Stress Saving Services

Strolling across campus, students are bombarded with handfuls of colorful literature advertising a plethora campus services that still remain underused and overlooked.

Many available resources at UC Berkeley and in the surrounding area offer aid students seeking advice or academic support or simply an artistic escape from textbooks. While these services are thoroughly advertised, some organizers say students do not take full advantage of them.

Welcome week is the perfect time for organizations to get the word out about programs they offer, said Kathleen Dickson, the University Ombudsperson, who offers information and advice on university policies. Despite welcome week efforts she said, most students learn of the Ombudsperson's services from friends.

"When we ask students how they find out, we still have found that its mainly by word of mouth," Dickson said. Students may learn of the Ombudsperson from pamphlets, but Dickson said it is usually on the recommendation of a friend that students seek the aid of the Ombudsperson.

Dickson said she offers students an informal resolution to problems that could potentially escalate into legal troubles. Nearly all cases are completely confidential. Her offices do not even keep names or addresses on file, but sort them by date and complaint.

"Confidentiality is really important to us and the students," Dickson said. "A lot of times students are not sure if it might effect their relationship with a professor or employer. However, if we believe the student will cause imminent physical harm to themselves or others, by law we have to report them."

Of the roughly 500 cases Dickson sees every year, however, it is rare for her to have such a case.

Dickson said her services are not utilized to their full potential because students often are not aware the outlet is even there.

While not necessarily underused, but possibly overlooked, the YWCA offers students an alternative to the weights and treadmills at the Recreational Sports Facility.

Jenny Deruntz, head administrative assistant at the YWCA, said students take a variety of dance and exercise classes there because the facility is located right across the street from the campus.

Aside from teaching such popular, invigorating classes as African and Brazilian native dancing, Ballroom dancing, Hip-hop, yoga, and karate, the YWCA also has a less well known career center.

The center contains a resource library, career counseling, job listings, career testing, and self assessment tools-all of which is open to students and members of the Berkeley community, Deruntz said.

The center also conducts career seminars, workshops and resume clinics for students and community members, she said.

For students wishing to further work on their academic or life management skills, or for those having a rough time with the transition from high school to college, the Student Learning Center may be able to provide a solid voice of advice, said Cara Stanley, director the center.

The center, while focusing a great deal of its efforts on tutoring, has other goals as well, she said.

"The student body is pretty solid academically, but students adjust to transition differently," Stanley said. "Students from a highly charged preparatory high schools still have challenges when they come to Cal. We help kids who go from a 30 class size to a 1,200 class size."

The center provides a lot of help to students adjusting to living away from their families as well, she said.

"There's a lot of life management issues," she said. "What does it mean when your mom no longer wakes you up? What does it mean to balance your time? What does it mean to your studies if you go to that party and get drunk?"

Stanley said the Student Learning Center has changed dramatically since it was first opened in the late 1960s. What was once an aide to underrepresented students has now expanded to become a place where international students can seek help on their English skills through workshops and conversation tools.

The center also provides tutoring help for students. The tutors are primarily graduate students interesting in teaching as a career, Stanley said.

"(The graduate students) are able to use that experience to parlay into their faculty experience," she said. "Studies show that the tutor often gains more than those being taught. They're able to master the subject, and hone their communication skills. Some of our tutors have gone on the become head TA's in their department."

Overall, the program, Stanley said, is a good experience for students.

"I think it's a great opportunity for students to learn in a supportive environment without fear of retribution or competition," she said.

Another option for students seeking advice is Student Life Advising Services.

Gloria Burkhalter-Simmons, director of the program, said many students utilize the Student Life Advising Services.

The center focuses mainly on underrepresented students, such as Chicano, Latino, Native American, Black and Filipino students, but the programs are available to all undergraduate students, Burkhalter-Simmons said.

The center provides financial, personal, academic and career counseling and advising services, along with peer advising programs, and housing assistance.

The center even offers financial aid. Emergency loans and discretionary grants are issued to students in need, Burkhalter-Simmons said. The center gives achievement awards each year to honorary and upstanding students in the Berkeley community.

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