2008 Woodie Awards
New Counseling Center director brings improvements to campus
Aria Walfrand
Issue date: 9/20/07 Section: News
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This year at Union brings more than just new textbooks and students. Following Don Spring's retirement last term, Marcus Hotaling has taken over as the new director for the Counseling Center.
The Counseling Center, located on the 3rd floor of Silliman Hall, provides counseling services to any student at no cost. Students are encouraged to visit the center and utilize its services at any time.
Hotaling is working hard to bring a new energy to the center and to be proactive in advertising the center.
Outreach seems to have been a main theme and will continue to be a main goal of Hotaling's. There are brochures regarding the center in upper-class dining hall, West dining hall, and will soon be found in College Park Hall. Additionally, Hotaling hopes to advertise in the Concordiensis and on the college television station.
Currently, the Counseling Center is paired with the student-run group, Active Minds, to "reduce stigma around mental health in college students."
"Sometimes friends aren't the people who you want to talk to," remarked Hotaling.
"[Hotaling] has been so much more visible on campus," says Joe Martel, a senior and head RA of West College.
Martel says the old center "was distant. They built up the stigma." Martel is also excited that Hotaling has set up a system, where the RAs can call the center at night-or anytime they need-if they need advice or assistance on how to best handle difficult situations.
The staff involved with the hiring of Hotaling seemed to be right on the mark in choosing the new director.
Dean of Students Patricia Williams, who served on the search committee that eventually hired Hotaling, said, "Marcus stood out because of his energy. He was as energetic and excited about the position at the end of the day as he was when he arrived. He appealed to the students because of his interest in doing preventive outreach and making the Counseling Center student-friendly."
The Counseling Center, located on the 3rd floor of Silliman Hall, provides counseling services to any student at no cost. Students are encouraged to visit the center and utilize its services at any time.
Hotaling is working hard to bring a new energy to the center and to be proactive in advertising the center.
Outreach seems to have been a main theme and will continue to be a main goal of Hotaling's. There are brochures regarding the center in upper-class dining hall, West dining hall, and will soon be found in College Park Hall. Additionally, Hotaling hopes to advertise in the Concordiensis and on the college television station.
Currently, the Counseling Center is paired with the student-run group, Active Minds, to "reduce stigma around mental health in college students."
"Sometimes friends aren't the people who you want to talk to," remarked Hotaling.
"[Hotaling] has been so much more visible on campus," says Joe Martel, a senior and head RA of West College.
Martel says the old center "was distant. They built up the stigma." Martel is also excited that Hotaling has set up a system, where the RAs can call the center at night-or anytime they need-if they need advice or assistance on how to best handle difficult situations.
The staff involved with the hiring of Hotaling seemed to be right on the mark in choosing the new director.
Dean of Students Patricia Williams, who served on the search committee that eventually hired Hotaling, said, "Marcus stood out because of his energy. He was as energetic and excited about the position at the end of the day as he was when he arrived. He appealed to the students because of his interest in doing preventive outreach and making the Counseling Center student-friendly."
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