Office of Student Life

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February 25, 2025

Dear Buckeyes, 

I hope you are doing well this semester. Spring break is just around the corner, so now is the time to make the most of the remaining weeks. Here are some updates you may find helpful.  

In this edition:  

  • BuckeyeThon 

  • Spring Break Safety Reminder  

  • Safety Tip  

  • Information on Legislative and Executive Actions 

  • Remembrance 

  • Size Acceptance 

  • RUOK? Day   

  • REACH © 

  • Nobody’s Prefect Workshop 

  • O-H The Places You’ll Go   

  • Meet the Team 

 

BuckeyeThon 
Hundreds of Ohio State students filled rooms at the Ohio Union for BuckeyeThon earlier this month with music and dancing to help fight critical pediatric illnesses. BuckeyeThon raised over $853,000 to support patients and research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital this year. Since 2002, the program has raised $15.1 million. If you want to Join the Movement to raise even more next year, registration is already open for the 2026 dance marathon and is discounted for the entire spring semester. Visit https://go.osu.edu/BT26 to learn more and register today.

Spring Break Safety Reminder 
If you are traveling for the break, be sure to secure items of value, including money, credit cards and ID’s. Record serial numbers of your devices. Lock all doors and windows. Disconnect electrical extensions. Students can obtain free window and door alarms from Student Life’s Off-Campus and Commuter Student Engagement department on the third floor of the Ohio Union. If something is missing when you return, alert the police immediately.

Safety Tip 
Enhance your own safety from the comfort of your couch. Watch the Stay Safe, Buckeyes video-based module in BuckeyeLearn to view topics about crime prevention, crime reporting, responding to people on the street who aggressively ask for money and more. The “Surviving an Active Aggressor” video educates viewers about how to prepare and respond to this type of emergency. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the three types of classroom door locks found around campus and how to use them during an active aggressor situation. Additional safety resources are available on the Department of Public Safety website.

Information on Legislative and Executive Actions 
Ohio State leaders are actively monitoring policy developments at all levels of government. To help track updates and their impact, the university has launched a new webpage that will serve as a central hub for all information on legislative and executive actions. You can read the latest updates online.

Remembrance 
Student Life’s Student Advocacy Center and Parent and Family Relations host a Student Remembrance Ceremony every spring to honor the students who have passed away over the academic year. This year’s event will be on Monday, April 7, at 7 p.m. in the Fawcett Center Grand Ballroom. The ceremony is an opportunity to celebrate the lives of these students and reflect on our community’s loss of these Forever Buckeyes. For more information and to RSVP, please visit go.osu.edu/remembranceceremony.  

Size Acceptance 
Weight stigma and diet culture affect many individuals, especially those in larger bodies. The Student Wellness Center is offering a series of programs that explore the impacts of weight stigma and diet culture, what the research really reveals about health and weight, as well as practical ways for creating size acceptance for everyone. For more information and to register, visit go.osu.edu/SizeAcceptance.

RUOK? Day   
A simple conversation can save a life. RUOK? Day is Wednesday, Feb. 26, noon-3 p.m. in the Ohio Union Performance Hall. This campus-wide outreach initiative is put on by the student organization Buckeye Campaign Against Suicide (BCAS) in coordination with Student Life’s Ohio State Suicide Prevention Program to increase awareness about suicide, reduce mental health stigma and connect the campus community with the many resources on and around campus. Each section at the event is designed to provide the Buckeye community with the skills and knowledge needed to take care of one another when it comes to suicide prevention.

REACH © 
REACH© is an in-person suicide prevention gatekeeper training intended to provide general information about how to identify suicide risk and how to respond to anyone who may be experiencing distress. A 90-minute certifiable training experience, REACH includes important information about suicide, interactive dialogue and role play. There will be a REACH training session on Wednesday, March 26, 4:30-6 p.m. for staff, faculty, graduate and professional students AND one on Thursday, April 10, 4:30-6 p.m. for all students, staff, faculty and alumni. Sign up online for a REACH© session.

Nobody’s Prefect 
No, that’s not a typo…we’re just normalizing mistakes! Students often experience a lot of pressures this time of year. Perfectionism can seem positive at times but often comes with a high cost and can quickly lead to burnout. Student Life Counseling and Consultation's Nobody’s Prefect: Overcoming Perfectionism workshop discusses the origins of perfectionism and the risks of thoughts and behaviors tied to perfectionism. The interactive presentation encourages striving for healthy functioning through a a focus on process versus outcome and strategies for healthy goal-setting. The workshop is offered on Fridays from noon-1 p.m. via CarmenZoom.

O-H The Places You’ll Go 
Love trying new foods and want a way to experience the Columbus food scene? How about trying one of the Columbus Food Adventures food tours! You can save money by getting tickets through D-Tix, Ohio State’s discount ticket program. Food Tour tickets are just $30, two per BuckID per week for current Ohio State Columbus campus students. Options this semester include Alternative Eats, Grandview Avenue and Short North Food Tours! There are plenty of other opportunities as well, including shows, museums, concerts, sporting events and more available at an exclusive rate. Find out more about D-Tix offerings online. 

Meet the Team 
I’d like to introduce you to Andrew Crow, the Senior Director, Operations for Student Life. Meet Andrew by reading his online bio.     

Go Bucks! 

 

Doc  
 

Melissa S. Shivers, PhD 
Senior Vice President for Student Life  
The Ohio State University