Therapy dogs are here to stay, and they can now visit twice a month, offering different times and days to see the stress relieving pups.
In the latest Student Government Association’s (SGA) meeting held on Jan. 31, Director of Student Health and Wellness Cassandra Moffat came and discussed recent updates and revisited previous issues discussed with the group including the request to have the therapy dogs visit more frequently.

“Campus Canines are now visiting two times in February, two times in March, and two times in April,” said Moffat. “Some of the days will be on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m, and others will be on Fridays from 1 p.m to 2 p.m. The ones on Thursdays will have three dogs, and the ones on Fridays will have two.”

Along with the announcement of Campus Canines making a return to Point Park, other topics and issues were revisited such as; the need for including biographies about each counselor available to students for services, events to talk about stress harassment and catcalling, eating disorder awareness, therapy and support options over summer break, making the counseling center more known to incoming students, student art contest to display art in the counseling center and finals week distressing events.

“The counseling center has a lot of exciting events coming up,” said Moffat. “In April, we want to host a catcalling and harassment awareness event. If the weather is nice, we want to have an event where students cover the sidewalks in things they have been called on the streets after hearing presentations from outside sources.”

Vice President of SGA Kendra Summers, also urged senators to “get rid of” any previous beliefs on the counseling center, as it is under new administration.

“If you have had a negative experience with the counseling center in the past, do not let that carry over this year,” said Summers. “I know it can be hard and things have happened before this administration, but the new one does not perpetuate any of the things we as a student body went through with the last counseling center. ”

Following Campus Canines, there are new events that will be hosted by the counseling center, including informative sessions on eating disorders in the time for Eating Disorder Awareness Week after spring break, stress reliving events and an event displaying student art submissions pertaining to mental health. The center is working with the Campus Activities Board (CAB) and Student Activities, Involvement and Leadership (SAIL) to get art supplies for students. More details on these events are to follow.

In addition to upcoming events, SGA will be holding a speed dating event on Feb. 10 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., with the location to be announced soon. Along with the speed dating event, the SGA will also be hosting a basketball game booth at the Condom Carnival on Feb. 15 from 9 a.m to 11 a.m. on the fifth floor of the Student Center.

The Bison Exchange, a clothes donation center and thrifting shop, was approved to be run under Horned Groundhog, taking the responsibility off of SGA. One new club was approved this week, which is called The Forward Party. Two representatives from the group attended the meeting.

“We hope to bring politically diverse students together,” said representative Carsen Brunn. “We want to talk about political issues, from things in the media to things on campus, and bring them to SGA and hopefully get addressed and resolved.”