The Daily Gamecock: Redefining Normal 2/27/23

MC FATRAT DA CZAR

THE BROOK & THE BLUFF + TRAVIS DENNING + FLIPTURN

49 WINCHESTER + DOOM FLAMINGO STOP LIGHT OBSERVATIONS + VILLANOVA

RYAN MONROE (OF BAND OF HORSES) AND JOSH ROBERTS

STAGBRIAR + GEORGE FETNER AND THE STRAYS + DRAYTON FARLEY SAM BURCHFIELD + EASY HONEY + E.Z. SHAKES OPUS & THE FREQUENCIES + REX DARLING

HIPPO CAMPU S + M OON TAXI NATE SMITH + D R I V I N N CRYIN STPATSCOLUMBIA.COM

5 Letter from the editor: No one is ‘normal’

6 Tattoos connect new generation to key values, body positivity

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Column: ‘Me time’ is important

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Vice president of student affairs aims to consolidate USC mental health services

The Metaphysical: Crystals serve as emotional outlet for Columbia locals

21 The process of applying for disability accomodations

‘Your

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Column: The concept of the ‘freshman 15’ is problematic

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Elysium Aerial Fitness promotes body positivity, mental health through pole dancing classes

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‘Love in the Time of Fentanyl’ documentary showcases humanity in a crushing epidemic

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Gamecock studentathletes use platforms to advocate for mental health: ‘Why would I not want to help other people?’

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USC students are effectively dealing with mental health issues, said the university could do more

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Column: Students should switch to studying outside this spring semester

Column: It’s okay to be open about your experiences with mental health

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Intramurals offer students social outlet, stress relief

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Meet the therapy dogs on campus that help with stress, anxiety

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How wrestlers ‘cut weight’ fast, the side effects that follow

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USC Student Health Services offers range of mental health options, acknowledges its limitations

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Column: The ADHD medication shortage can seriously hurt a student’s mental health

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Column: COVID-19 had a lasting impact on students’ mental health

Helping a

Art Therapy Club uses creative approach to mental health

Letter from the Editor: NO ONE IS ‘NORMAL’

I’m starting this letter by googling the symptoms of anxiety. It seems stupid. I’ve been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder since elementary school, and I feel like I should be familiar with the symptoms by now.

But I’ve become so used to the racing heart and intense fear of making the wrong decision that I often forget that these things don’t happen to everyone.

They’re feelings that spring right to the forefront as I write a letter about something that I’ve never been able to speak about publicly without crying, but I’m determined to finish my story this time. I think I have so much trouble talking about being diagnosed with anxiety because it feels like admitting defeat. Like many people who struggle with anxiety, I am a perfectionist. I spend an excessive amount of time doing homework, sometimes to the point of being frozen with fear over not understanding how to get to a “good enough” answer. I’ve always strived for academic approval and looked for constant reassurance of my performance.

As a result, I often put myself in a box when it comes to what it means to be good or successful. I tell myself that I can’t be a good student and have extended time. I can’t be editor-in-chief and spend an hour sending an email. I can’t be normal and have anxiety.

But I’ve started to realize that’s my anxiety talking. So instead, I’m taking time to redefine what normal means. I’m learning that asking for an extension on a stressful deadline or needing to take time for myself doesn’t make me less — it makes me human.

I hope this issue reassures you that no one you meet is perfect or “normal,” and that everyone has something they struggle with behind the scenes. We all have room to struggle and grow, and the greatest step toward feeling better is giving ourselves permission to do so.

My first step is telling all of you about my anxiety and hoping I can mention it more casually in the future. I’m learning that it is nothing to be ashamed of, and I hope you will realize that you shouldn’t be ashamed of your struggles either. Let’s redefine normal together.

Take care,

photo: sydney Lako

Sydney Dunlap

Tattoos connect new generation to key values, body positivity

Calista Pushman

Fourth-year English student Syd Sandford is one of many in her generation that uses tattoos as a form of self-expression. She carries on her skin a permanent collection of ink that ties her to family, friends and herself, that not only connect Sandford to her key life values, but help her love the woman she sees in the mirror each day. “I have beautiful pieces of art on me, and I’m a carrier of those things, which just makes me inherently beautiful,” Sandford said. “I may not really love how I look or my face or my hair, but I have these really cool pieces of art on me, and that’s just objectively cool.” For Sandford, beauty is pain at the hands of an artist and tattoo gun, and that pain that is worth the stigma.

Sandford is not the only member of her family who embraces tattoo culture. Her older brother, Zach Sandford, not only has tattoos, but has a tattoo that nearly matches the image of Bart and Lisa Simpson on Sandford’s calf. The only difference is that his tattoo depicts Bart strangling Lisa. Though the tattoo veers from Sandford’s usual aesthetic, she cherishes the connection it gives her to a sibling that she sometimes struggles to connect with, being 11 years younger than him.

Sandford refers to this tattoo as “my girl.” “I look at this, and I feel it in my bones,” Sandford said. She noted the importance of the script beneath the face, reading “Starve the Ego, feed the Soul.” She said this phrase serves as a reminder to strip herself down and not put more ego into a world that has enough of it.

Though many of Sandford’s tattoos have a deep meaning, some are there just for fun. “When else are you going to have cocks get tattooed in your mouth?” Sandford said. She said she loves the humor of the tattoo and that she can choose for herself whether she gets it touched up or continues to let it fade away.

grateful that you are alive.” Sandford said this tattoo reminds her of what she went through and motivates her to continue to carry on living life to its fullest potential.

Vice president for student affairs aims to consolidate USC mental health services

Emmy Ribero

Rex Tolliver, USC’s vice president for Student Affairs and Academic Support, is working to reorganize mental health resources by implementing an associate vice president for student health and well-being.

According to Tolliver, the role will serve as a way to better optimize and consolidate resources for a more holistic approach. The position has not been filled yet, but Toliver said the university is currently in the process of looking for a candidate.

This new streamlined strategy for USC was inspired by the system currently in place at UNC Charlotte. Mari Ross, the associate vice chancellor for student health and student well-being, oversees all wellness aspects in order to better organize procedures. In her role, she consolidates resources so they are better allocated.

“(Ross) is the quarterback on the team, whatever analogy you want to use, but she is the supervisor of all of those areas,” Kevin Bailey, vice chancellor for student affairs at UNC Charlotte, said. “She’s been here a little over a year, and she’s the one that’s really taken it to the next level with the integration.”

Instead of five different areas of wellness — health center, counseling center, wellness promotion, REC center and disability resources — Ross’ position has moved all these categories under one umbrella.

“The need to provide more adequate and I believe coordinated services around mental health and well-being,” Tolliver said. “What we have done is decided to reorganize the area around student health. It will be bringing under common leadership ... and sink into a unified model.”

After the hiring and onboarding of the associate vice president of student health and well-being, Tolliver said there will be an external review of the services.

“That’s going to actually bring in a reviewer or two reviewers, three ... to look at our services, the way we’re organized, the services that we deliver and then benchmark us against best practices and peers,” Tolliver said.

Tolliver said he also wants to address the 10-session cap and wait times for appointments that USC has. At UNC Charlotte, students have a non-explicit, eight-session cap for free appointments from the university.

Bailey said they reformed their triage assessment of health, which is the first appointment where a patient is preliminarily assessed.

“Part of that is due to what the new Center for Integrative Care, CIC, will do as a triage piece. So, what we are attempting to do is triage students into that center because I will tell you that most students don’t need a multi-session appointment with a counselor,” Bailey said.

The university has allotted an additional $1 million to put into mental health resources, which President Michael Amiridis said will go toward hiring for mental health positions in response to criticisms from Imagine Carolina.

“The issue was professionals. It was not a space issue, it’s hiring people,” Amiridis said.

Tolliver said the money will also go to providing opportunities to assess how to better utilize existing resources in addition to hiring. This could look like putting more appointments towards specific times of the day when students are more likely to schedule with mental health services.

“In many ways, we have adequacy in some areas. What we don’t have is optimization in others,” Tolliver said.

Bailey said Tolliver is heading toward doing the right thing by implementing UNC’s holistic care strategy at USC.

“I would give props to Rex for going in this direction,” Baily said. “This is a growing thing where people in my role are putting together these health and well-being units.”

Tolliver said his main goal is to reorganize the service with the best student interest in mind.

“What I’ve asked people to do since I’ve been here is, ‘Can we reorient the work that we do from a students-first perspective?’” Toliver said. “If we’re in the space and in the place of students, how would we like this service to be delivered? What would we like to receive when we come?”

The Osborne Administration Building at the University of South Carolina on Feb. 4, 2023. The building is home to the offices of the top university officials that oversee the different schools and colleges.

Photo: Andrew Nguyen

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The concept of the ‘freshman 15’ is problematic column:

The term “freshman 15” often perpetuates a weight stigma in college students that can lead to stress-related eating and possible eating disorders. Students need to embrace the natural changes to their bodies and focus on creating healthy eating habits as they progress through college rather than worrying about weight.

“Freshman 15” is the misconception that freshmen gain 15 pounds when they first enter college because they don’t know how to manage their food and eating habits when moving away from home.

This phrase has been around for decades. A study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information suggests that the idea just isn’t true. The study showed that college students only gain an average of 3.2 pounds throughout their first and second year of college.

Having terms like this thrown around makes students more self-conscious about weight gain. In college, students are discovering what eating habits they should form in order to be their most healthy selves and what works with their schedule. Students shouldn’t have to be worried about the natural changes that their bodies are going through.

“It is not something that we need to go into college thinking about food restriction because we are afraid of the ‘freshman 15.’ It’s normal for our bodies to develop and change at that time in life, and it’s not necessarily because of bad food decisions,” Madeline Moran, a counselor for Soda City Counseling, said.

Moran explained that it is natural for bodies to change as people get older and it is an important part of development. College students may gain, lose or maintain the weight

Varsha Gowda

they had before entering college, and there shouldn’t be an expectation that students will gain weight or need to lose weight.

College freshmen are often living on their own for the first time, and they have to decide what they eat and what food to buy while taking on countless other responsibilities, such as classes or a job. As a result, students need to make sure they are eating enough to help them maintain their energy throughout the day and should

almost lost my ‘freshman 15’ instead of gaining one. And so I thought that was very interesting because I was going into it thinking, ‘Okay, I might gain some weight, no big deal, I probably could use it anyways.’ Then actually losing it I was like, ‘Woah, I have to be more mindful of what I eat in eating enough rather than eating too much.’”

People have different experiences with weight changes, making it even more important to follow what your body needs to function rather than trying to get to a specific weight. The need to reach an ideal weight or body shape can have harmful effects on one’s self esteem and health.

“It’s definitely part of what we consider ‘weight stigma.’ It’s considered to be something that’s unappealing, that’s not okay. It has a lot of shame to it,” Casey Kelly, a clinical therapist with New Hope Counseling, said. “I think the thing that gets stuck with us and what ends up creating a catalyst for disordered eating is that shame. It’s the idea that this is not okay.”

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, eating disorders typically begin between 18 and 21 years of age. According to a study done in psychiatry research, from 2013 to 2020/2021, the prevalence of ED risk increased significantly from 15% to 28% among US college students. With the prevalence of eating disorders increasing amongst college students, having terms thrown around like the “freshman 15” creates weight stigma that does not help students maintain a healthy mindset.

