The Panhellenic Council at Keene State College hosted their Day of Clarity event in the Student Center on Wednesday, Nov. 30. Students were invited to join in a variety of activities, from pillow making to hot chocolate stations. Abbie Jordan, a member Delta Phi Epsilon (DPhiE), explained that the goal of the event was to get students out and about.
“We want students to get out of their rooms, not just crammed for hours and hours studying, especially as finals come around the corner,” she said.
However, the event was not designed only to distract students temporarily from their stresses, but also to bring awareness to mental health and its importance. When asked about her motivation to join in on the event, Jordan admitted she was in it for the crafts. “I honestly just brought my friend here because she wanted to come, but then I saw I could make a pillow, and I’m a fiend for crafts,” she said. This opinion seemed to be shared by a lot of the students in attendance, as those walking past were lured in by felt and colors.
At the first event table upon entering, Ashlyn Labrecque sat behind a table covered in stickers and bright pieces of scrap paper, asking students to share what mental health means to them. Tavares, as the Executive Vice President of Panhellenic Council, was responsible for overseeing the Day of Clarity event. When asked about the importance of this event, she shared an insight that is frequently overlooked in her mind. “A lot of people live here, and this is their home away from home, but all they think about is school,” she explained. “We want to host events that help students pull away from that mindset a bit.”
This Day of Clarity had been planned for a few weeks previous, but was unable to happen due to scheduling conflicts. However, this event is a very important part of Greek Life, so it was moved to a later date. Tavares explained the history behind such a day, sharing, “It’s tradition for my position to host this event, so it’s been going on for years. It meant a lot to me going into it, and I’ve been super excited the whole time planning it.”
The message of Day of Clarity speaks to Tavares’ personal experience as well. “I’ve definitely struggled myself with mental health, and having that support that I needed to get help. That’s why it’s so important to me, because I want other people to feel that support, too,” she said.
The event drew in students from left and right, catching the eye of passersby as they headed into Lloyd’s or walked through the student center on the way to or from a class. At each table lining the atrium, a different craft resided. Tables for a hot chocolate bar, air plants, and pillows were full of supplies to support any student willing to give them a try.
Tavares shared that the turnout was more than they could have hoped for and rewarded the stress leading up to the event. “Planning is always hard so I’ve been scrambling over Thanksgiving break, trying to get everything in on time and stuff, but it’s really nice to see it all work out,” she said.
Erin Plummer can be contacted
at eplummer@kscequinox.com
