By The Scene staff
As COVID-19 cases surge again and pandemic fatigue grips a weary country, a group of Forest Park employees have formed a Wellness Committee to help address the needs of faculty, students and staff in this challenging time.
Education professor Lori Orlando, chair of the six-member committee formed in September, announced its first event in early October, a bicycle ride through Forest Park – the park, not the campus – scheduled on the afternoon of Oct. 16.
The response was not what she expected, but the committee has more events in the works.
“I definitely expected more than two people,” Orlando said. “If I had to guess as to why there was so little participation, I would say COVID is probably an issue, as well as the fact that maybe folks just aren’t into bike riding or physical activity, and the weather wasn’t the greatest, as far as the wind and temperature.”
Orlando had created a bike ride flier and posted it around campus. It also was emailed to Forest Park employees on Oct. 6, and faculty members were asked to encourage students to participate.
It was sunny on Oct. 16, but the temperature reached only around 60 degrees, and a consistently strong wind might have discouraged some from showing up at the campus meeting place, the parking lot behind G Tower.
Besides Orlando and fellow committee member Keith Hulsey, the only other participant was Tiffany Bush, a vice president in Student Affairs.
Hulsey, professor and program coordinator for English as a Second Language, said the timing with midterms might have discouraged turnout as well.
The threesome headed east down Oakland Avenue and rode through the tunnel across from St. Louis Science Center, a roundabout way to cross Interstate 64 to get to the park from campus.
Before 2008, an even quicker access was the pedestrian bridge near the college’s bus stop on Oakland. That overpass was demolished when the highway underwent major upgrades.
“The strong winds made it a bit of a challenge, so we kept to the lower terrain in Forest Park, enjoying some of the closed-off roads and outer bike path,” Hulsey said. “The trails and paths can get quite busy, especially on the start of the weekend, but the wind might have kept the crowds down a bit.”
The group logged a total of 8.5 miles.
“It sounds like a lot, but we took our time and got to chat a bit while riding,” Hulsey said.
The cyclists noticed a large smoke plume to the east from a warehouse fire that day on the near north side of St. Louis. They also witnessed a photo-shoot on the road near Forest Park’s Grand Basin, noted hints of fall color and saw The Muny show banners still flying, a reminder of a 2020 season canceled because of COVID-19.
Orlando provided the group’s mission statement: “This committee identifies community building and wellness needs of all Forest Park employees and students. The committee plans, implements and evaluates activities that are designed to build connections and recognition throughout the campus community for all employees and students. This committee will also develop activities to promote the physical, mental and emotional well being of all involved.”
“It’s my understanding that the other campuses already had a Wellness Committee that planned activities,” Orlando said. “We wanted to get Forest Park on board.”
At its monthly meeting on Oct. 21, the committee discussed additional goals that include:
- Finding an instructor to teach a meditation/mindfulness class in November, possibly on campus for a limited number of participants, and having the IT department stream sessions for those unable to attend.
- Starting a Walking Club that would get together three or four days a week at various times. Committee members would lead walks, preferably outside, depending on weather conditions, with people meeting in or just outside the Student Center lobby.
- Seeking a professional to present a session on dealing with stress and living in the isolated virtual world brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, facilitated through the college’s Employee Assistance Program.
More information on the Wellness Committee is available by emailing Orlando at lorlando4@stlcc.edu.