College students need to eat according to their needs and make sure that they are getting their proper nutrition. Thus, inaccurate myths like the “freshman 15” should not be taken into consideration when forming daily eating habits.

illustration: Julia Lako

‘Love in the Time of Fentanyl’ documentary showcases humanity in a crushing epidemic

Catherine Pruitt

The award-winning documentary from director Colin Askey, “Love in the Time of Fentanyl,” takes viewers on an emotional, honest journey following the lives of those impacted by the ongoing opioid crisis.

The film carries heavy themes, including the effects of addiction and homelessness on mental health, as well as the emotional turmoil felt by volunteers on the front lines of the epidemic. However, the overarching message of Askey’s film is that of humanity.

A personal experience with addiction and treatment inspired Askey to return to the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver and craft his documentary.

“What I wanted to do with the film is kind of take people on the journey that I went through, and hopefully shift some of those perspectives and see past some of those kind of preconceived notions that people have about communities like this, and really show the love and the laughter and all that was going on,” Askey said.

Not only did Askey experience his own drug use issues, but he bore witness to tragedy each day working on the front lines of the opioid crisis. He wants the film to showcase

raw honesty of what it is like to be emotionally integrated in a community stricken with an overdose crisis.

“My wife and I were hearing almost weekly of people that we knew and love that were passing away. And lots of our friends were working in the neighborhood and hearing awful stories and really feeling for them. I wanted to get back there and kind of capture it and try and shed light on the situation,” Askey said.

Witnessing first-hand the stories and experiences of these communities, Askey showcases the toll the crisis takes on the mental health, not only of users, but also of those combating it.

“It blew my mind and changed everything that I thought I knew about addiction,” Askey said. “Really kind of opened my mind to just how complicated it is, how there’s lots of ways of looking at it ... and learning about this community that I was in.”

Askey believes that the stigma associated with drugs and people struggling with addiction stands in the way of finding better solutions for drug users.

“We look at the reality a bit more, we lose a bit of that stigma that we have towards people who use drugs and just see a community ... people view someone who is injecting drugs as pretty useless in their society,” Askey said.

However, those working in harm reduction services are offering safe spaces to provide support to those currently facing drug issues.

“Once you start working there, and for people that are privileged enough to be a part of this community, learn that it is filled with magical people and services and stories. And so, it really became a place over the years that just meant the world to me,” Askey said.

part in all of the activities and extracurriculars that are offered to every other college student, such as going out with friends, going to football tailgates and other things that would otherwise be dangerous to someone’s recovery without other students to help keep each other on track.

hear lots of big numbers, discussions of how many people, how many overdoses, things like that, which can show the scope of an issue, but can be very depersonalized,” Dr. Jennifer Fillo, an assistant professor at USC’s Arnold School of Public Health, said. “Really that focus is on individuals and the story.”

Aimee Hourigan said Askey’s film is a tool to inspire awareness of the dangers of drugs like Fentanyl to the USC audience. Hourigan works at Gamecock Recovery, a program that offers support to students facing the challenges of addiction, overcoming the uncertainty of substance use and looking for a safe space.

Jeremy Martin, vice president of Treatment and Intervention at LRADAC, instructs the crowd on the importance and proper use of Narcan during the panel at the Nickelodeon Theatre on Jan. 25, 2023. Narcan, the name brand of naloxone, is used to reverse the effects of opioid overdose. It can be prescribed by any pharmacist in South Carolina and can be picked up from community distributors across the state.

Askey hopes that the film showcases not only the mental health challenges those suffering from addiction face, but also the stories that they carry, so that they will be seen as more than addicts.

“The film was very powerful in presenting individual people and their stories. But often, when we’re talking about the opioid crisis, you

If anyone you know is suffering from issues with addiction or if you are looking for support in a safe space, Gamecock Recovery is located in the Wellness and Fitness Center and has Narcan available on campus. You can find more information about support services and recovery programs on its website.

“Love in the Time of Fentanyl” is available for streaming on the PBS Video app.

Aimee Hourigan, the director of the Substance Abuse Prevention and Education Office at USC, discusses the role of Gamecock Recovery on campus. Hourigan said 5% of college students are in recovery. Gamecock Recovery offers a space where people in recovery can support one another, while still taking

photos: Xavier Martin

INTRAMURALS OFFER STUDENTS SOCIAL OUTLET, STRESS RELIEF

annie poteat

As students face daily stressors and anxiety in college, some turn to intramural sports to help curb the mental health struggles that come with everyday life on campus.

Playing an intramural sport creates opportunities for students to get outside and exercise. According to the Cleveland Clinic, exposure to sunshine not only leads to the production of vitamin D within the body, but also serotonin, a neurotransmitter that makes the human body feel good when released. Exercise then releases endorphins, which aids in promoting well-being, according to the Mayo Clinic.

“Scientists and data proves that exercise helps alleviate stress, but I think that it does more than stress, it builds aspects of your character thats help combats the negative aspects of school,” second-year supply chain student Tyler Roach said.

Students often take 15 credit hours every semester, join clubs on campus, engage in social activities and even work a job to stay afloat during their time on campus. Roach said the weight of being in college can be quite overwhelming.

“As a student, that we are tasked with so many hours of homework and extracurricular activities to do,” Roach said. “That much time you spend to study, to learn, to grow as a human and to find a job puts a toll on your mental health … I think that intramurals are a great way of building community and teamwork.”

Playing a sport helps participants share experiences and make friends on a campus with over 27,000 undergraduate students as of October 2022. First-year neuroscience and psychology student Katherine Palmer credits playing intramural sports as an important part of the connections she was able to form early into her freshman year.

“Everyone tells you to join clubs to meet people, but I feel like intramurals are also a really good way to do that because you’re meeting people with similar interests to you,” Palmer said. “I just met a lot of people that I wouldn’t have met otherwise and that also have similar interests to me that don’t just live in my dorm.”

Palmer played in a more relaxed social league during her first semester on campus, which meant limited commitment and competitiveness.

“The social league, it’s more chill. Usually, the skill level isn’t as good,” Palmer said. “You play half court 3v3, so it’s more fun, it’s less gamelike and more for recreation versus actual competition.”

For second-year exercise science student Alex Su, who was transitioning into life at college without being on a sports team, intramural sports were a perfect replica of what was missing. Su played seven intramural sports in the fall and 10 sports last school year, ranging from dodgeball and soccer to frisbee and ping pong.

“When I’m having fun with my friends, it

definitely boosts my mental health,” Su said. “Exercise in general, whether it be intramural sports or just working out, is statistically proven to improve mental health.”

Depending on the sport and the competitiveness of the league, the time commitment varies. Su said it can take up about a two-hour chunk each week for games if no practices are held, while Palmer said her more relaxed league only met on a handful of Sundays during the semester.

“It’s a good way to force yourself, especially on a weekend, to be active and you can’t really slack off when you’re part of a team,” Palmer said. “I’ve been playing my whole life, so it’s just a good outlet for me, but I would say that it does help just take your mind off of things. When I play sports, I don’t think about anything else, so it’s just a nice distraction.”

illustrations: sydney lako

USC Student Health Services offers range of mental health options, acknowledges its limitations

Max White

USC’s Student Health Services offers individual in-person or online counseling, group therapy and psychiatric services but said its programs will not meet every student’s needs.

All services are free through the student health fee, which is automatically added to student’s tuition if they’re registered for more than six credit hours. At least six counseling sessions are offered through Thrive@Carolina, an online wellness hub that connects students with virtual and in-person options through a partnership with Christie Campus Heath. While students start with six sessions, they are able to add additional sessions if requested.

Dr. Elizabeth-Clare Porter, the director of counseling and psychiatry at USC, said students should seek help if their mental health prevents them from doing things they need or like to do.

“’I can’t do this thing that I used to love to do, or I’m failing my classes, because I feel so sad or because I feel so anxious,’” Porter said. “And that’s when it is something that you might want to consider reaching out to get some help for.”

If a student decides to seek help, they will set up a triage appointment, or a preliminary assessment, to determine what services would fit best — whether it be group therapy, individual counseling or another type of appointment. Appointments are arranged online or over the phone, and these appointments generally have a wait time of around three weeks. Students can also set up a walk-in appointment for more immediate service.

“When you meet with the triage counselor for that visit, they will listen to everything that’s going on and create a custom-made treatment plan just for you,” Porter said.

According to Kimberly Hills, a licensed psychologist and clinical professor for USC’s Department of Psychology, in a typical therapy session, clients can expect to be asked what they are hoping to get out of therapy and what they want to address.

“In that beginning phase, typically a therapist is just getting to know you, your overall context in terms of your lifestyle, what’s going on for you, things that are important to you,” Hills said.

Outside of the university’s counseling center, a 24/7 crisis hotline and additional counseling services through Thrive@Carolina are provided.

“The unique thing about Thrive@Carolina is you don’t have to physically be here on campus, and you don’t have to physically be in South Carolina,” Delandous Haynes, the director of public relations and marketing for Student Health Services, said.

Sometimes, students need more frequent care than what can be offered through the counseling center, which is usually appointments once every two or three weeks.

In these cases, the student would be referred to an outside counselor who can see them more frequently, and the counseling center would work to find a professional who accepts the student’s personal health insurance. If a student has insurance through USC, they would seek someone who accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield, which most medical providers in the community take.

“It’s hard if somebody comes in, and they’ve taken the time to express everything that’s going on, and then we have to tell them you need to be seen more frequently than we can here, or you need a specific type of therapy that we don’t have here,” Porter said. “But it is generally with the best intentions to try to get the person the specific help that they need.”

Seeing a counselor at least once a week is standard when beginning therapy. According to Hills, it is difficult to form a relationship with a counselor or for a counselor to understand a client without weekly appointments. However, being able to see a counselor every week through USC’s counseling center is unlikely.

“Why we emphasize once a week to start with is, it really can take some time to kind of understand your context,” Hills said. “It’s hard to do that if you start off with once every other week or once a month.”

With a limited amount of free appointments through USC, Hills said it may be difficult for students to fully resolve their issues. While meeting demand is something many counseling centers struggle with, Porter said USC is continuing to work to serve students’ needs.

“That is why we’re trying to incorporate groups and online modules, and we have open triage appointments or initial consultations,” Porter said. “Even if we can’t meet your specific needs, we’re going to try our best to get you connected with someone who can.”

Infographic: Anna Ottinger

‘ME TIME’ is important

You may also begin to question your goals, passions and values, which we don’t typically get to do in our daily lives. Once you are able to contemplate these questions, they will become answers and you may begin to feel more fulfilled.

Taking time out for yourself allows you to improve the relationship between your mind and body so you can perform at your best. According to Direction Psychology, once you allow yourself to have “me time,” your mind and body will begin to operate in sync and provide balance for your intrapersonal wellness.

participating in social events are encouraged and often forced on us, but all of these commitments quickly take a toll on our bodies and minds. To combat this pressure, we need to take time for ourselves and practice self-care.

Being faced with so many demands can cause exhaustion and highstress levels that result in burnout. Society tends to exaggerate and glorify the benefits of overworking yourself, sacrificing your health to achieve a goal or “hustle culture,” especially on social media, which contributes to deteriorating health.

“You cannot be 100% productive all the time. And even if you could, I wouldn’t recommend it,” Dr. Elizabeth-Clare Porter, the director of counseling and psychiatry for Student Health Services, said. “It’s important to take time out for things that are important to you.”

Continuous focus for an extended period of time can be exhausting, so individuals need regular breaks to feel more refreshed and self-aware. While stress causes people to experience mood swings and develop a lack of concentration, it also tends to manifest itself physically. Insomnia, headaches, low energy and chest pain are just a few symptoms WebMD noted one might undergo when stressed.

