What are you grateful for today? Did you know that practicing gratitude can improve our mental health and relationships with others? Shift your mind from the next lecture, patient, midterm or practical, and take a moment (right now!) to have one grateful thought. It will brighten your day. For more tips on practicing gratitude, visit https://www.mindful.org/an-introduction-to-mindful-gratitude/.

With the clinic move upon us, we are now actively moving out of Starling-Loving Hall and the Fry Bridge. After Wednesday, November 25 (the day before Thanksgiving Break begins), you will no longer have access to these buildings as the university is beginning the prep work necessary for the demolition of these buildings. This is, of course, necessary to make space for the new Interdisciplinary Health Sciences building where our classrooms and student study/recreational space will be located in the future.

On Monday, October 26, you received an e-mail from Jen Bennett with a move-out timeline as well as the impact on mailboxes, lockers, and student/classroom space. Please read this message carefully, as you will need to have your lockers and mailboxes cleaned out prior to Thanksgiving Break.

Sitting in front of a screen for extended periods can be hard on our bodies and minds! Take a 10-minute break between lectures or meetings while you try the stretches at the links below!

• Mayo Clinic Desk Stretches Video Series https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/office-stretches/art-20046041
• Relaxing Stretching Workout for Stiff Muscles & Stress Relief – Easy Stretches to Do at Work https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9WC_eLmP30
• Yoga at your Desk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAUf7aajBWE
• Spine Saver: Six Stretches for the Office https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/blog/desk-back-exercises

Ohio State’s Student Life Multicultural Center sponsors programming for Native American Heritage Month (NAHM), which celebrates and educates students, staff, faculty and allies about the diversity within over 574 tribal nations. There will be a variety of events including Alternative Thanksgiving, an event sponsored collaboratively between the Native American Indigenous Peoples Cohort (NAIPC) and Native American and Indigenous Student Initiatives (NAISI). Learn more at https://mcc.osu.edu/events-and-programs/heritage-and-awareness-months/native-and-indigenous-heritage-month/.

Starting Optometry school in the middle of a pandemic, being the first class to experience clinic exclusively in the new 11th and Neil building, and witnessing the demolition of Starling-Loving and the construction of the new interdisciplinary classrooms building are just a few of the exciting things the Class of 2024 will have a unique perspective on. We would love for two or three of you to join our current, fantastic bloggers and share your experience at Ohio State with prospective students. If you are interested, please email Becca Roby (roby.77@osu.edu).

The Office of Student Life’s Off-Campus and Commuter Student Services offers students free window and door alarms and light timers to increase your home security. Deterrence tools can play a big role in helping prevent crimes. Access to the devices is easy. Students fill out a simple form and arrange a time to pick up the devices at the Ohio Union. Learn more at https://offcampus.osu.edu/resources/safety/enhance-your-home-security/.

Jen Bennett, Shawn Gilbert, Candace Johnson and Becca Roby continue to work remotely until further notice, and we are available for all of your student service needs. You can reach us via e-mail or phone from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. We also can set up Zoom meetings if you would like to talk in person. Contact us with questions or if you just need to talk. Don’t know who to ask? Start here!

Jen Bennett, 614-292-2973, bennett.1075@osu.edu
Shawn Gilbert, 614-247-6426, gilbert.351@osu.edu
Candace Johnson, 614-292-4247, johnson.5380@osu.edu
Becca Roby, 614-292-0497, roby.77@osu.edu

Dean Zadnik, 614-580-7267
Dr. Earley, 614-519-6435
Dr. Nixon, 614-537-5367

Dr. Shawn Levstek continues to work remotely until further notice and remains available as a consultative resource. He offers initial meetings by phone with new clients and follow-up consultations via Zoom to new and existing clients, as needed, as long as normal operations are suspended. All students with questions or concerns can contact Dr. Levstek directly via e-mail at levstek.4@osu.edu. In addition, the university’s Counseling and Consultation Service (CCS) number, 614-292-5766, is available for crisis or urgent support, 24/7.

If you missed one of Dean Zadnik’s all-college Convergence meetings, you can view the recordings on our COVID-19 updates page at https://u.osu.edu/optcovid19/convergence-webinars/.