There will be no one to go to for emergency condoms next year.
No one giving out aspirin for cramps and fevers, or ice packs for
random accidents. The Student Health Advocate Program is breathing
its last sighs this year, ladies and gentlemen.
“The SHA program is definitely ending this year,”
confirms SHA Durrain Haq, a third-year psychobiology student.
“The branch of the university that funds (it) is expanding
and they are cutting funds from it.”
I cannot believe that someone would even consider the removal of
something so beneficial to UCLA students. SHAs not only give basic
health care to Hill residents, but also provide counseling and
mentorship in everything from foot cramps to chemistry
homework.
For students living on the Hill, the disappearance of health
care and contraceptives is an issue of grave importance.
“I was shocked and disappointed when I heard the SHA
program was closing. I always go there for medicine. This will make
flu season so much worse because not having access to drugs (on the
floor) can make the situation more serious,” said second-year
English student Jojo Yang passionately.
The SHA on my floor during my freshman year was an immensely
beneficial resource to me and other brand-new Bruins. Ed Wu, now a
fourth-year business economics student, was helpful, outgoing and
genuinely cared about the welfare of his fellow students. Speaking
to several other SHAs this week, I realized that the end of this
program will become a final sentence for them as well as those they
serve.
“I am sad to hear of its closing. The members get to know
each other really well (because) we spend so much time together
training,” said SHA Michael Yim, a third-year physiological
sciences student.
He explained that, in order to become a SHA, students have to go
through an application and interview process, take a special class,
and receive training in peer counseling and basic health care.
I managed to get ahold of Tiffani Garnett, the SHA program
coordinator, as she was leaving her office. I learned that their
“department is going into a new direction to better align
(its) services with the mission and goals of Student
Development.” She continued by saying, “We want to help
students by fostering a supportive campus community.”
When asked to comment in response to the concern bubbling up on
the Hill, she replied, “There are other ways to access health
care. The Ashe Center has great services such as E-Nurse. Next
year, students can still go to Hilltop, and the Office of
Residential Life is equipped to facilitate access to critical
care.”
E-Nurse is an online facility that provides health care
information to UCLA students; basically, you can look up your
symptoms online and then dream of the cures.
As for critical care, it is assuring to know that heart attacks
and severed limbs will command due attention, but what about less
dramatic troubles?
Anyone who has been phlegm-ridden or flu-stricken in the
residence halls can tell you that just the thought of a trained
student nearby with cough syrup or painkillers is very
reassuring.
Straggling to Hilltop might invoke slight bouts of resentment,
but I predict that scheduling illnesses around the hours of the
Arthur Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center will be the most
difficult task for Hill residents next year. Moreover, I am not
sure how potent E-Nurse will be in handing out ice packs or
hangover medication.
“After first quarter, the (SHA) encounters go down.
Students learn to take care of themselves,” remarked Garnett,
speaking of the resilience of the student body.
I suppose it is possible that her department truly has the
students’ best interests at heart, but they may have
underestimated the value of the program.
“There are so many people coming to us all throughout the
year for basic needs. We do everything from taking their
temperatures to bandaging their wounds. The Ashe Center isn’t
even open during the weekends. This is something so useful,
something you need,” exclaimed SHA Christopher Wang, a
third-year economics student who frowned at the thought of a
SHA-less UCLA.
Granted, all hell probably will not break loose next year
because of the disappearance of the SHAs and students will likely
learn to adapt quickly (we did make a nonviolent transition from $1
to $1.25 at Diddy Riese), but it is disappointing.
I don’t want to adopt the role of the idealistic
revolutionary on you by suggesting that we sew some sort of
tear-drenched flag and jump into the trenches for the SHA
program.
But maybe sending some appreciative notes to the SHAs and some
less-than-loving notes to the machine will help us rage against
it.
E-mail Joshi at rjoshi@media.ucla.edu if you really want to
meet E-Nurse. For general comments e-mail
viewpoint@media.ucla.edu.