• Advocate for the services the university has to offer for students as well as provide mental health training to students when they enter as freshmen. There are various services that address responsible alcohol usage and campus safety through AlcoholEdu and bystander training, but none address the issue of mental health. If elected to the board, we will work to implement such a program which informs students of the significance of the issue and its prevalence, particularly since there have been several high profile incidents in recent memory.

 

• Work with the Title IX office to continue the fight against sexual violence and sexual misconduct. Too many cases of sexual violence go unreported due to the stigma associated with reporting such incidences. We will strive to foster a more supportive environment, both at our student health center and throughout our campus at large.

 

• Introduce mental health resources to first year students more effectively. There is a mental health crisis facing America’s college students. Research conducted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness shows that 1 in 4 students have a diagnosable mental illness, while 40% of students did not access mental health services and supports on campus. We seek to develop a Mental Health Awareness seminar for all incoming freshmen and make them familiar with the resources Pitt has for them.

 

• Along with this, we seek to improve mental health training for all RAs. By partnering with Residence Life and RSA, we want to implement Kognito, a web based simulation that guides students through mental health training. By utilizing technology as the driving force in mental health education we believe our RAs will be more equipped to handle difficult situations with residents. Kognito is an evidence-based online program meant to improve emotional wellness and safety on campus. Kognito is a simulation that utilizes emotionally responsive, virtual humans in a gaming environment. The program is designed to teach participants how to recognize signs of psychological distress in a fellow student and allows them to practice, through role-play conversations, how to approach at-risk students, how to discuss their concerns, and how to connect them with resources on and off campus.

 

• To ensure the most comfortable environment for students, the health center should offer free STD testing. Charging these tests to insurance has hindered students from ensuring they are maintaining proper examinations. Students should have access to additional resources including counseling, free testing, and easier access to contraceptives.

 

• We would like to reform safety protocol for students living in Oakland. Students are exposed to a number of dangerous situations while walking back from campus. We will first encourage students to download the Companion App for walking, especially at night. Once in use we then will work with administration, as well as the Pitt Police, to create our own App to enhance safety for all Pitt students. 

      Additionally, we plan to make SafeRider more accessible and decrease wait times.