Student Health hosts annual fair on Locust Walk

College junior Priti Bhansali was relieved. On her way to the library Tuesday afternoon, Bhansali had stopped to test her blood pressure at the "Step into Health" fair on Locust Walk. The health care professional on hand told her that her test results were excellent. Like Bhansali, more than 50 students stopped by the row of tables to ask questions and receive information about important health and safety issues. The seventh annual Student Health Fair attempted to give students a sampling of some of the services available to them through Student Health, according to Kurt Conklin, health educator at Student Health Services and coordinator of this year's event. Students were able to talk with representatives from several on-campus and off-campus organizations about health issues. Members of the group Students Together Against Acquaintance Rape joined health care providers from Student Health Services in addressing students' questions. Engineering junior Vivek Rao, the student coordinator of the event, said this year's health fair also featured "spring-related topics" like Rollerblading and recreational safety. Interested students could also speak to experts in the areas of fitness and nutrition, sexual health and respiratory ailments. "If you would like to feel a breast or a scrotum, please stop by our table," Rao advertised, referring to the demonstrations of self-examinations for breast and testicular cancer. In addition to receiving pamphlets and brochures, passers-by on Locust Walk were invited to participate in free blood pressure tests and podiatry exams. College junior Victoria Moorehouse said that with the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) approaching, the Health Fair reminded her of the reasons she decided to pursue a career in health and medicine -- "to make people healthy, happy and safe." The event was sponsored in part by Student Health Service and the Student Health Advisory Board.