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Nov/Dec 2013 SpelmanPaper@gmail.com
The BluePrint «•
PRESIDENTIAL Corner
Why Moving More Matters
By: Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, Spelman College President
Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum
November 1, 2013 marked the first
anniversary of the official launch of the
Wellness Revolution at Spelman. It was a
year ago that we announced our withdrawal
from NCAA Division III and our intention to
invest in a campus-wide wellness initiative,
one that would encourage students and
employees to “eat better, move more, and
sleep well.” Why did we call it the Wellness
Revolution? Because we know that if
Spelman women learn about and embrace
these core elements of good health, not
only will they benefit, but they will spread
the news to others, just as the first Spelman
graduates used their education to spread
literacy in their communities - and that
indeed would result in transformational
impact.
Our goal is not for everyone to achieve
some ideal weight or body size; instead,
it is to achieve and maintain good health
for a long and productive lifetime. Weight
loss is nice but not always necessary for
good health; what is required is to move!
When we are sedentary (and according
to a study by the National Institutes of
Health, Black women are among the most
sedentary women in the nation), we place
our health at risk, increasing the likelihood
of developing diseases like high blood
pressure, heart disease, Type II diabetes,
and breast cancer , just to name a few.
Surprisingly, public health researchers now
tell us that being sedentary is even more
dangerous to your health than smoking!
For more information about that, check out
the YouTube video, “23 Vz Hours.”
Is the Wellness Revolution taking hold
at Spelman? It looks that way to me. It
is encouraging to see that the number of
students participating in Wellness programs
is increasing daily, and I appreciate the
e-mails I have received from students who
tell me about the changes they are making
to improve their own health. If you are
wondering how to start, keep it simple and
do one thing - find 30 minutes in your day
to take a brisk walk around the campus.
Harvard Medical School psychiatrist and
researcher Dr. John Ratey, author of
Spark: The Revolutionary New Science
of Exercise and the Brain, documents
studies that show 30 minutes of brisk
activity a day will not just burn some
calories; more importantly, it will reduce
stress, anxiety, and can even reduce the
symptoms of depression. Cardiovascular
exercise (whether it is walking, running or
doing Zumba) will not only improve the
condition of your heart and lungs, it will
also turbocharge your brain. Post-exercise
brain scans show that critical areas of the
brain are activated, improving your ability
to focus attention, process and remember
information. To quote Dr. Ratey , “Exercise
is the single best thing you can do for
your brain in terms of mood, memory, and
learning.” It is one reason I almost always
start my day with exercise. I want that
extra brain power! With just a few weeks
left before final exams, now might be a
good time to test that strategy yourself.
There are so many good reasons to
make daily exercise a part of your life, and
so many creative ways to do it - in Read
Hall, on the Oval, or even up and down
the stairs in your residence hall. So, what
are you waiting for? Join the Wellness
Revolution today!
ABOUT
Chief Editors
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Ayanna Runcie, Managing Editor
Jasmine Ellis, Associate Editor
Raquel Rainey, Copy Editor
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Danyelle Carter, Public Relations Manager
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Section Editors
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Tyler Lee, Business & Finance
Taylor Curry, Food & Drink
Adrian Thomas, Opinions
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Lydia Hayes, Health & Wellness
Thanks to all of our contributing,
staff, and featured writers.
The BuuePrint^ Mission Statment
It is the mission of The BluePrint to serve as a profound forum that fortifies
understanding, unity, and advocacy throughout the Spelman and greater
AUC community. The BluePrint strives to produce innovative, fair, and
creative journalism that helps its readers understand the nation and world
through the lens of African-American and Black Women.
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