeting.
We need racers and a pit crew, so if you’re at all interested in either of those, come by! This meeting is required if you haven’t participated in the race before.
Make sure you register here.
Celebrate Spring at Cornell Botanic Gardens!
Saturday, May 7, 2022; 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. EST
Join us for a plant sale hosted by students in the Botanic Gardens' Learning by Leading program, guided tours of the Gardens at 11am and 2 pm, a wildflower walk at 1 pm, some hands-on botanical crafts, and a display by our guests, the Auraca Herbarists.
Free; Registration is not required.
Photo by Jay Potter
Save the Date: Hasbrouck Graduate Community Yard Sale
Know Your Resources for Student & Campus Well-Being
While there’s much you can do to take care of yourself, there are many resources available to help support your mental and physical health and well-being.
Please reach out to any of the resources below for information and support, and encourage your friends to do the same.
• Mental Health at Cornell website: mentalhealth.cornell.edu
• Cornell Health: health.cornell.edu
• 24/7 Help: mentalhealth.cornell.edu/247-help