“I think it’s very important to refocus and help yourself calm down and get the stress away from the day and stuff,” Victoria Henderson, a first-year psychology student, said. “And me personally, I like to just sit and do music, and sometimes I like to work out. It just helps me.”

A busy schedule is usually caused by our tendency to say “yes” to whatever opportunities we are presented with. However, saying “no” to certain situations can help balance your schedule and allow you to prioritize

There are periods when you will be left with your own thoughts during “me time,” but this time allows you to reflect on who you are, who you want to be, what you want and how you can achieve that.

“I think if you’re taking so much time for recreation that you’re not able to fulfill some sort of personal goal that you have in another area, that’s when I would start to question, ‘Do I need to take some time out of that category and put it into another category?’” Porter said.

You should not feel guilty or ashamed when you take time for yourself.

When you go out of your way to care for your own well-being, others should reciprocate your feelings and respect that you value yourself. With more self-care, you may also begin to feel more in the right mind to support those who mean a lot

“I’m very introverted, so I like to stay in my room and let myself recharge after a long day,” Edwina Wang, a first-year undeclared student, said. “I usually just lay in bed and listen to music or watch something on Netflix.”

Engaging in “me time” does not necessarily have to be done alone. Hanging out with friends or a significant other can also be a healthy way to maintain your health, as long as you are enjoying and prioritizing yourself. Some other ways to take part in “me time” include reading, meditating, drawing, exercising, watching a show or movie, painting your nails or going tech-free.

“Me time” allows you to unplug and destress from a world that can be taxing at times. The pressure to constantly be productive and pour your feelings into other avenues is draining and not healthy for anybody in the long run.

No matter how much time you take out of the day to have “me time,” what you do matters, and it should contribute positively to your health and self-worth. Take time to relax and don’t forget to be kind to yourself.

ILLUSTRATIONS : Ronnie Rahenkamp

Zyreail Hardin

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The Metaphysical: Crystals serve as emotional outlet for Columbia locals

When looking for a healthy way to cope with negative feelings, firstyear nursing student Alyssa Tallevi turned to the use of crystals. First introduced to crystals by the women in her family, Tallevi didn’t see an immediate change when she started using them.

“I think that it definitely does come with a learning curve at first because you’re trying to figure out what works best for you, you’re trying to figure out kind of how it works in general,” Tavelli said.

In time, Tavelli learned that crystals can be used as a tool to get in touch with one’s self and promote positive mental health.

“I was looking for a way to cope — a way to just distract my mind in a healthy way. I think that having a place to put all the negative energy that you feel … like you are taking the weight off your shoulders and putting it into something else, I think that helps a lot,” Tavelli said.

Like Tavelli, store manager of The Healing Bar, Sakura Rain, sees the metaphysical — a concept or idea outside human perception or beyond our reality — as a tool.

“For me, the reason that I started working with crystals is I was just drawn to it,” Rain said. “It was a different way of working with something, but also working with myself versus all the other methods I have been trying to cope with my mental health.”

The Healing Bar, located in West Columbia, sells all-natural soaps, wellness stones, healing crystals, tarot cards, candles, incense, books and other metaphysical products.

In terms of mental health, crystals can also act as tools to help relieve stress and negative emotions. Rain used crystals for a long

time but felt as though they weren’t doing anything for her. She thought she had hit a wall, but then one day she felt inclined to start using them again, and she started to see a transformation.

“I really started meditating with the crystal, holding it on certain parts of my body (and) carrying it around with me,” Rain said. “The crystal helped me tap into this part of myself that I couldn’t tap into before,” Rain said.

It wasn’t an immediate change, but Rain said things slowly started making sense to her.

“I was able to work on my mental health and find better ways of coping and working through these issues until I got to a point where I was me again,” Rain said.

Rain said that while crystals do come with a learning curve, sometimes a lack of belief can prevent a person from seeing actual results.

“If someone’s trying to use a crystal, but they don’t really believe it or they’re kind of self-doubting it or they’re just leaving it on a shelf beside their bed ... and then expecting it to change their life, of course, it’s not the results that you’re going to see because you’re not putting your own energy into it too,” Rain said.

For Rain, crystals are also a way for people to obtain energy left within this realm of being.

“Crystals are really helpful for tapping into that inner knowing, especially if you work with them, whether that be through meditation or carrying them with you or feng shui-ing with crystals around your house. I just feel like their energy helps tap into your own energy and opens up any kind of blockages,” Rain said.

Claire Carter

Photos: Hannah Flint

A photo of different products that The Healing Bar carries on Jan. 26, 2023. The Healing Bar is a spiritual healing store that carries crystals, tarot cards and oils and is located on 503 12th St., West Columbia.

A photo of the pre-made tea packets and mixtures that The Healing Bar carries on Jan. 26, 2023. The store, located on 503 12th St., West Columbia, also has recipe books for herbal teas that customers can purchase.

“Energy” is a term that often gets thrown around in the world of crystals, but Rain said there is energy in everything.

“I believe that there’s a universal lifeforce energy that flows throughout everything. In this world, whether that be trees, people, crystals, whatnot,” Rain said.

Associate professor of religious studies, Dan Stuart, studies meditation practices and their history. He said crystals, whether one believes in their uses or not, contain energy.

“(The) notion of energy is much more sort of widespread, right, like crystals contain some basic sort of force,” Stuart said. “Crystals themselves have some energy … sometimes it’s the crystal itself, but sometimes there’s some other extra like a metaphysical being or force that gets associated right.”

Tallevi also said energy is power that can be put toward your crystals.

“Cleansing (crystals) gives them clean energy,” Tallevi said. “But then there’s also personal energy, there’s soul energy, aura energy — there’s a lot of things that come into play with that word,” Tallevi said.

As far as using the energy within crystals as a coping mechanism, Stuart said he can see why people would turn to the metaphysical.

“Humans are complicated and very complex, emotional beings,” Stuart said. “Mental health is something that is still quite a mystery, but we have still a lot to understand, and that’s why these kinds of old traditional practices, they’ve raised a lot of questions because they clearly are doing really good stuff for a lot of people.”

Multiple different kinds of crystals are placed in stacked jars at The Healing Bar on Jan. 26, 2023. One of the most popular items in spiritual healing among younger generations are crystals.

Elysium Aerial Fitness promotes body positivity, mental health through pole dancing classes

Since she took up pole dancing in 2015, Jennifer Lee — an instructor at Elysium Aerial Fitness — has been aware of the stigma that surrounds the activity.

“Everybody’s got a relative or a friend that doesn’t understand,” Lee said. “(They’re) like, ‘Oh my god, you do pole dancing? That’s weird.’”

For Hope, another Elysium instructor, this stigma creates a misconception in others’ minds about her personality and how she acts.

“People have not been rude to me about it, but I think that there’s been a certain level of sexualization that I think people assume I invite when they find out that I pole dance,” Hope said.

At Elysium, instructors like Lee and Hope are changing that narrative by encouraging body positivity and helping their students become more confident in their appearances, physical abilities and self-image.

The gym currently offers classes in a variety of formats, such as pole, aerial silks, chair dance, yoga and twerk. Eva Demer, one of Elysium’s three owners, said these classes can accommodate both new and experienced students and provide options for those who want to enhance either their self-confidence or workout routine.

“If you do pick an exotic style class, we try to make it so where it’s more of an atmosphere of you being more comfortable in your skin ... and moving in a way that makes you feel sexy,” Demer said. “If you pick an athletic-style class, we want to make sure you’re leaving feeling strong and empowered and capable of doing a lot more than you thought you could.”

According to Lee, these classes emphasize the importance of focusing on all areas of one’s health, even if they have to focus solely on one for an extended period of time.

“We are one being, meaning I can’t separate my emotional health from my mental health from my physical health. All those things have to be built up, they all have to be exercised and they all have to have their moment of focus,” Lee said. “By seeing these amazing things that your body can do … that really changes people’s brain chemistry.”

Demer said a lot of students come to Elysium to have fun but ultimately have their own reasons to begin taking classes, whether they were inspired by popular culture or finding a unique way to exercise.

“A lot of people come to classes (for) the same reason I did when I first started. They see shows like “P-Valley” and whatever other shows are on Netflix about the sex industry … and then we come in, and we get them hooked,” Demer said. “Then we get some people who are like, ‘No, I’ve just done

ballet for a million years, and I’m sick of that, and I wanted to try a different style of dance.’”

Reminding students of what motivates them to come to Elysium is a strategy that instructor Sandra Brown said she utilizes frequently in classes she teaches.

“As an instructor, we obviously have people of all shapes and sizes, so for me, when I do my intro, I always try to remember to ask them what brought them there … (and tell them to) focus on why you’re there and not to compare yourself to everyone else because you are your own person, and this journey is individualized,” Brown said.

During class sessions, instructors teach students a number of exercises and dance moves in an encouraging and body-positive atmosphere. Demer said the feedback she receives from students has been overwhelmingly positive, as they say they feel more empowered and confident in themselves.

“I’ve had a lot of students come up and be very grateful for that opportunity to have a place that’s safe where they can come out of their shell, and they can try these new things and not be judged, and where they can build all these new skills in an environment that’s encouraging, but also challenging,” Demer said.

While Demer said there are many physical benefits to pole dancing, like seeing more definition in one’s arms and legs, as well as increased core strength, she believes the most rewarding part of teaching is seeing how much her students grow from a mental standpoint.

“To be able to see them, even six weeks later, to just completely come out of their shell and be way more comfortable with what they were doing with their own bodies in general and with their abilities … it just changes your outlook on what you’re capable of, and being able to instill that in other people is a really cool experience,” Demer said.

Lee said that as time goes on, students tend to think less about stigmas and more about how much fun they have building

“What we find a lot of times is that the students … they get hooked to the adrenaline, to the endorphins, to the empowerment and they’re like ‘Okay, who cares what my crazy uncle thinks? I’m enjoying this, and it’s good for me,’” Lee said.

Editors note: Hope asked that her last name not be used for privacy reasons.

Griffin Goodwyn

Gamecock studentathletes use platforms to advocate for mental health: ‘Why would I not want to help other people?’

Griffin Goodwyn

Senior track and field distance runner

Molly Joseph is no stranger to the lack of awareness in athlete’s mental health.

“I’ll just be walking around campus, and people think I have it all together because I’m a D1 athlete, I’ve got track and field gear on,” Joseph said. “When really, I’m the one struggling internally the most ... we’re looked at, put up on this pedestal, when really, no one sees us as more than that.”

She and a number of other South Carolina student-athletes have made it their goal to reverse that stigma and advocate for the mental health of not just student-athletes but also the general population.

Mental health has played a significant role in Joseph’s early life, as she was diagnosed with a bingeeating disorder and depression before moving in as a college freshman. She said she “hit rock bottom” in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to her eventually seeking treatment after she realized she needed to help herself before becoming a mental health advocate for others.

“I’ve just been training hard, just trying to get myself healthy again. These past two years, (I) have really been prioritizing myself and my mental health,” Joseph said. “Using the resources at South Carolina — therapy, dietitians, coaches’ support and teammates’ support — I’ve been able to get back on my feet, back to competing again.”

Even though she still struggles with mental health from time to time, Joseph said she was motivated to become an advocate because she did not want others to feel like they were alone.

“That whole time I was going through it, even prior to treatment, even a little bit after, no one knew that I was struggling with this because I was too ashamed to talk about it and because I thought I was the only one,” Joseph said. “At the end of the day, I don’t want anyone to feel the way I felt.”

