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Health Fair offers students information on health care options

UA and Tucson groups connect with about 400 students

Students had the opportunity yesterday to find out where they can get help if they are feeling stressed, craving a cigarette or if they simply want a condom.

The Student Health Advisory Committee held its annual Health Fair for Students on the UA Mall from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The committee, in its 15th year as an ASUA recognized organization, is comprised of 12 registered members.

"About 75 percent of this year's members are pre-med majors, while the rest are of various majors," said director John Whitecap.

The fair's primary goal was to showcase the various health options available on campus, as well as those within the community. He estimated the group will talk to nearly 400 students during the day.

Whitehead, a microbiology senior, said the committee is the only University of Arizona student organization based entirely on campus health.

The group acts as advisors for the Arizona Board of Regents on issues regarding on-campus health insurance and health care options for students.

The social services featured at the fair were the American Red Cross, Planned Parenthood of Southern Arizona, Campus Recreation, Wingspan (The Tucson Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Community Center), Family Planning, Alcoholics Anonymous, CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services) and the OASIS center for sexual assault and relationship violence, as well as information on general services available at Campus Health.

All featured organizations had literature available about their services, while Campus Recreation was offering free body fat composition testing and Planned Parenthood gave away condoms free of charge.

A spokesman for the Tucson chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous, who identified himself as Guy K., said his primary reason for participating in the fair was to raise awareness of the availability of AA meetings.

"There are about 450 meetings a week in Tucson, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and midnight on the weekends," he said. "There is also a meeting at noon at the Catholic Newman Center on campus everyday."