University hosts Eating Issues and Body Image Awareness Week
The Virginia Tech Eating Disorders Task Force will host the Eating Issues and Body Image Awareness Week through Feb. 26. The event features a variety of activities to encourage participants to identify and practice healthy eating and body image attitudes. The activities are free and open to the public.
The Eating Issues and Body Image Awareness Week keynote address will be Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. in the Graduate Life Center auditorium, featuring Virginia Tech student Kelsey Muffler of Alexandria, Va., a sophomore majoring in communication in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. Muffler will talk about her struggle with eating disorders and her path to recovery, including her challenges and successes and the message that recovery is possible. Muffler says she looks at her recovery as a second chance at life.
The keynote address is sponsored by the Health Education and Awareness Team and Schiffert Health Center. In addition, the Resource Expo will be available from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Feb. 23 in the hallway outside the Graduate Life Center auditorium for those who are interested in learning about available eating disorder recovery resources.
Other events during the week include “Operation Beautiful” in the Wellness Resource Center in McComas Hall, which promotes positive body image messages. There will also be an interactive display in the windows of the Wellness Resource Center in McComas Hall called “Dying to be Barbie” that identifies health challenges that may be encountered by attempting to achieve or maintain this unrealistic body image. This activity is sponsored by the Health Education Awareness Team and Virginia Tech Health Education.
Monday, Feb. 22, Virginia Tech’s Department of Recreational Sports is sponsoring National Recreational Sports and Fitness Day in McComas Hall and War Memorial Hall. Wednesday, Feb. 24, a body image screening activity will be held in the lobby of McComas Hall in front of the Wellness Resource Center, during which all members of the community can anonymously fill out questionnaires and talk to staff from the Cook Counseling Center.
For more information on sponsored events during the week, visit the Eating Disorder Task Force events calendar, contact Linda Davis, contact Lori Anne Kirk, or call (540) 231-3070.
Parking information
Graduate Life Center (after 5 p.m.): Free parking is available in the Squires Lot, located at the corner of College Avenue and Otey Street, or the Architecture Annex Lot also on Otey Street. Parking meters within the Squires Lot will need to be paid.
Student Services and Career Services Buildings, McComas Hall (8 a.m.-5 p.m.): With a visitor’s pass, parking is available in the Coliseum Lot located along Washington Street and Spring Road. A visitor’s pass may be obtained Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Visitor Information Center, located on Southgate Drive.
Student Services and Career Services Buildings, McComas Hall (after 5 p.m.): Free parking is available in the Coliseum Lot located along Washington Street and Spring Road.
Find more parking information online or call (540) 231-3200.