In her time as an advocate, Joseph has joined The Hidden Opponent, a non-profit group that brings awareness to student-athlete mental

health. The organization consists of more than 800 athlete ambassadors, called “campus captains,” that spread across over 500 college campuses around the world.

As a member of The Hidden Opponent, Joseph is tasked with creating a mental health advocacy project each month. She said her project in October 2022, which came during the same month as the SEC Cross Country Championship, is what brought a lot of attention to her cause.

During the event, Joseph visited her competitors’ tents before the race and asked that they wear green ribbons, an internationally-recognized symbol of mental health awareness. Runners from 13 of the 14 SEC schools wore the ribbons during the race, and Joseph said many of them came to her individually after the race, thanking her, telling her about their own experiences and extending their support.

“It was really cool bridging that gap and realizing this is so much more than our sport,” Joseph said. “This is about a group of people really coming together, advocating for something that isn’t talked about and is often stigmatized.”

Taylor Jacobson, a sophomore defender on the women’s soccer team, said her team engaged in an identical display of solidarity by wearing green warmup jerseys before a regular season match.

“We’re really serious about mental health and being open with each other,” Jacobson said. “So promoting that and using my platform as a D1 athlete to post on social media and tell people that it’s okay to not be okay at times.”

Other athletes, like senior tennis player Ayana Akli, believe transparency is important because she said she understands that some student-athletes may not realize it is something they struggle with.

“I struggled a lot last year with it, so when it comes to talking with my teammates and stuff, I’m always here and letting them know what my experiences were and that they aren’t just alone,” Akli said.

Efforts from these athletes to create further change on USC’s campus, including with the school’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee’s recent addition of a mental health subcommittee, which Joseph is a member of.

Joseph said she hopes to go bigger with her advocacy in the future by integrating more of her track and field teammates into her campaigns, and later on, the SEC as a whole. As her mental health initiatives change and grow, she said her guiding philosophy remains the same.

“I made it back. I overcame mine,” Joseph said. “Why would I not want to help other people?”

Photos: griffin goodwyn, erica hudock & courtesy of south carolina athletics

Top: Senior distance runner Molly Joseph poses for a photo on Jan. 25, 2023. Joseph is a member of The Hidden Opponent, a non-profit group that brings awareness to student-athlete mental health.

Center: Sophomore defender Taylor Jacobson runs through a tunnel of high fives during the starting lineup announcements on Oct. 20, 2022. The Gamecocks tied the Texas A&M Aggies 1-1. Bottom: Senior tennis player Ayana Akli cheers during a match against N.C. State at the Carolina Indoor Tennis Center on Jan. 21, 2023. The Gamecocks lost to the N.C. State Wolfpack 6-1.

MEET THE THERAPY DOGS ON CAMPUS THAT HELP WITH STRESS, ANXIETY

Elena keller

College can be taxing on students’ mental health, but there are several therapy dogs on campus that can help alleviate the loneliness, stress and anxiety of college life.

George, Louie and Wally Ryan Dawkins, the director of communications for the South Carolina Honors College, currently has three therapy dogs that visit weekly with the Honors College. George, a blind 7-year-old labrador retriever, Louie, a 6-year-old great pyrenees, and Wally, a 6-year-old pitbull dachshund mix, regularly visit students.

Although Dawkins loves all of her therapy dogs, she said that George is the perfect therapy dog and “he lives for that job.” George is a rescue from the Newberry County animal shelter, and he hasn’t let his blindness stop him from becoming a therapy dog. In fact, Dawkins said his blindness has made him more intuitive when it comes to comforting people.

“Sometimes I don’t understand how he seems to know the things he knows,” Dawkins said. “He kind of instinctively seems to know when someone needs to come to him versus when someone would rather have him plop in their lap like a big, giant bear.”

All of Dawkins’ therapy dogs are trained and registered with Pet Partners of the Midlands. Pet Partners trains the dogs, as well as their handlers, to be prepared for any situation that could arise during their therapy work. Dawkins said that even

though “there’s no substitute for actual mental health care,” she has seen the effect therapy dogs have on students.

“(Students) are smart, ambitious — you put a lot of pressure on yourselves. And sometimes it’s just really nice to sit with this creature that has no expectations. They’re just there to be loved on and to love on that person. It’s a very uncomplicated interaction,” Dawkins said.

Sunny

Sunny’s personality is much like her name. Owner Kathryn Edwards said the 7-year-old golden retriever loves being around people.

“If someone smiles at her, something like that, she goes right over to say hello,” Edwards, who is also a history professor at USC, said.

Sunny is not only a certified therapy dog through Pet Partners of the Midlands but also is a working dog that assists FEMA and the Red Cross at disaster sites.

Edwards has been working with therapy dogs for almost two decades and has volunteered at senior centers, children’s hospitals, local libraries and USC.

Sunny also has regular office hours in Gambrell 206, visits Maxcy every other week and is stationed at the front of the Thomas Cooper Library during midterms and final exam week.

Edwards believes that Sunny’s calming and comforting presence helps to remind students of their own beloved pets.

“It’s a bit of home, a bit of normalcy in an environment that can seem very un-homey and un-normal to them,” Edwards said.

Katie

Ellen Dunn, the communications director at the South Carolina State Library, wanted to work with therapy dogs ever since she wrote a story about them when she was a reporter. Many years later, she found the perfect partner in Katie.

Katie is a 9-year-old Australian shepherd certified with Therapy Dogs International and Alliance of Therapy Dogs. Dunn started training with Katie when Katie was just 3 months old.

Before the pandemic, Dunn and Katie would frequently visit children at Prisma Health Baptist Hospital. Now, Katie mostly works at libraries and schools where

children will read to her as a way of becoming more comfortable and confident in their reading skills.

At USC, Dunn visits U101 classes with Katie, where they talk to students about mental health. Dunn said U101 students are dealing with the stressors of adjusting to college life and that Katie helps them alleviate that stress.

“It makes us realize that the things that we stress over are not as big of a deal as we think they are,” Dunn said.

Dunn said working with Katie has helped with her own mental health, and that she considers it to be her true passion and purpose in life.

“When I think about what I’ve done in life ... what will be more important is the connections I’ve made with her (and) with people where I don’t remember their names, but I remember their story,” Dunn said. “For that, there’s no greater gift.”

photo courtesy of kay edwards

Photo: sam schorr

Katie, a 9-year-old Australian shepherd, sits outside of the South Carolina State Library, ready to go for a stroll around town on Feb. 10, 2023. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Katie could be found frequently boosting childrens’ spirits at Prisma Health Baptist Hospital.

Sunny stops to smell the roses while on a walk-through of Columbia, South Carolina on Feb. 10, 2023. The 7-yearold golden retriever is a certified therapy dog, Red Cross disaster site help dog and has regular office hours in Gambrell 206.

The ADHD medication shortage can seriously hurt a student’s mental health

Ellie Malcolm, a third-year broadcast journalism student, started taking medication to treat her attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, last year. She said the prescription helped her focus on everyday tasks, but this changed when her medicine became unavailable due to a production shortage.

“All of a sudden, you take it away and you can’t have it, and you’re stressed and you’re overwhelmed and you just cannot concentrate,” Malcolm said. “Everything goes downhill.”

She said that her medication made it easier to manage her ADHD and balance her academic pursuits.

“I think my mental health has definitely been better because I’m actually getting out of bed and accomplishing things,” Malcom said.

The medication shortage prevented her from getting her prescription refilled during finals week of her sophomore year, and as a result, her performance suffered. And Malcom’s situation isn’t uncommon.

ADHD can cause people to struggle with focusing on tasks, feeling hyperactive and controlling impulses. Currently, there are production shortages of medications such as Adderall, Ritalin and Concerta that treat ADHD. Manufacturing delays have made

it so that there is less medication available for pharmacies to order and fill prescriptions with.

The ADHD medication shortage affects individuals with ADHD and should be taken seriously. Without access to medication, the lives of people with ADHD are upended, and they cannot use medication to mitigate their symptoms. This continues to be a problem as there doesn’t seem to be an end to these periodic shortages.

Especially now, more and more college students are being treated for ADHD and these students need medication for support.

“The percentage of college students who are treated has gone up dramatically,“

Dr. Steven P. Cuffe, professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Florida’s College of Medicine said.

“Twenty years ago, maybe 2% of the students (were treated). Now it’s more

According to the CDC, ADHD is usually diagnosed during childhood, and symptoms can continue into adulthood.

The symptoms of ADHD make things like professional work, interpersonal relationships and social interactions difficult. When you struggle to focus on tasks

or are hyperactive, it can make building relationships a struggle. It is important that individuals with ADHD can treat their symptoms through therapy and medication.

“For a person that has ADHD, being on a stimulant like Adderall or Ritalin allows them to be able to concentrate and be able to focus for the period of time that that medicine is active in their body,” Dr. ElizabethClare Porter, the director of counseling and psychiatry with Student Health Services, said. ADHD isn’t only about having trouble focusing or being “spaced out” — it’s a serious deficiency in attention. It can be a frustrating experience for individuals with the disorder, as even the simple task of doing homework can feel impossible.

“A lot of times, people with ADHD take longer to complete assignments because they’re constantly getting distracted,” Porter said.

Medication can be an equalizer for students in their academic performance.

“Having a stimulant can allow them to complete assignments at the same period of time that their peers who do not have ADHD can,” Porter said. “It also helps with organizing, so a person may find themselves better able to stay on top of tasks because they’re able to organize them in a more efficient way.”

Medication can be a life-saver for individuals with ADHD. It treats their symptoms and allows them to focus on certain tasks and improve their performance in their daily lives.

This shortage means that individuals with ADHD run the risk of not having their prescription filled in time, and some students don’t know how long until they can get it refilled, which can be very detrimental to the well-being of people with ADHD.

“People can lose jobs if they aren’t able to concentrate at the level that they need to,” Cuffe said. “They may not do as well on exams.”

Students with ADHD are put at a disadvantage when they do not have access to their medication. It doesn’t just mean a hard day of class or not being able to pay attention to a lecture. It means you significantly fall behind.

“There are real-world implications to this,” Cuffe said.

graphics: Callie Hribar

Bridget Frame

illustration: Julia lako

WINTER BLUES: Seasonal depression can affect every day life, experts say

Mollie Naugle

For many, the start of the winter season is filled with celebration and time with friends and family.

Yet, when the fun and festivities of the holidays subside, the lingering cold weather and shorter days leave people, like firstyear statistics and sport and entertainment management student Nathan Ladimir, feeling isolated and lethargic.

“Days that are darker and colder for longer amount of times, days that are dreary, give me low energy and very little motivation,” Ladimir said in a text to The Daily Gamecock.

Seasonal depression, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), develops when a lack of energy causes feelings of sadness and hopelessness that intensify to the point of interference with daily activities.

While scientists have yet to discover a definitive cause of SAD, the National Institute of Mental Health points to the brain’s overproduction of melatonin as well as deficits in vitamin D — which is produced during sun exposure — as a potential reason for seasonal fatigue.

The Mayo Clinic lists low energy, oversleeping, chronic feelings of sadness or listlessness, difficulty concentrating and a loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyed as symptoms of SAD. If the symptoms are left unmitigated and persist beyond the winter season, SAD can lead to the development of more severe and chronic depression.

