The Stony Brook Volunteer Ambulance Corps (SBVAC), the university’s collegiate emergency medical services (EMS) agency founded in 1970, is made up of 39 trained student volunteers. The organization, which usually responds to 900-1000 calls a year, including helping overwhelmed local EMS, became essential workers in a global health crisis.
Interim President Michael Bernstein announced a new student mental health resource, titled Red Book, during the first University Senate meeting of the semester on Sept. 9.
Fernandez, a senior psychology major, took issue with the fact that these surveys did not evaluate students’ awareness of available resources. She also criticized CAPS for not doing everything in its power to support PMHA and other student-led mental health groups.
The USG Senate discussion regarding tobacco came in the midst of a SUNY-wide effort to ban tobacco use, including smoking and chewing tobacco, on all SUNY campuses.
As the legislation that aimed to ban tobacco on New York State campuses by Jan. 1, 2014 was put on hold, the $1.50 increase fee per semester for the Student Health Services will still cover nicotine cessation products, counseling and workshops for student smokers in addition to other programs, according to Program Evaluator for the Center for Prevention and Outreach Ahmed Belazi.
