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| Panhellenic Task Force, SURE battle
eating disorders |
by Jennifer Schneider
Staff Writer
Sisters United Raising Esteem will host “Fat Like Me”
Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. in the Price Lake Room of Plemmons Student Union.
“The program is our first event and we hope it will lead to
many others in the future,” sophomore marketing major Carey
Mummaw said.
“We want the participants to know how to be more sensitive
to themselves and to others,” university psychologist Dr.
Denise M. Lovin said.
The group will show a recent television special called “Fat
Like Me” and then give participants time to reflect.
“The video to be shown will inform the viewers of different
issues faced by women and the seriousness of health and other risks
involved in eating disorders and negative self-image in general,”
Mummaw said.
Attendees will be given the opportunity to reflect on times they
have promoted unhealthy stereotypes and learn how to confront discriminatory
friends.
“I hope people walk away more educated,” senior public
relations major Anna M. Blankenship said.
“One in four women suffers from an eating disorder,”
Lovin said. “Some groups have a higher risk such as athletic
teams like gymnastics and also sororities. With so many girls together
there is obvious competition with body image.”
Lovin and Trisha Turner came together to form a group known as the
Panhellenic Task Force on Eating Disorders, committed to educating
sorority women on the prevention and treatment of eating disorders.
According to their mission statement, they try to increase awareness
of the recovery resources available on campus, promote health attitudes
about self and body image and increase the understanding of unhealthy
body images.
Through PTFED, SURE, a group of 35 women that includes at least
two girls from each sorority on campus, meet once a month to talk
about problems and what they think can change.
“We are also trying to bring fraternities in because they
usually do not realize how comments they make can affect women,”
Blankenship said.
“We are trying to work on ways women interact with each other,”
Lovin said.
“SURE helps promote positive self-esteem and self worth, raises
awareness and informs others of the issues faced by women today.
Most importantly, it creates a support system to help women facing
these and other similar health problems,” Mummaw said.
The group is devoted to making changes and getting out of the habit
of being so critical about body image.
“At our first meeting we had to go around the room and say
one attractive thing about ourselves and one about the girl sitting
next to us,” Blankenship said. “It was amazing how much
easier it was to find something I liked about the other person than
something I liked about myself.”
The girls involved in the SURE program then create a resource center
for their sorority for anyone looking for more information on eating
disorders.
“I have enjoyed working with the sisters in this organization.
It has already been a blessing to many of its members and we have
shared its benefits and information within our other organizations.
We look forward to reaching out to all of the women on campus,”
Mummaw said.
“I want people to know that just because sororities started
the program we are not bound to the Greek system. We are a group
of sorority women but we come together to help all women on campus,”
Blankenship said.
Anyone interested in more information about eating disorders or
SURE should visit the campus counseling center.
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