These signs of SAD most often appear during young adulthood, making college students especially susceptible to experiencing seasonal depression, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

According to a blog post by Dr. Norman Rosenthal, who led a team of researchers that first described SAD, increased workloads and interrupted sleep schedules

are part of what makes college students particularly vulnerable to developing seasonal depression.

Students already experiencing SAD symptoms may fall behind in their workload as a result of their mental health struggles, leading to feelings of personal shame and disappointment in themselves that only intensify their depressive emotions.

Furthermore, in college, young adults’ sleep schedules are often significantly altered, as they become more active at night due to the newfound independence and lack of a structured schedule. With this, Rosenthal said students are often deprived of sleep and daylight, heightening their susceptibility to developing SAD.

The independence of college life can also leave students feeling alone in their mental health struggles, creating a new obstacle in their healing process.

“No one should feel as though they need to navigate difficult seasons of life alone, especially while being a student; the feeling of loneliness adds another layer of stress,” Abigail Kastner, a Ph.D. candidate at the Medical University of South Carolina’s Department of Neuroscience, said in a blog post about coping with SAD.

With this in mind, there are several resources at USC that students can utilize for support in their mental health journey. Mission Mental Health is an on-campus student organization that works to provide mental health resources for faculty and students.

Hailey Chase, a second-year marketing and management student and member of Mission Mental Health, said in an email to The Daily Gamecock that there are

many ways students can manage seasonal depression on campus.

“Some helpful activities include exercising, walking outside for vitamin D, getting proper sleep, maintaining a healthy diet and leaning on your support system,” Chase said.

The National Institute of Mental Health also offers various methods for relieving SAD symptoms. Incorporating vitamin D into your daily routine, whether through walking outside or taking vitamin supplements, can help to lessen the symptoms. Light therapy or specialized lamps that simulate sunlight indoors can also help people suffering from SAD.

These actions can help to lessen SAD symptoms by reducing feelings of isolation and providing a boost of energy. However, it is important to remember that there is no simple fix when it comes to relieving seasonal depression, Chase said. Everyone has unique experiences with it, and therefore, has their own individual healing journey as well.

“SD is difficult, like any other depression, because there isn’t a ‘cure,’” Chase said. “There’s no to-do list we can check off to automatically feel better.”

Jessica Barnes, the program manager of the South Carolina Department of Mental Health’s Office of Suicide Preventions, said in an email to The Daily Gamecock that people should reach out to others to help process the emotions SAD often brings during winter months.

“Different times of the year can be hard for people. If you noticed yourself feeling, down, anxious, stressed or overwhelmed, it is okay to reach out,” Barnes said. “You do not have to go through these feelings alone.”

Illustrations: Kaitlyn Gough

5 relaxing spots around Columbia to ease college stress

The beginning of a new semester can feel like a double-edged sword. While students enjoy their new classes and reunite with their friends, the stresses of college life are quick to return. Luckily, Columbia houses many places that promote relaxation and provide an escape. Here are five places in Columbia to decompress when times are stressful.

Schenk said she wants visitors to feel “enlightened and relaxed” after coming to the museum and hopes they will gain new perspectives.

With an initial student membership fee of $10, USC students can enjoy the art collections for unlimited visits during the calendar year without an additional charge.

Cool Beans Coffee Co.

Located on Main Street, the Columbia Museum of Art showcases all mediums, subjects and stories. The museum also displays the work of international artists in addition to local talent.

Through the inclusive exhibits at the museum, diversity proves to mean more than something to just check off of a list. Every art collection presents work by Black, Indigenous, LGBTQIA+ or women artists, making the museum a place for all to feel represented.

Erica von Schenk, the visitor experience and membership manager, said the welcoming space allows visitors to feel calm as they explore the quiet galleries.

“It’s just such a quiet space to just kind of think about something other than what’s going on in our world or your life,” Schenk said.

After an especially tiring week, students can use the museum as a safe haven to recharge and clear one’s mind. The quiet atmosphere encourages reflection and peace against an often chaotic campus environment.

Cool Beans will soon celebrate 26 years of serving memorable coffee, food and relaxing vibes to the Columbia community. Many students can be seen at the local business studying, enjoying a warm drink or catching up with friends.

Assistant manager of Cool Beans, Robin Hoffman, said she understands why the café is a place of return for students. The eclectic nature of the decor, warm colors, lamps and comfy chairs craft a peaceful environment that appeals to many.

Hoffman said she prioritizes camaraderie with the customers and encourages all co-workers to be friendly during every interaction. She said the attention to being personable establishes a rapport with the regulars, creating a comforting space.

“I definitely want (students) to feel, obviously, welcome and that it’s a place that they are comfortable and want to spend their time,” Hoffman said. “I like trying to make it a place for those positive, early 20s memories to be made.”

The Columbia Museum of Art

ali mullendore

photos: zoe orechwa

One of the most relaxing places in Columbia is the Columbia Museum of Art. All USC students can visit the museum for only $10.

First-year sport and entertainment management student Hailey Brinson and first-year sports and entertainment management student Reegan Henry study and enjoy a relaxing afternoon by getting a coffee at Cool Beans Café on Feb. 1, 2023.

The Nickelodeon Theatre

of the university as an original feature from when the school was founded in 1801.

Centuries later, students from all backgrounds find unity in the Horseshoe as many regard the space as a restful spot for all to enjoy. On a nice day, students can be seen reading, picnicking, doing yoga or playing spike ball across the lawn.

First-year classics student Ally Weitz said the Horseshoe is one of her favorite spots on campus. She said reading and picnicking on the lawn provoke “happy, peaceful” feelings.

“It’s the classic thing they show off to touring students and its, well, it’s for a reason — it’s gorgeous,” Weitz said.

When classes get overwhelming, the Horseshoe is a refreshing spot to calm one’s mind and take a deep breath of crisp air. Using the space as a meeting place for friends after a long day of lectures can also help clear the mind.

The Riverwalk

Known as “The Nick” by many, this local theatre on Main Street provides a welcoming viewing experience while offering blockbuster hits. Although not all showings are relaxing by nature, viewers can unwind by escaping into an alternate reality, enjoying movie treats and sinking into cushioned seats.

The Nick is also known for often premiering independent works, film festivals and reruns of film classics. Whether with friends, family or alone, “The Nick” will offer something to fit everyone’s tastes.

In comparison with larger movie theater chains, this quaint local theater has a deep-rooted history that is unique to Columbia. “The Nick” was opened back in 1979 by two USC media arts students to introduce classic films to the city. Forty-four years later, students still find unity through entertainment experiences at “The Nick,” which were paved by Gamecocks who came before.

The Historic Horseshoe

The West Columbia Riverwalk that runs alongside the Congaree River is a part of the broader “Three Rivers Greenway.” Typical activities include running, calming walks, picnicking along the riverbank and playing with pets. The Riverwalk provides the perfect outdoor getaway while offering peaceful views of the water and city line.

Spending time with nature not only can promote physical health but also can encourage reflection and tranquility that promote positive mental health.

Students often venture across campus with a mind cluttered with overdue homework assignments and test prep. However, these trails allow for the same exercise as the trek to Gambrell but without the noise of a busy Greene Street or the stress of the looming academic buildings.

An expanse of greenery, historic architecture and peckish squirrels characterize the beloved historic Horseshoe. Known as a gem on USC’s campus, the Horseshoe represents the roots

The Nickelodeon was opened in 1979 by two University of South Carolina media arts students and is still running today for the public to watch movies and relax. General is admission is $9.

The peaceful squirrels in the heart of campus: The Horseshoe. This is the perfect place to lay out a blanket and relax, or play a game with friends.

The Riverwalk Park is open to the public and is the perfect way to relieve stress. Students can go for a walk, jog or just sit on a bench and breathe.

USC students are effectively dealing with mental health issues, said the university could do more

Sophie Trusko & Tyler Mazzella

The Daily Gamecock surveyed 40 students to ask about the status of their mental health. Students said they have found ways to cope with their mental health but believe the university could better address their mental health concerns and needs.

For some students, there were mental health challenges that they were not prepared for. One of the biggest unexpected issues was maintaining a social life while still trying to prioritize self-care.

Emerson Taylor, a first-year psychology and studio art student, said she had the wrong ideas about the way she might face social struggles at college.

“I was really worried about being alone, but that hasn’t been the the struggle is that I get too easily, and I need to spend more time alone,” Taylor said.

Other students similarly felt stressed trying to manage their time. Fourthyear geography and global studies student Jacquelin Burnett said she found difficulty in striking a balance between school,

“When I’m taking 18 or 21 credit hours and also trying to fit in clubs or organizations, that doesn’t leave as much time to focus on myself,” Burnett said.

While students shared mixed opinions about whether or not their mental health has declined, many had similar struggles with homesickness. Burnett said she is struggling with homesickness even as she nears graduation.

“Honestly, I think it’s gotten harder the longer I’ve been here because I realized I’m gonna graduate and move away and not see my family as much,” Burnett said.

Christina Farmer, a fourth-year hospitality management student, said feeling stuck on campus made her homesickness and adaptation to campus living worse.

“I didn’t have a car when I first came and so that was like really hard because I couldn’t like leave campus and I just felt stuck here,” Farmer said.

Despite evident battles with homesickness, USC students said they learned to cope. Julia Ressa, a fourth-year psychology student, said her parents played a big role in helping her overcome any homesickness that she experienced.

“My parents were really good with scheduling visits for me, so that was really nice. And then just bringing a little piece of home, like my mom would make food for me,” Ressa said.

To help with some of the struggles students are having, Student Health Services currently provides resources such as one-on-one and group counseling, but many USC students said they or someone they knew struggled to get appointments and receive “quality” help at the Center for Health and Well-Being.

Ethney Dosenbach, a third-year English student, had attempted to receive help from the health center but was turned away due to a lack of availability.

“They advertise 10 free counseling sessions, but it’s really not,” Dosenbach said. “You have to fight tooth and nail to get your own appointment.”

First-year geology student Emma Driller said she’s heard others complain that the standard of help received from the university was “subpar.”

“I’ve known multiple stories where they went and reached out, and that was available to them, but the help that they received was horrible,” Driller said.

Some USC students suggested ways they thought the university could best utilize the $1 million dedicated from Imagine Carolina to health services and resources on campus. Third-year retail management student Sarah Krebs said the university should prioritize providing better education about mental health to students. One way it could do this is by handing out informative pamphlets, she said.

“I think it’s important for everyone to learn about it rather than having students go off and learn about it on their own,” Krebs said.

Others, like Taylor, said improvements could be made with the number of free counseling sessions offered by the university.

“I know we only have 10 free appointments, which for people who would regularly go to therapy, that might not be sufficient,” Taylor said.

Driller said USC should better train counselors at the Center for Health and Well-Being so they are more equipped to help emotionally distressed students.

“Even just kindness helps so much,” Driller said. “And so better training, spending on better training — and free puppies.”

Illustrations: Ronnie Rahemkamp

IT’S OKAY TO BE OPEN ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH MENTAL HEALTH

Julia goulet

Mental illness doesn’t fit in one box. People experience different levels of mental illness and all of those are real struggles. It’s okay to keep your experience to yourself, but it’s also okay to be open and transparent about it, no matter what you’re going through.

I’ve tried writing this three times, and each time I doubt myself and say my struggles are not real struggles — that there are others out there that are going through a lot more than me.

We’re programmed to be this way, to not speak on our hardships because someone has it worse. And that’s not okay.

My hardships are valid. Your hardships are valid. It’s not a contest.

