Hotspot introduces a healthier student life

Hotspot manager Renee Thomas says that the cafeteria wants to contribute to a healthier lifestyle on campus. Thomas says that the expansion of the new health section will achieve this goal.

Thomas says that they have opened both a breakfast and lunch section to keep students energized throughout their academic day.The catering system offers a variety of healthy meals and drinks. Ingredients used to make these are health approved and range from low GI bread sandwiches to lemon glazed chicken salads. These newly installed health sections were put in by new management to accommodate students who wanted healthy meals on the go.

According to the manager, there has been an increase in the number of healthy meals been sold since the beginning of the semester. Thomas says the heightened increase in sales shows student interest towards a healthier student life. "Students are showing interest in this new segment and are ultimately encouraging the growth of this section. Many of the students came and thanked me for this because they felt like the university did not accomodate all preferences” the manager said.

The manager says that they understand that there needs to be a balance in the dietary needs of students. The need for this new health segment at the university's cafeteria was due to be an excessive amount of carbohydrate consumption and fried foods in previous years.

Tell us how you dreaded that 4pm classes on statistics after a chicken burger and chips?

Taking into consideration that the provision of healthier meals will contribute to the overall well being of students, Hotspot saw this as an opportunity to better academic performance in the long term. In previous years students had very limited options when it came to healthy food. Due to the limited options available students settled for unhealthier options to sustain them throughout their academic day. During lunch times burgers, chips and carbonated drinks were the "go to" meals. 

According to second year student Mbongeni Ramaila says that the prices in previous years of healthy meals were "ridiculous and unreasonable. "I mean a salad at chillout was R30. I would honestly rather buy their chicken burger for R19. Its way cheaper”. Lack of variety and high costs were the two main problems that discouraged healthy eating at the university.

At the university the average student spends an approximate number of 8 hours on campus. Students now remain at the mercy of the meals sold by either Hotspot or Chillout. Students say that it is the responsibility of the university to ensure they they offer well balanced meals for the latter consumer.  “We do not have time during the day to go to Featherbrooke during the day to get a salad from Woolworths or Pick n pay so we might as well get something healthy from here” says a first year student. With the implementation of the health sections students can now take a break from those long walks to Featherbrooke.

According to psychologist Mzamo Ntantiso, there is a direct correlation between optimal mental health and good nutrition. Ntantiso says that students need to realise that what they consume during lunchtimes has both a long and short term impact on their studies.

Click on the link for Ntantiso's expert opinion:

https://app.box.com/s/5156wc0o4inhnzx7da1aw1ixs4sx1zq1

The clinical psychologist says that the implementation of a healthy lunch counter at the university’s hotspot will be beneficial for students academic performance in the long run. The consumption of healthy vitamins and essential oils (omega 3s) is good for overall brain functioning and optimal brain performance. Ntantiso makes reference to previous studies that confirm the correlation between healthy eating and lessened stress levels, improved brain performance and overall student well being.

It is evident that the implementation of these new health sections will contribute to the student experience. "We know students love their comfort food so for the winter weve already have some healthy chicken soup for you!" the manager says.
.

Read More

New Monash gym system attracts more students







Steve Tromp issues a gym membership to student.


Steve Tromp, a supervisor at the Monash campus gym says that
there is an increase in the number of gym memberships compared to previous years.
 
The gym supervisor says that over 400 memberships cards have been issued to date. According to Tromp, a vast majority of these cards have been issued to first year and ADP students.

The Monash gymnaisum experienced problems last year with students using gym equipment without a gym membership. This resulted in the gym being overcrowded and understaffed. Tromp says that the introduction of the new system and the appointment of assistants has been effective thus far. The supervisor gives first time students workout programs and encourages a healthy diet to fuel students training.

 

Yanai Masango, an assistant at the Monash gym, says that he advises new students at the gym to take on the healthy lifestyle as it yields discipline in students. The second year Business science student says that the persistence and dedication students gain from consistent training will carry through to other areas of a students life - specifically their studies.

 

Masango started weight lifting two years ago and says that the fundamentals of fitness teach students to be disciplined in whatever they do. Masango’s role as a gym assistant, amongst other relevant duties, is to help new students who do not yet know to use the machines - specifically first year students. "First year students are introduced to the gym and are shown how they work. They are then given workout out programs for their targeted goals. This could either be weight loss, toning or both and our role is to make their gym experience as safe and efficient as possible.", Masango said.

First year student, Jay Matthews, says that the accessibility of a campus gym is convenient for first time students hence the increase in the number of students. In specific reference to transition from high school to first year, Matthews says that she is able to spring back into incorporating physical activity in her daily routine whilst in varsity. The first year says that the accessibility of the gym and gym assistants who help with exercises are advantageous to her quest for "a healthier and successful Monash career", Matthews said.

The supervisor says that there will be future developments in the gym to attract more students to the. These development are still procession therefore details will be given later on in the semester.



Read More

Mental Health Awareness day at Monash

"We want to let the students know that we are here for them and we will help where we can" says counselling psychologist, Stephen Laverack.

Photo by: Queen Dithebe

In an attempt to combat the fear and anxiety that accompanies the transition from high school to the independent varsity experience, Student Development gave students the opportunity to engage in an open mic session addressing these issues. During this open mic sessions with mental health professionals and exhibitors students were able to voice their opinions about what the university could do to help students that are struggling. Students were granted the opportunity to speak to experts from different agencies, support groups and psychiatric disciplines.

 

 

 

Photos by: Queen Dithebe

"We are here to help and to prevent future problems that could affect students overall mental health. We are also going to make it a priority to brainstorm ideas about how we could get more students to utilize this platform that we give them."

Laverack says that there will "most definitely" be more mental health campaigns this semester.

Read More

"Membership cards are actually a great idea", says second year student Lesego Ramaila

Photo by: Queen Dithebe



Students are pleased with the implementation of the new membership card system at the campus gym. Lesego Ramaila, a second year student at the university says the new system allow will ensure strict control over who comes to the gym and that there is more space for students and staff to work out.

The Monash gymnasium experienced problems in the second semester of 2014 with students who attended gym sessions and used the equipment free of charge. The students would be caught coming very early in the mornings when the gym supervisor, Steve Tromp, was not present. This lead to many paying students complaining about the understaffing and overcrowding in the gym.

The new membership cards state the students name, student number, and the term for which the student is covered. This allows the newly appointed gym assistants to identify gym members when the gym manager is not there.

says that they are monitoring the effectiveness of this new system daily. "Our main intention was to create sufficient space for everyone that works out. We this new system and the new equipment that will be coming in later in the semester hope to attract new students this year."





Photo by: Queen Dithebe
 

Read More