Respected health educator to face difficult decision

By Michael Moeschler

Laurie Lang, pioneer for many of the programs associated with the Wellness Center, could be out of a job next year, in part because of budget cuts made within the university.

Over the past ten years with the university, Lang has created and contributed to many of the programs associated with the Wellness Center. She began the interactive health fairs, facilitated the implementation of the EMT program, acquired an on campus nutritionist and directed the blood drives, which since 1997 has accumulated 1396 donations.

At the end of April, Lang was notified that her position would be eliminated in order to help accommodate the university administration balanced budget plan. Lang's position, as well as positions in Student Life and Orradre Library were among those that were subject to layoffs due to the University's ongoing two-year budget cuts.

Dean of Student Life Jeanne Rosenberger identified three variables used to determine the necessity of certain positions in the Student Life office and related these principles of assessment to the wellness center.

"In our reorganization of student life within the last 18 months we were looking at efficiency, effectiveness, and eliminating redundancy," said Rosenberger. "Those same three things can be applied to how we might deliver health education in the future."

The option for Lang to stay with the Wellness Center for one more year is unique in that if she chooses to remain with the university, many of the activities that she supervises would be taken out of her hands.

"There's a number of things that I do now that I wouldn't be doing next year," said Lang. "The health fair, the blood drive, coordinating the nutrition program with the dietitian, writing and editing the campus wellness newsletter, and coordinating the massage program."

Rosenberger acknowledged that the security of the health education position was identified as a problem this year, but that the health education program in its entirety was not.

"We will continue to have the Health and Wellness Center and health education," said Rosenberger. "In the changes for health education next year, and in no way to abandon the program, it's how we deliver the program in a different way than we're currently doing."

Instead, the focus of health education will shift away from one main director and more into the hands of the students. Rosenberger believes that the future of health education on campus rests within student interest and the residential learning communities. The Wellness Center will continue to remain the central resource for health information and education, but the new goal is that its messages will be accessible through various outlets.

"The focus is going to shift a little bit because we're going to have more students, eventually, living on campus," said Rosenberger. "The idea is if you have students who live in learning communities who are interested in health and wellness, they can benefit from the resources available in the Wellness Center and then take that back to their residential learning community."

While the idea of health education working alongside students and within the learning communities is a noble idea, Lang questioned the success of these plans.

"There's a dilemma if my position is eliminated," said Lang. "I'm getting mixed messages as to how concerned the university is about health and wellness."

Through her work, Lang has developed close relationships with many of the students of Santa Clara. Junior Jessica Green remembers the selflessness of Lang when she needed help writing an article about on campus health issues and eating disorders.

"She really cares about the students and her work here," Green said. "She was so willing to give me her time and her services for absolutely nothing. I wasn't giving her anything in return."

Lang is optimistic about the future of health education at the university. "Whether I'm here or someone else is here, I'm confident it [The Wellness Center] will serve the students well."

Lang added, "I'm a Catholic, and I believe things happen for a reason. Maybe this is for the best."