Throughout my elementary and middle school years, I was a terribly shy kid. I hardly talked in class, and when I had friends, I would let them step all over me and treat me poorly

Going into high school, I didn’t want to be like this. I have an outgoing personality when it comes to people I know, and I think I’m pretty funny, but when I’m around people I don’t know, I freeze.

My first semester at USC was one of the best couple of months of my college experience. I made friends, I was falling for boys and I had my first taste of independence. I was also excelling in all of my classes.

But then COVID-19 hit, and I had to go home and spend the remainder of my freshman year as an essential worker at my high school job.

During my sophomore year, I was doing all online classes, and that was when I really started feeling like life was just too hard. I missed people, which for me, a person who values alone time more than anything, is astounding. I hated watching people have fun and not follow regulations while my only interaction was getting yelled at by customers who refused to put on masks.

I started failing my classes because doing a simple discussion seemed impossible.

Unless I was actively typing notes in those online classes, I would be on my phone because I physically couldn’t concentrate.

I had my first panic attack that year. It was triggered by something stupid, but it was the result of holding in all my feelings of missing my family and the looming threat of F’s in all my classes.

I was excited and nervous to go back in person my junior year. I woke up that first day with extreme nausea, my anxiety’s favorite way to physically manifest itself.

And while going back in person was fun, all of my work ethic that magically appeared freshman year was gone again, leading to panic attacks.

Starting senior year, I was in one of the worst mental states I’ve been in. I didn’t and still don’t want to graduate. I love learning and would stay in school for the rest of my life if I could. I’m also crippled by the fear that I’m not going to get a job.

But besides that, I was in my senior semester at the journalism school, where you are essentially working a 9-5 as a journalist. It was also my first semester as the opinion editor.

And I hated it all. I hated not knowing what was going on in senior semester, and I hated having to rely on other people in the newspaper. I just felt like I was disappointing people left and right, and I wanted to quit.

But I love opinion. Writing opinion is what I want to do when I graduate, and I love The Daily Gamecock. I couldn’t leave my section that I felt responsible for and leave my writers, to whom I was their teacher. I just couldn’t quit, I knew I would get through the semester, and I would be proud of myself that I didn’t quit.

I started having panic attacks frequently, where breathing was difficult and I was crying consistently. I decided I needed to talk to someone when it became a chore to get out of bed in the morning.

I made an appointment at the Student Health Center and went for my intake exam, where they immediately told me I would only be able to see a therapist maybe once a month and should seek other options, including group therapy or a stress management specialist. And while the stress manager did help me with my time management skills and truly became someone I could talk to about what was going on in my school life, money and family how to deal with this, and while the medicine has worked in ways, my anxiety can get so bad that it infiltrates my dreams and I can’t sleep for a couple of nights, or I completely shut myself off and don’t talk to anyone for days.

mental health and mental illness. And while the stigma around it has dramatically decreased, there still needs to be a discussion about it. Mental illness is something probably everyone is going to face, and it’s okay to

photo: sydney lako

How wrestlers ‘cut weight’ fast, the side effects that follow

Cameron Hall

Wrestling is an age-old sport, though the implementation of weight classes is much newer, bringing with it a controversial set of rules.

Meeting weight in a designated weight class can prove physically and mentally challenging. If a wrestler comes just an ounce over their intended weight, they cannot compete. Many wrestlers spend the days before an event losing any weight they can, largely in the form of water weight.

“It’s a very fluid thing, where you just have to bundle up and basically just squeeze out all the water weight,” Zachary St. Thomas, a fourth-year computer science student and president of the Gamecock Wrestling Club, said. “And that kind of makes it much more doable than it might seem at first, but it’s definitely not permanent weight. It’s not very sustainable in the long term.”

associate professor of exercise science at USC and experienced bodybuilder and powerlifter.

“A lot of the quick weight loss, extreme diets, you’re gonna lose a lot of water weight, not as much body fat,” Moore said. “It looks like you’ve lost 10 or 15 pounds when all you’ve really done is dehydrate, and you’ve depleted your body of a valuable energy source you need for that competition.”

Cutting weight drains wrestlers’ energy, making it harder for them to focus, sleep and compete at their best, according to St. Thomas.

“Weight cutting can absolutely effect everything ... You get more tired more easily,” St. Thomas said. “You’re not as well conditioned as you otherwise might

are put under enormous amounts of stress on the days leading up to a competition, and they often are forced to ignore their body’s signals.

“It’s really draining. You’re definitely not getting nearly enough nutrients that you need, that your body needs, especially if you’re wrestling and working out at the time,” Holley said.

In addition to the physical toll, there is a substantial mental toll on the body that comes from preparing for a match by rapidly cutting weight.

“It’s just like mentally, you can’t think straight,” Holley said. “You can definitely tell there’s adverse side effects to it in school and stuff.”

Not only does cutting weight affect someone’s short-term physical and mental health, it also creates the potential for further health complications if the cutting is done in a careless manner.

“I have seen people end up in the hospital ... from dehydration, from hypoglycemia, electrolyte imbalance,” Moore said. “It is one of the dangerous possibilities with some of the extreme dieting that goes on, and there’s healthier ways to diet than that.”

Cutting weight longterm in a healthier manner can take a tremendous amount of mental fortitude, but with the right exercise plan and diet strategy, some of the more severe effects of rapid weight loss can be avoided.

“What I found over the years is that maintaining a healthy diet with a moderate diet restriction and working, balancing that out with the proper training, you have to do that for a much longer period of time and have a gradual weight loss (to) end up with a healthier athlete and much better performance,” Moore said.

illustrations: Gillian Thomas

COVID-19 had a lasting impact on students’ mental health

COVID-19 was hard on students. They were met with feelings of uncertainty about the future in regard to the social climate and also what kind of education they were getting post-online classes, triggering many mental health issues.

In a study done by the Pew Research Center, 58% of adults between the ages of 18 to 29 experienced high levels of psychological distress since March 2020.

Gracie Lewis, a third-year psychology student, was a senior in high school when the school shutdown was announced. She said she didn’t think much of the situation and assumed she would return to school in a matter of weeks. She ended up with no prom, no spring break, no summer vacations and no proper graduation ceremony.

“It didn’t seem real at first,” Lewis said. “I almost didn’t come to terms with it until right before I was about to start college in August and realized this is not going to be the college experience I was told about and heard about.”

Many students were dealing with loss and isolation during the pandemic because of the abruptness of the quarantine. Students were so used to having their own space and independence and in a matter of weeks, most were back home with no clue when they would have their normal lives back.

Dr. Elizabeth-Clare Porter, the director of counseling and psychiatry for Student Health Services, said her experience while in the Student Health Center during the COVID-19 shutdown was difficult as the center worked to navigate running online services and supporting students.

“We saw students lose loved ones,” Porter said. “We also saw students who lost important milestones in their lives ... those things are not easily reproducible, so they’re kind of gone.”

Porter said many students felt isolated during the quarantine. The switch from being completely on their own to going back to living at home was hard for students, and for some, it felt like taking a step back

in their lives. They felt like they were put in an awkward position coming back to school and having to pick back up where they left off.

Lewis said it was an unusual space to be in during her freshman year of college, a time when you are newly independent and trying to form new relationships. Online classes made it harder for students to stick to a schedule, and, according to Lewis, this began to take a toll on her academics.

“Classes being online, I didn’t have much responsibility,” Lewis said. “Freshman year, I definitely took a hit educationally. I have actually had to retake a class since because to me it was like I was stuck and there was really no point of doing all these things when I was stuck (and) it would never get better.”

Since the transition from normalcy to complete isolation was so sudden, many services within the university had to make adjustments to attend to everything being moved online. During the pandemic, the Student Success Center focused on providing a plethora of online resources for students who were struggling to mentally focus on their schoolwork.

“The big thing was making sure that we were doing everything that we can at the Student Success Center to offer as much comprehensive support as possible,” Chris Gulino, the assistant director for coursespecific support at the Student Success Center, said. “That meant that we had to offer virtual services (and) we really expanded the amount of services that we offered virtually.”

Gulino said that many students required flexibility at this time because their schedules were turned upside down and the transition to online school was adding to the other stresses of their lives. To combat this, the Student Success Center also provides peer consultants to help teach students how to manage their time and develop study skills during this switch back to in-person classes.

As we continue to transition to in-person classes again, it is important for the university to understand that, for the past two years,

students have experienced a major shift in the way they learn. It is more difficult for them to sit in a crowded classroom and focus for long periods of time because they’ve fallen out of this habit due to online school. The Student Success Center is a great resource for students who are willing to ask for help, but for students who are not as comfortable, they risk falling behind.

Something USC should have focused more on coming out of the pandemic is slowing down the jump back into normalcy. Many students were quick to jump back into their pre-COVID-19 routines, feeling like they had to make up for lost time and, according to Porter, getting burnt out in the process.

Many students had to snap back to reality after COVID-19, making it hard for them to manage school and a social life. This pushed many students to create a good schedule and an overall lasting impact on students’ focus on their mental health.

Caption: A photo illustration of second-year undecided student Bridget Blackwell fighting to stay awake while working on an assignment in Russell House on Feb. 6, 2023. After two years of online learning, students can struggle with transitioning back to in-person lectures, retaining good study habits and focusing for extended periods of time.

Emily Boudreaux

Photo:JaylenAnderson

Club sports athletes discuss the positive mental health impacts of playing

Jacob Phillips

While students at USC chose to join club sports teams for a variety of reasons, several club athletes agree that joining an athletic club has been beneficial for their mental health.

“It’s nice to have two hours, three hours at a time blocked off in my day to just dedicate to playing a sport,” Josie Steed, a first-year women’s club rugby player, said. “I think that’s really good for my mental health to be having a community of people where we all have a shared goal, and we can just rely on each other.”

Most sports clubs at South Carolina hold one or two practices a week, and, when in season, play games mostly on weekends. Some teams will also host extra nonscheduled workouts to stay in shape and maintain a bond.

“I’m the type of person where I need to work out every day, ... so rugby is that outlet for me,” third-year men’s club rugby team captain Grant Howard said. “Mentally it’s been awesome for me, all my best friends play rugby.”

The comradery and commitment of club sports provide athletes with a support system full of people who have similar interests. For participants like club beach volleyball player Joel Gordon, it’s an outlet to shed stress and create structure.

“Last year, I had some really low points where I would be just stuck in my room completely unmotivated to do anything,” Gordon said. “To take something that I love and have it as a commitment, it just gets me going. It’s something to look forward to at the end of the day, and it just kind of serves as a constant motivator for me.”

Outside of their organized meetings, team members bond over extra events, including pasta nights and watching sports.

“We always like to create a bonding memory with each other,” second-year men’s club volleyball player Ryan Everding said. “That’s really allowed us to really have a sense of, not only teamwork, but a sense of family and community.”

Club athletics is not as competitive as the Division I teams that play for the university,

but it is a step up from the competitiveness of intramural sports. Unlike Division I teams, which practice almost everyday, clubs give athletes plenty of free time to rest and recover.

For Gamecock lacrosse, specifically, a portion of the club team’s roster played at the Division I level at other schools but decided to transfer and play at USC because of the lighter time commitment.

“A lot of guys want to keep playing sports but don’t want to have that everyday grind,” second-year Gamecock lacrosse Vice President Jake McQuaid said. “I think pretty much all, if not most of our team, could have played at the NCAA level.”

This extra time allows students to play the sport for fun and not have it feel like a job. Second-year player Johnny Stanton played Division I lacrosse at the University of Massachusetts before moving to South Carolina last spring.

