Spartan Daily - Serving San Jose State University since 1934

The Student Health Center handed out cold care packages to students. The packages contained samples of Robitussin-DM, Advil and a brochure educating students on the difference between a cold and the flu.

"We see hundreds of students from November to March for... upper respiratory illnesses," Kim said. "This year we've gone into April."

Students seeking advice on nutrition went to the next table.

Susan Sherer, a member of SJSU's Nutrition Education Action Team, was at the Health Fair to provide students with advice on healthy eating habits.

Students were also able to have their body composition measured - such as hydration and the levels of fat and lean mass - on the body fat spectrophotometer.

To measure a person's body composition, Sherer would put the machine's infrared beam to the inner bicep. The beam would then take the measurements.

Students could also find different informational brochures and pamphlets containing information on nutrition and exercise.

Sherer also showed students just how bad some foods could be by showing them lab tubes filled with fat from the different foods, such as mayonnaise and fast food hamburgers.

Only a few steps away, the Physical Therapy table was trying to persuade students to pay them a visit.

Rachel Vimont of the Student Health Center said that physical therapy deals with injuries, as well as muscle and skeletal disorders.

"We have a team approach that deals with the student, the aides and the physicians," Vimont said. "We can help with anything from a sprained ankle to muscle tension headaches."

Isaac Leong, a senior majoring in kinesiology, is a physical therapy aide at the Student Health Center and was helping at the table. He said that the center sees10 to 12 students a day.

Cliff Boey, also a senior majoring in kinesiology, was demonstrating The Fitter, a piece of multiuse fitness equipment.

He demonstrated some abdominal strengthening exercises and balancing exercises.

The Women's Resource Center was around the way, providing SJSU students with information about the services the center provides.

Erika Jackson, a senior majoring in anthropology and behavioral science, answered questions from students regarding the center.

She said there are a lot of students who do not know the center exists, and she wanted to promote awareness.

Counseling Services was right next door, letting students know they have a place to turn to when they need help with educational counseling.

"Students can speak to counselors there," said Kim Nguyen, a senior majoring in accounting and a representative for Counseling Services. "The counselors will help them with their problems."

Nguyen said there are 12 counselors and that services are free to students. Students can drop in or make an appointment to see someone.

A few feet away, the "Dr. Love" table was raising awareness about sexually transmitted diseases because April is STD Awareness Month.

Laurice Gonzales, a senior majoring in behavioral science, was playing "Dr. Love" and offering students peer advising.

Gonzales informed students about different STDs and answered any questions they had for her. She also provided students with information about the Gender and Sexual Health division of the Peer Health Education Program.

The Prevention Education Program table offered students information on alcohol abuse prevention and tips on drinking responsibly among peers. Information about sport enhancement drugs was also provided.

Maria Roche, a senior majoring in advertising, said that students are welcome to go to room 220 in the Health building for peer counseling for alcohol abuse.

According to the Core Survey, the national average for alcohol consumption by college students is 33 percent, Roche said.

The Prevention Education Program gave away keychains and pencils to raise awareness about the program.

A section for Asian Alternative Medicine was across the way.

The Jade Ribbon Campaign was there to promote the fight against hepatitis B and liver cancer. A panel presentation was held in the Almaden room to cover the diseases found in the Asian community.

The Cultures and Disease table displayed poster boards with information about particular diseases that affect different cultures. There was also a display explaining acupuncture, herbal medicine, moxibustion and yin-yang.

Next to them was one of the most popular tables of the afternoon. Students stopped to see

Edward Fong of Resonance Release Work for free massages.

Fong said a lot of students stopped at the table for a massage but would grow impatient and walk away if he was helping someone.

Students at SJSU complained to Fong about back and shoulder pains, he said. He explained that some of their problems were in the heavy backpacks they carried on their backs.

"Backpacks on wheels is the way to go," Fong said. "Heavy backpacks are the easiest way to hurt the back and shoulders."

While Fong's table was a hot spot, the blood drive in the Loma Prieta room brought in about 70 students. KSJS helped host the blood drive along with the American Red Cross.

SJSU students were enthusiastic about donating blood.

Jonathan Yani, an undeclared freshman, said he is a regular donor and that it was important for him to donate blood because he has the third rarest blood type, which is A/B positive.

Nick Fraracci, a freshman majoring in administration of justice, said he has donated blood at least a dozen times.

"I've been doing this for a couple of years," Fraracci said. "I do this because I like helping people in need."

It was not so easy for every student. Some had never donated blood before.

Steve Deagle, an undeclared freshman, was donating blood for the first time and said he was a little scared but that he knew it was for a good cause.

"I'm donating blood because I know that every time you donate blood, you save three lives," Deagle said.

Calhoun was pleased with student turnout at the Health Fair and that students really walked away with a lot of information.

"We want to make sure students are staying healthy and are aware of their bodies," she said. "A lot of it is about prevention and awareness."