Health and Wellness

To highlight Lawrence’s commitment to helping mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the University has joined the Be Safe Wisconsin initiative.

This group of regional organizations, including Thedacare, Ascension, Fox Valley Technical College, United Way Fox Cities, Feeding America, and others, is dedicated to amplifying the importance of a sustained commitment to safe behaviors to fight this virus. Behaviors include:

• Staying home as much as possible and practicing good hygiene, including hand washing and sanitizing.
• Avoiding touching your face.
• Disinfecting frequently used items and surfaces, including mobile devices.
• Remaining 6 feet apart from others and wearing a mask or face covering if you must absolutely go out.

One of the easiest ways you can support this initiative it to take the Be Safe Wisconsin pledge to show your family, friends and neighbors that you are committed to helping the fight against COVID-19.

Visit the Be Safe Wisconsin website to learn more about the organization, explore resources, and pledge to be a leader in the fight against COVID-19. 

Dear Lawrentians, 

More than a month since Lawrence announced it was moving to remote learning and nearly three weeks into this unprecedented spring term, we write today to share some good news: our efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 are working!  

Thanks to Wisconsin’s Safer at Home order and our individual commitments to physical distancing, our state has seen a decrease in the exponential growth in the number of COVID-19 cases since the order was put into place on March 25. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), the rate of infections doubling moved from 3.4 days in early March to approximately 12 days at this time. In addition, the model created by the DHS projected Wisconsin having between 440 and 1,500 deaths from the 22,000 COVID-19 infections by April 8. As of April 21, 242 individuals have passed away in our state. Every death from this virus is one too many, but our efforts to flatten the curve through physical distancing shows that at least 200 lives, and perhaps as many as 1,400 lives, have been saved. 

Thanks to this news, Governor Evers announced on Monday a plan to safely reopen Wisconsin. Called Badger Bounce Back, the plan outlines a phased reopening of our state, guided by data and an ongoing commitment to continue to limit physical contact between people. As the new plan states, “the challenge is that all of us who have remained safe at home can still become ill if we move too quickly or act without an achievable plan in place.” It is imperative that we continue our collective work to flatten the curve.  

To highlight Lawrence’s commitment to helping mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the University has joined the Be Safe Wisconsin initiative. This group of regional organizations, including Thedacare, Ascension, United Way Fox Cities, Feeding America, and others, is dedicated to amplifying the importance of a sustained commitment to safe behaviors to fight this virus. Visit the Be Safe Wisconsin website to learn more about the organization, explore resources, and pledge to be a leader in the fight against COVID-19. 

As there are no medications or vaccines to protect us from COVID-19 yet, please continue to: 

• Maintain at least six feet between you and another individual.
• All individuals working at Lawrence campus are required to wear masks when they are outside or in public areas. If you need a mask please contact your supervisor.
• Avoid public transportation whenever possible.
• Limit non-essential travel.
• Limit social gatherings and avoid crowded venues.
• Practice good hygiene, disinfect surfaces you touch, and avoid touching your face. 

All of these actions are necessary to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Please also stay in touch over the phone with your family, friends, and fellow Lawrentians as much as possible. Contact us in Wellness Services, reach out to your personal physicians, or take advantage of the employee EAP benefit program if you need any physical or mental health support. More resources are available on the COVID-19 News blog. Please also continue to read the LU Insider, follow Lawrence’s social media channels, and take advantage of community outreach efforts when possible. 

Again, thank you all for your support, resilience, and patience as we weather this unprecedented global emergency. Continue to take care of yourselves and each other.  

Sincerely,
Rich & Jill 

Richard L. Jazdzewski, Psy.D., LP
Associate Dean for Wellness Services 

Jillian Drier
Director of Health Services
Campus Nurse

Its On Us is a week centered around action, unity, and support for victims of sexual assault and considering action to prevent sexual violence.

Wearing teal signifies awareness and support of the statement “its on us to prevent sexual assault and support survivors.” Help turn campus teal this Friday. There are ribbons around campus if you don’t have teal.

There is still time to enter the drawing for a teal scarf or t-shirt. Look for tickets in your employee mailbox or at the Saturday basketball games and Sunday concert.

Its On Us is a week centered around action, unity, and support for victims of sexual assault.

This week (Feb. 3rd-9th) SAASHA and SHARE are providing YOU with a free raffle ticket that you can put into a drawing to win a teal scarf this week!

Wearing teal signifies awareness and support of the statement “its on us to prevent sexual assault and support survivors.”

If you decide to enter the raffle the drawing will be held Feb. 5th and all of campus will be asked to wear teal on Feb. 7th. 

Look for activities throughout the week.

Thank you for your support! ~SAASHA/SHARE

Stay well during winter!

• WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY
• Cover your cough or sneeze
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
• Maintain good sleep habits
• Eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of fluids
• Get an annual flu shot

If you’re interested in getting a flu shot, you can go to Wellness Services Monday-Friday, 9:30-11:30am and 1-4pm, or contact health.services@lawrence.edu. No appointments are necessary.

• Avoid close contact with others who are sick

*If you have flu-like symptoms, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without fever-reducing medicine (Ibuprofen, Advil, Tylenol)

WELLU is pleased to offer subsidized full-body therapeutic massage services for winter term.

Sign up begins Jan. 6th for all students, staff and faculty.

Appointments are available for 50 minutes and cost $25.

Massages are available at the YMCA or on campus.

Students, staff and faculty must sign up to be eligible to schedule an appointment by contacting Erin Buenzli or 920-832-7190. Space is limited so sign up today. Limit one per term.

Wellness Center December Hours:
December 2- December 13 8am-9pm M-Th, 8am-7pm Fridays

December 16-19 8am-4pm, Closed Dec. 20-Jan. 5

Free December YMCA memberships available to all employees. Sign up at the YMCA Member Services if you want to join the YMCA from November 30 – December 31. Spouses can also join the YMCA in December for $30. Try out yoga or any new classes that are free to members, just drop in.

The National Institute of Health’s All of Us Research Program will be gathering genetic and health data from participants from 1–6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, and 8 a.m. to noon Thursday, Nov. 14, in Lawrence University’s Warch Campus Center. Those who decide to take part will be paid $25 for their time and information.

The All of Us Research Program aims to provide insight into the reasons people get sick or stay healthy and to advance healthcare that is based on each individual. In order to achieve this, participants will be asked about their health, family, home, work and the area in which they live. They may also be asked to give a blood (or saliva) and urine sample. All of Us hopes to gather data from at least one million people altogether.

Participants will be asked to complete five steps to be involved in the program. The first four are relatively simple steps that can be completed online before the event if desired: create an account, give consent, decide whether to share electronic health record, and answer three general health surveys. The final step must be completed in person as participants will submit a blood/saliva sample and a urine sample, and physical measurements will be taken.

Following the event, participants may be asked to complete follow-up surveys and will have access to any studies or test results using their contributions.