Rochester students are playing a critical role as advocates in helping their peers limit the spread of COVID-19 in campus spaces. Read more in Today’s Updates about these public health ambassadors and how they’re helping raise awareness about safety precautions during the pandemic.
Also in today’s issue:
A new brain aging research center will study the relationship between emotional well-being and dementia-related diseases
University researchers have developed an optical coating that exhibits the same color in reflection and transmission
Drop-in counseling groups are available for students
Since Thursday’s notice in @Rochester, there are four new cases of COVID-19 to report: four River Campus students. Please note that the University’s COVID-19 Dashboard is updated daily. Whenever a new case is known, the contact-tracing process begins immediately with confirmed exposures being contacted and required to quarantine.
It’s extremely important for the health of the University community that individuals continue to adhere to the face masking and social distancing protocols. Even as some individuals are now receiving their first or second dose of the vaccine, these practices to prevent the transmission of the virus cannot be relaxed.
If you think you’re experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, it’s important to report them through Dr. Chat Bot immediately. Even if you think your symptoms might be something else—like a cold, seasonal congestion, or allergies—it’s still important to tell University health professionals and contact tracers what you’re experiencing.
The Medical Center is launching a new center to study the relationship between emotional well-being and dementia-related diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease. The Network for Emotional Well-Being and Brain Aging is a collaboration among researchers from the School of Nursing, the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, the Department of Psychiatry, the UR Aging Institute, and colleagues at universities across the country. It is one of five networks funded by the National Institutes of Health to examine the topic from different angles.
Students serve as public health ambassadors to reinforce pandemic safety measures
University flags will be lowered Thursday, February 18, for Lanny Hunsinger, a systems balance mechanic in University Facilities and Services, River Campus Operations, who died on January 22. Hunsinger joined the University in 2006.
Counseling Center hosts groups to help students process effects of systemic racism and injustices
Our Healing Breath, a drop-in group for students of color, takes place today, Friday, February 5, at 3 p.m. EST via Zoom. Healing and Dialogue, a drop-in group for all students, also takes place today at 4 p.m. EST via Zoom. Both groups are open to all full-time students.
Get involved and explore your passions
Attend the spring virtual Activities Fair on CCC to learn about new clubs and connect with fellow Yellowjackets. Spanning three days, the fair provides opportunities to engage with over 280 student organizations through virtual booths, chats, and interactive experiences. Open to undergraduates in Arts, Sciences & Engineering and at the Eastman School of Music, the fair takes place today, Friday, February 5, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. EST; Saturday, February 6, from noon to 1:30 p.m. EST; and Sunday, February 7, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. EST.
Celebrate Winterfest Weekend
Grab a cup of cocoa and warm up during the first Community Weekend of the spring semester today, February 5, through Sunday, February 7. Open to undergraduates in Arts, Sciences & Engineering and at the Eastman School of Music, Winterfest is a Rochester Tradition filled with events and activities that savor the chilly weather. Grab a plant for your room, make s’mores over firepits, play virtual bingo, pick up a free giveaway, meet Trevor Noah during a live Q&A, and more. Check out the full schedule of events on the Winterfest website and register for events on CCC.
Education Abroad information session
Join a virtual information session with the Center for Education Abroad on Tuesday, February 9, at 3 p.m. EST to learn about opportunities for international study, internships, research, and service-learning. The session, which is geared toward undergraduates, will include information about choosing a program, scholarships, and transferring credit. Register to attend here. Graduate students are welcome to attend the session; to take part in the program, they would have to meet with their respective advisors and schools.
Register to attend “The History of Racism in Psychiatry,” a webinar hosted by the Department of Psychiatry, on Friday, February 5, at noon EST. The discussion will include the origins, as well as the perpetuation, of racism in the field of psychiatry and how these ideas were used by the medical community to justify acts of slavery and medical experimentation on minorities. Learn more here.
New year, peaceful you
Learn the skills to cultivate more peace within during a four-week meditation class. Participants will learn two new meditation techniques each week, engage in a short daily(ish) practice, and bring more mindfulness and gratitude to their lives. The class, part of the Mindful University Project, is offered on Mondays from 9 to 10:15 a.m. EST via Zoom starting February 8, and Tuesdays from 8 to 9:15 a.m. EST via Zoom starting February 9, and is open to all students, faculty, and staff. Registration is required.
Are you feeding your baby formula?
A new study by Bridget Young, an assistant professor of pediatrics and of public health sciences, is investigating how different types of carbohydrates in baby formula affect infant health. The research group is looking to study infants between 3 and 6 months old that have been exclusively consuming specific baby formulas for at least three months. Participation involves one visit, either at your home or at the University. Compensation is provided. Learn more about the study, find the list of formulas, and complete an eligibility survey here.
Catholic Newman Community weekly mass schedule
The Catholic Newman Community offers a weekly schedule of masses and prayer groups. All events take place at the Interfaith Chapel on River Campus unless otherwise noted; streaming options are also included in the calendar.
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