“Coming from playing D1, that was extremely strenuous. It was more than a full-

time job,” Stanton said. “It was crazy, but I would say, although we don’t train like (a D1 team), we compete like one. I mean, we just scrimmaged a D2 team and beat them.”

Still, club sports can be a large time commitment and potential source of stress for some athletes, especially if they choose to take a leadership role. Yet, many agree that, with planning and discipline, balancing all of the responsibilities is possible.

“As long as you have good time management, club sports are just one of the best things for you,” Everding said.

Many said that club sports have been a great experience, and Everding credits the club volleyball team for some of his favorite college memories.

“I know club sports is very good for people, and I know whether it’s a fraternity, a sorority or just a club, go out and do something, Everding said. “Don’t just sit back and let college go by and miss all those memories and the potential to meet friends for life.”

photo: Sam Schorr

The women’s club volleyball garnet team comes together after a successful set against the College of Charleston at its home Gamecock Classic tournament on Feb. 4, 2023. The garnet team pictured, made up of junior outside Ashlee Johnstone, sophomore libero/DS Rachel Hebblethwaite, junior middle Maddie Mitchum, sophomore right side Alanna Harder and senior setter Preya Simmons, earned silver in the tournament after a hard fought match.

Student band finds outlet for mental health in music: ‘Your brain just turns off’

Amanda Petty

For the members of The Third Floor band, balancing the responsibilities of school with furthering their career can sometimes be “overwhelming.”

“There’s a lot to do. And I have pretty bad ADHD, and sometimes it’s hard for me to focus on a single thing and really get things done,” Nicholas Guzman, the band’s lead guitarist and keyboardist, said. “I haven’t really built a system yet to get everything out of (my head) and somewhere I can put it on a list and check it off.”

Second-years Ryan Pellatt, Neal Goldberg, Logan Cory and Guzman have come a long way since meeting their freshman year while living on the third floor of Capstone House.

“We were just four guys. We (would) jam and play music on our floor,” Guzman said.

Now, The Third Floor has grown its audience, while also speaking on major topics through its lyrics. Pellatt, who writes most of The Third Floor’s songs, said almost every song he writes is about mental health.

“One of my favorite songs to play is called ‘Man on Fire,’” Pellatt said. “It’s a song very much about coping with mental health, with substances and doing so in a very unhealthy manner, which I’ve definitely done before. The song is more of a hyperbole.”

According to Cory, the drummer, another one of their songs, “Rum and Coke,” is primarily about substance abuse, but anyone who listens to their music can find something to connect with about mental health.

“People can lean into the lyrics to that. They can relate to it,” Cory said. “Everybody has the capacity to do really anything. They can vent their capacity to be in that spot of darkness and live through that for whatever the four and a half minutes ... (they) can listen to the drums and the guitar solo and thrash their heads around to it and get into it — it’s whatever people want it to be.”

Goldberg, who plays bass, said he enjoys funneling his feelings into something positive by being able to play with his other bandmates.

“There was a low point in the first semester of freshmen year, but I think playing music with these guys and really getting into music helped a lot with my mental health, and figuring out

how to write a song to express that emotion has been really cool,” Goldberg said.

The group’s first official gig as a band was in November of 2021 at the Koger Center for the Arts’ Loading Docks that was only 15 minutes long. Since then, The Third Floor has played at venues such as New Brookland Tavern, Jake’s on Devine and Southern Belly BBQ.

However, for Pellatt, the best part of being in the band doesn’t revolve around venues, but rather hearing people sing along to the lyrics he wrote.

“Playing one of the songs that I’d written and we had rehearsed together and hearing people, seeing people sing the chorus to a song they had heard for the first time,” Pellatt said. “That was something that meant so much to me.”

For Goldberg, the best moment came when his family saw the band perform for the first time this past semester during a show the group played in Charleston. At this point, it all came together, as he felt more

confident in his bass skills and had put in so much work.

“I think that was a really cool thing because it’s something that, when I go home, that’s what I talk about. It’s the thing I do outside of school, and it was really cool to see that pay off and to see the people that you really care about get to watch you do what you love and watch you express yourself,” Goldberg said.

While they have experienced stressful moments, Guzman said the band and music, in general, are both positive outlets for his mental health. Playing his instrument after a bad day helps relieve stress, he said.

“If I just have a bad day, anything, going home and just getting lost in an instrument is one of the most blissful experiences that I can have,” Guzman said. “Really, really getting into it, there’s almost a point where your brain just turns off and you just flow, and you’re no longer thinking about what notes you’re going to hit. You’re just doing it. You’re doing what feels right. You’re speaking with the instrument.”

The members of “The Third Floor” band from left to right: Nick Guzman, Logan Cory, Neal Goldberg and Ryan Pellatt pose together with their instruments on Oct. 7, 2022. The band members use their music as a way to express their emotions and bring light to issues concerning mental health.

Photo Courtesy of The Third Floor

COPING WITH ADDICTION: USC programs look to encourage taking first step in recovery

Gracie Wilkerson

Many college students struggle with substance abuse, but not all of them seek or receive help.

According to Gamecock Recovery campus surveys, about 4 to 5% of USC students report being in recovery for a substance abuse disorder, which equates to about 1,500 students.

Aimee Hourigan, the director of Substance Abuse Prevention and Education (SAPE) at USC, said many students use substances to cope with stress or trauma or to fit in with their peers who use substances. Most students who are in recovery started using substances before college and tend to use them in more high-risk ways.

SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, defines recovery as a process where individuals continue to improve their health and reach their full potential while also learning how to live “self-directed” lives. Hourigan said Gamecock Recovery also follows this definition.

“If your use is not aligning with what you want, then the reason to get help is because

we can help you meet your goals,” Hourigan said. “Nobody’s going to tell you you have to stop or give it up altogether, and that’s a resource that we have. We’ve got lots of different options.”

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. is at the lowest point of high-school aged addiction in 20 years. Because of this, many students reaching out to Gamecock Recovery within the past two years had no substance experience until they came to the university.

Hourgian said that two of the biggest reasons first-year students begin using substances is to experiment with their new freedom and to do so without their parents’ influence.

“Every day, you get to go out and there’s no consequences for anything, and it’s the best four years of your life,” Hourigan said. “So they’re kind of trying to live out a myth about what their college experience is supposed to be.”

About 800 students each year report through AlcoholEDU that they want to be connected to SAPE’s resources, but only a fraction of them actually get in touch.

“I think sometimes people avoid getting help because they think that somebody’s going to wag their finger or tell them that you have to quit altogether,” Hourigan said.

Dr. Elizabeth-Clare Porter, the director of counseling and psychiatry for USC’s Student Health Services, helps students identify substance use problems during consultation screenings and refers them to resources such as SAPE and counseling.

“Sometimes it’s about continuing to provide, these are the resources that are available to you,” Porter said.

Gamecock Recovery also assists students by allowing them to make connections with other students in recovery and people who have overcome an addiction. They meet weekly for recovery meetings and often have fun community-building events such as going out for dinner, rock climbing and game night.

Hourigan said students can help support their recovering peers by taking ally workshops provided by SAPE, where they will learn to validate their peers’ recovery journey, and making sure to include them in activities that don’t involve substances. Students can also contact the Student Care and Outreach Team, which will organize a team that can help a struggling substance abuser.

Delandous Haynes, the director of public relations and marketing for USC’s Student Health Services, also said that paying attention to friend’s behaviors or mood swings can be the first step in helping peers who could be abusing substances, especially during times of peak stress and anxiety, such as exam week.

However, Porter said that while it is always good to check-in on friends and inform them on the resources available, the person still has to be the one to fight for recovery.

“Oftentimes, it’s reliant upon the person to make a decision that they want to change something in their life as much as the people around them really want them to change,” Porter said.

Photo: Andrew Nguyen

Student workers conduct business at the Gamecock Recovery office in the Strom Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center on Jan. 31, 2023. The office is open to students struggling with drug abuse or addiction and takes appointments in-person or virtually.

WHERE GAMECOCKS FIND THEIR ROOST

UofSC students post for free when using their UofSC email address.

Students should switch to studying outside this spring semester

Vivek Crowe

With the warmer weather ahead, students should begin to study outside more. Students’ study habits have a significant effect on their mental health and cognition, so taking advantage of studying outside can improve the mental well-being of students.

“Studying in my room — it just really didn’t seem right, and then I just always fell asleep, and I didn’t get anything done,”

Gabriella Robertson, a firstyear nursing student, said. “I switched to outdoors and thought maybe it could help, and it honestly did. Just getting sunlight every day — it’s just it helps you a lot.”

Utilizing outdoor spaces on campus and getting away from studying in a small dorm room is impactful on the mental health and routine study habits of students.

“Outside it’s pretty spacious. You don’t feel cooped up,” Tieu Thien, a first-year pharmacy student, said.

Cognition and other important aspects of studying, such as stress levels and focus, could also be improved by studying outdoors. A 2020 report from The American Psychology Association found that being exposed to nature is linked to lower stress, improved attention, better mood and cooperation.

Being outside can help students stay attentive to their work while also gaining the health benefits of outside time, such as fresh air and vitamin D from natural sunlight.

“Our body absorbs vitamin D from the sun — that’s the best source of it — which some research suggests that is helpful to mitigate depressive symptoms, specifically things like fatigue and energy levels,” Jennifer Cross, the coordinator of counselor training at USC Counseling and Psychiatry within Student Health Services, said.

“Fortunately on campus, we’ve got a ton of green spaces, you know, with the Horseshoe alone, which allows students to be outside and to take their materials out there.”

A 2019 study, published by The European Centre for Environment and Human Health at the University of Exeter, provides a closer look into how studying outside affects mental health. The study found that people who spend a few hours a week in outdoor spaces are more likely to report good health and psychological well-being than those who stay indoors.

The study mentions how being in nature generally has large effects on mental, emotional and physical health, and if more students can expose themselves to nature while they study, it makes a great impact on their well-being. Studying outside is also a great way for students to enjoy the USC campus.

“I love being outside, that’s part of the reason I chose South Carolina was for the weather,” Benjamin Christianson, a first-year business management student, said.

There are many historic, spacious and quiet outdoor spaces around campus to study. The Horseshoe, one of the most historic spaces on

campus, offers more space and silence compared to the busier spaces outside of the humanities building and Colloquium Café. The fountain in front of Thomas Cooper Library and the neighboring Davis Field offer a great atmosphere, complete with shade and space to sit and study.

“Some people really like being in busy places where there’s a lot going on,” Cross said.

Everyone studies differently. Some may prefer to have noise or people around in their study environment, but others may not. A 2010 article from Scientific American showed that noise has an effect on general stress levels, concentration and stressrelated conditions, including high blood pressure.

With the help of fresh air, vitamin D and a quieter environment, students can improve their mental and physical well-being while changing their study habits for the better.

Photos: Taylor Kitchens

Bottom Left: Tables adorn Davis Field at the University of South Carolina on Feb. 4, 2023. The field is one of many outdoor spaces popular among USC students.

Bottom Right: Tables line the sidewalk outside the Colloquium Café at the University of South Carolina on Feb. 4, 2023. The café’s outdoor seating is one of many popular study locations on campus.

Top Right: The Maxcy Monument stands near the center of the Horseshoe at the University of South Carolina on Feb. 4, 2023. The Horseshoe marks the grounds of the original Old Campus District.

