Delta Phi Epsilon put on ‘Mirrorless Monday’ as part of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders [ANAD] week starting March 23.
On Mirrorless Monday sorority members covered some of the bathroom mirrors on campus to help remind students to accept themselves and others as they are instead of judging from appearances.
Vice President of Programming for DPhiE, Alyson Schaffrick, said that every year the sorority dedicates a week during each semester to eating disorder awareness and promoting a positive body image in honor of their philanthropy ANAD. Schaffrick said Mirrorless Monday was the idea of the DPhiE philanthropy chairs Megan Pirtle and Sara Jane LaFleur.
LaFleur said the idea was a great start to ANAD week because it is a somewhat subtle way to get attention for the cause and can also make a positive impact on certain people who see it.
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“The point of Mirrorless Monday is to make people realize that their outer existence does not matter and to accept themselves and others as they are. We did this by covering up some of the bathroom mirrors in the student center with information about Mirrorless Monday and ANAD week,” Schaffrick said.
Pirtle said that the event was all about loving yourself and not relying on your reflection to do so.
LaFleur said, “By covering the mirrors we are encouraging people to be good to themselves and their bodies, which is the main idea behind Mirrorless Monday as well as most of the other events we put on during the same week.”
“Something we really tried to focus on this year was not the idea of looking good or bashing the products of society that tell us how to look, rather we tried focusing on what makes you feel good about yourself and becoming more comfortable and confident in your own body and with your own self,” Pirtle said.
Schaffrick said that, in addition to Mirrorless Monday, they also put on other events and activities throughout ANAD week to help students love who they are.
“We also put on a benefit concert Monday night, gave out free hot chocolate on Toasty Tuesday saying ‘you’re hotter than this hot chocolate,’ Women Crush Wednesday for inspirational women who make a positive impact on society, Trash Your Insecurities Thursday where people wrote something they don’t like about themselves and throw it out and Feel Good Friday where people wrote down something that they love about themselves,” Schaffrick said.
LaFleur added, “Although ANAD week happens twice per year, we are always mixing up the activities and events we put on. We find that we continue the events that get a positive reaction and raise the most money.” LaFleur said that the overall goal for such events, activities and ANAD week as a whole is to spread awareness for self-love and love for others, especially when it comes to the differences that can often be insecurities.
“Since ANAD week is all about raising awareness, we felt that Mirrorless Monday was a good place to start since a lot of people can relate to it,” LaFleur said.
Pirtle added that Mirrorless Monday and ANAD week as a whole aims to help encourage students to not only love themselves, but spread that love onto others as well.
“We hope that students will become more aware and comfortable with themselves,” Pirtle said.
“In addition to encouraging students, I also hope that ANAD week raises more money for our sorority, we are at almost $800 so far for this semester, and continues to paint Fraternity and Sorority life in a positive light since our philanthropies are such a major part of our creed,” LaFleur said.
Brogan Wessell can be contacted at bwessell@kscequinox.com
