BEN DAVIDOFF

Undecided freshman Nabela Zebrowski watches an instructional video on sports facilitating with a roomful of students in the UA Recreational Center last night. As a UA Sports Assistant, Zebrowski joined other instructors in teaching students how to be sports officials for UA intramurals.

Wednesday August 29, 2001 |

In a university environment, it seems broke college students would be vying for free services and opportunities around campus.

However, university officials say few students know about interesting opportunities such as gaining access to the telescope at Steward Observatory, counseling for everything from anxiety to drug dependency, self-defense classes and training to referee intramural games.

And the best part - all of these services are available for free.

One such opportunity is a lecture series at Steward Observatory.

The series gives students and faculty an opportunity to peer through a telescope usually reserved for students and faculty in specific UA courses, Diaz-Silva said.

"Event Horizon at the Center of the Galaxy," presented by Fulvio Melia, associate head of the department of physics, is an astronomy lecture series. It begins with a presentation on black holes September 10 at 7:30 p.m., said Catalina Diaz-Silva, administrative assistant for Steward Observatory.

The lecture series is a high-energy, astrophysics description of a black hole in the center of the galaxy, said associate astronomer Thomas Fleming.

The free event will be the first lecture of the series held in room N210 of the observatory at 933 N. Cherry Ave.

Weather permitting, those attending the lecture will be allowed to look at the night sky through the observatory's 21-inch telescope following the lecture.

The series will continue with lectures on Sept. 24, Oct. 11 and Oct. 22 at the same time and location.

After looking at the stars, students can continue to learn about harmful effects of the sun at a skin cancer screening in September.

The screening will be available Sept. 28 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the second floor in Old Main, said Melissa McGee, coordinator of harm and risk reduction for Health Promotion and Preventative Services.

"I think we tend to be a unit in general that students don't really know what we do," McGee said.

Another health related, free resource is the Health Promotion and Preventative Services office. It provides a resource for resident assistants, faculty, students and student groups that want to schedule health promotion presentations dealing with issues such as nutrition and drug and alcohol awareness, McGee said.

The office will have food samples and information on how to find nutritional meals at UA on the mall Sept. 5, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., McGee said.

Other free events involve mental health, like simply hanging out on the UA Mall.

Groovin' on the Grass is a series featuring local bands that play periodically from noon to 1 p.m. on the Mall's stage.

D*Frost, will play Sept. 6, said J.J. Kruglick, director of UABconcert. Honey Tongue will play Sept. 11.

Students looking for a friendly ear, or just stress relief, can head to Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at the Campus Health Center.

Anxiety management, graduate student issues and addiction recovery are some of the issues addressed in group courses, said Helen Gaus, a CAPS staff member.

Though there no fee is involved, students interested in CAPS should call to notify the staff that they will be attending. They should also notify staff it they want to take a preliminary evaluation, Gaus said.

Addiction recovery meets every Wednesday from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. Anxiety management meets Tuesdays from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. Graduates student strategies for success meets on Tuesdays from 1:15 to 2:30 p.m.

On another self-improvement note, self-defense classes presented by the Women's Resource Center will resume this fall, said WRC director Sarah Whicker.

The center, located on the third floor of the Memorial Student Union Center, welcomes all women on campus to participate in these classes.

Athletically-minded students can get their fill of intramural sports on the field - without actually playing - at the Student Recreation Center, 1400 E. Sixth St.

Courses in officiating "speed soccer," volleyball, softball, floor hockey and flag football will be offered this year, said Juliette Moore, director of campus recreation.

"We'll actually teach them how to be an official," Moore said. "We always need officials."

The center often hires the officials it trains, Moore said.

Twenty-seven students are taking the flag football officiating course, and 16 students are taking the speed soccer course, said Emile Nicolaou, student program coordinator for special events.

The speed soccer officiating clinic meets Sept. 5 at the SRC from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The flag football officiating clinic meets tonight from 7 to 9:30 p.m.

Students planning to attend the meetings should first register with the intramural office at 626-3396.