Top Left: Three fountains spring up from the reflecting pool in front of the Thomas Cooper Library at the University of South Carolina on Feb. 4, 2023. The fountain and reflecting pool are one of many green spaces on campus.

infographic: Allie Dunlap

Art Therapy Club uses creative approach to mental health

Catherine Pruitt

Whether weaving friendship bracelets into intricate patterns or delicately brushing paint onto a canvas, USC’s Art Therapy Club provides students a safe space to de-stress and unwind by creating art and channeling their emotions into a positive outlet.

Lauren Puttock, a second-year psychology student and president of Art Therapy Club, said the club allows students to release their anxieties through a creative medium.

“This club started with the idea in mind of providing a calm and tranquil space to allow people to just create and not feel the pressures of constantly being productive,” Puttock said. “Art is an incredibly helpful tool in facilitating that kind of environment because it’s something that can very easily take your mind off of things. It’s almost a meditative practice at times.”

Art Therapy Club meets once every two weeks, typically to work on a simple craft or activity. Past projects have included making bracelets and mini canvas paintings. Kinsey Kuhl, a third-year biology student and vice president of Art Therapy Club, said the medium has been very helpful for

“I would always use art as a way to vent — an outlet to pour my emotions,” Kuhl said.

Knowing that art has helped others release their pent-up emotions, Puttock said she believes that the club’s opportunity for relaxation is something worth trying.

hurt, and giving people the opportunity to have a break and a calm place to just relax — it can’t hurt,” Puttock said.

Jessie Guest, a clinical assistant professor of counselor education and an expert in play coordinates the graduate certificate in play therapy at USC.

“You have some art therapy, creative arts, you have dance, using nature and things like that. Whatever suits and fits your client can be really helpful and helping them express themselves more authentically,” Guest said.

According to Guest, the ability for individuals to de-stress and connect with their younger selves allows them to explore different interests and focus on their mental health, all while embracing creativity.

“I think as we get older, we don’t lose that desire to play. We may lose time, and we feel like we are maybe too busy to connect with the childlike parts of ourselves. We all have different ways to be creative, and we have

“I’d like to make it free for everyone. Right now, I’m going through the process of applying for funding through the university. I would like to make it as wide and accessible as possible,” Puttock said.

If you feel drawn to art therapy or are looking for a unique way to destress, the Art Therapy Club accepts new members year-round. The club meets every other Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Russell House. If you decide to become a member, there is a $6 fee that will go toward art supplies.

Illustrations: Anna Ottinger

THERAPEUTIC TUNES

Music is considered a universal language — not only for entertainment but for therapeutic purposes as well. The service is on the rise and is tailored to everyone, no matter their musical experience. Students in USC’s School of Music’s commercial music ensemble class said they have found comfort in performing and playing music as an outlet for creative therapy.

Second-year music industry studies student Donovan Medley rehearses on the classroom’s piano for the ensemble’s performance set for February 13, 2023. In professional music therapy settings, instruments are set up in a particular way for clients in order to be their most successful. They are deconstructed so that patients can learn the basics and grow as they practice.

Third-year music industry studies student Stephen Bell, fourth-year music industry studies student Hope Wilberger and Milvid practice together as a part of USC’s School of Music’s commercial music ensemble class. Students in USC’s School of Music’s commercial music ensemble class said they have found comfort in performing and playing music as an outlet for creative therapy.

Hannah Flint

Natalie Rousseau Fouty, an expert in music therapy, founded Key Changes Therapy Services Inc. — a nonprofit aimed at transforming artistic therapy — in Columbia, South Carolina. She is currently the organization’s executive director and is a board-certified music therapist by trade who defines music therapy as “utilizing music as the vehicle of sorts for any type of therapeutic change.”

Coordinator and instructor of music industry studies Jeremy Polley (far left) changes third-year music industry studies student Harry Milvid’s guitar settings while second-year music industries student Megan Gallagher (right) is pictured singing “Santeria” by Sublime. Gallagher sings for the ensemble and arranges music for an acapella group. She uses music to communicate her emotions and believes in “the power that (music) can have mentally over your emotions.”

Medley practices playing the piano before the ensemble’s rehearsal on Feb. 7, 2023. Medley said he believes that music helps to “really emphasize the emotion that you’re feeling and to be able to process it in that moment.”

Second-year music industry studies student Nick Guzman plays the drum set during the ensemble’s rehearsal of “Santeria” by Sublime. Students in USC’s School of Music’s commercial music ensemble class said they have found comfort in performing and playing music as an outlet for creative therapy.

Bell plays the electric guitar for the commercial music ensemble class on Feb. 7, 2023. In the class, students play and rehearse together for future performances.

Wilberger plays bass for the ensemble. Students in USC’s School of Music’s commercial music ensemble class said they have found comfort in performing and playing music as an outlet for creative therapy.

Milvid plays “Santeria” by Sublime on his electric guitar on Feb. 7, 2023. Milvid, along with the rest of the ensemble, practiced for a performance at the Koger Center on Feb. 13, 2023.

First-year music industry studies student Dan Porcelli sings “Wild Thing” by The Troggs as the ensemble practices for its performance on Feb. 13, 2023. The ensemble performed at the Koger Center for students and community members.

Subcommittee gives student-athletes a voice on mental health

emma edwards

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is working towards bridging the gap between student-athletes and the athletic administration regarding decisions on mental health resources.

SAAC, a completely student-athlete-run organization, helps athletes communicate with the athletic administration about issues that affect them, as well as promote camaraderie and departmentwide community service projects.

“If we’re going to talk about our student-athletes’ physical health and what they might need from that aspect, there is no reason why we shouldn’t also be advocating for their mental health,” SAAC President Hanna Barton said. “Let’s face it, it’s become a huge, huge problem in college athletics.

SAAC meets every two weeks and is made up of at least two representatives from every Gamecock sports team.

Last summer, Barton and Vice President Claire Pound had the opportunity to attend the Southeastern Conference SAAC meeting at the SEC headquarters. Barton, who also serves as the chair of the mental health subcommittee, said the trip allowed them to recognize they needed a separate committee to oversee the mental health side of student athletics.

“This is something that I have been passionate about for a very long time,” Barton said. “My freshman year of college, I relied very heavily on the mental resources that were provided here, and it really opened my eyes to just how important they are, not just for student-athletes in general, but college students.”

Barton said the main issue facing student-athlete mental health is the disconnect between athletes and the athletic administration. However, increased participation and direct feedback from student-athletes through SAAC helped the athletic administration cater its services more, according to Barton.

Their first major collaboration came during Mental Health Awareness Week in the fall of 2022, when members from SAAC met with the athletics department to create awareness initiatives during the week. Additionally, event with Student Government, where it handed out resources the athletics department provided.

Members of the athletics department are also able to sit in on SAAC meetings, hear what the

athletes have to say and provide feedback. Sarah Noll, the director of mental health in the athletics department, and Eva Monsma, a professor of physical education at USC, have been integral in their collaboration with the organization and in creating a clear vision of the organization’s goals.

“(The mental health committee) is a really great addition, too, and we’re going to be utilizing them more to help us,” Noll said. “Again, not just in letting people know what’s available, but also getting input into seeing what sort of resources they would like to see and would like to have.”

SAAC is leading the way for athletes to have a say in what resources and decisions are being made about their mental health. Barton said the SAAC’s mission of being for athletes, by athletes is “invaluable.”

“The reality of it is collegiate athletics is a business,” Barton said. “However, you have to always get input from the people that are being used to bring in your revenue, which is athletes. And so, I think being able to just have a voice and have a seat at the table can be extremely beneficial.”

Moving forward, the committee is looking to build upon its early stages and continue to educate athletes on what resources are available to them from the athletics administration. Barton said their upcoming project includes a social media takeover that allows each Gamecock team to discuss a specific mental health topic each week.

“Their initiative that they’re about to roll out is going to be farreaching,” Monsma said. “There is between 540 and 550 athletes, and their coaches and their operations team, etc., that could all potentially

Monsma, also a faculty athletics representative, said the main goal of the mental health subcommittee has been to enhance mental health literacy. She said it is a foundational skill that all athletes are capable of using and hopes SAAC will promote practicing these skills in order to increase mental health literacy within

“These psychological skills for their performance are like any other skill: They improve

“The more you you integrate them, the more you become an artist in how you own life and maybe

illustration: sydney lako

USC STEM students report mixed feelings on being supported by professors

The Daily Gamecock spoke with 40 STEM students to see how their professors handle students' mental health. Among these students, The Daily Gamecock found that they have differing opinions on these professors: Some felt that STEM professors added to their stress, making current struggles even more difficult, while others had positive feelings towards their professors.

Out of the 40 students surveyed, 24 reported having positive or mostly positive experiences. Students like third-year biomedical engineering student Anthony Gilles said reaching out and forming relationships with professors has helped them succeed in this field.

"I find most of them are very willing to help students academically," Gilles said. "If you really get to know them personally ... they can talk to you about how to spend your days and optimize your time and manage your work life."

Kate Walbridge, a first-year biology and Spanish student, said that her mental health was impacted by the rigor of her classes. However, her professors responding to her requests for help made a positive impact on her experience.

“I’ve always struggled with chemistry, and it gave me a lot of anxiety, but my professor from last semester did a really good job of making sure that she was open to helping me,” Walbridge said.

Other students felt that their STEM professor's policies are merely an understandable, expectable aspect of the field because of how rigorous STEM majors can be.

“They could be more understanding, but (with) STEM, in general, you have to be more strict in a sense. So, they’re a lot less lenient than maybe humanities professors, but that’s part of what you’re signing up for,” fourth-year chemistry student Kristen Pazder said.

Other students said their STEM professors are not as lenient when it comes to personal issues that arise without warning.

“I feel like my STEM professors are not quite as understanding when I have personal things come up, whether it be mental health issues or, honestly, anything that cannot be proven with a quick trip to the health clinic," second-year computer science student Rae Jones said. "I've even had professors try to ignore the excused

absence policies here where they said that they have a limit to how many excused absences that they accept.”

Though few professors actively try to complicate things for their students, many of their policies may make certain tasks more difficult, according to third-year marine science student Ashleigh Griffin.

“I feel like with some of the professors, they may not directly try to be impacting (students') mental health, but they’re definitely not very understanding, I have a professor right now who doesn't take any extensions or late work at all, which is understandable, but he could even go so far as to say, ‘even if there's a death in the family, no matter what happens to you, I don't take any work or extensions,’” Griffin said.

Students also voiced their concerns about accommodations being difficult to obtain when they have sudden mental health issues.

“It can be difficult because a lot of professors won't do accommodations outside of the Student Disability Center,” fourth-year biology student Gemesis Childress said. “It can be kind of hard to get accommodations in the middle of the semester, for example, without having to go to a psychiatrist to get the forms filled out and register with the Student Disability Center.”

Mohamed Atta, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student, said he has had trouble with his professors being condescending.

"Whenever I went to (office hours), (my professor) was like, 'Oh my god, you can't do that? You can't do this stuff? This is like basic maths. How are you going to graduate (or) be in engineering if you don't know how to do this?'" Atta said.

Whether they spoke positively or negatively about their STEM professors, students generally requested that professors be more tolerant and accessible with their policies.

"I think teachers need to just be aware or ... open with their policies, which once again, most of my professors have been, but also understand that not everyone has the ability to get registered because that means getting a diagnosis, which has its own challenges," Saanvi Somani, a second-year biochemistry and global studies student, said.

Emmy Ribero & Caitlin Dee

Infographic: Gillian Thomas

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