WMU peer education program recognized at regional conference

Members of Theatre for Community Health

KALAMAZOO, Mich.−Western Michigan University's Theatre for Community Health, a peer education program of 25 students led by Dr. Christine Iaderosa, received the 2014-15 Outstanding Program Award from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators—NASPA.

NASPA's BACCHUS Initiatives, which support collegiate peer educators and advisors, this year recognized WMU as having one of the most outstanding programs among all colleges and universities in a four-state area. BACCHUS is an acronym for Boosting Alcohol Consciousness Concerning the Health of University Students.

Work honored includes fall shows, residence hall tours

WMU was honored for Theatre for Community Health's work on campus throughout the school year, including shows during Fall Welcome and for First-Year Seminar classes as well as residence hall tours that focus on such topics as alcohol use, sexual health, rape culture, bystander intervention, and privilege and power.

Students and educators attended the BACCHUS Regional Conference in April where they performed "Great Sexpectations" as the keynote presentation and conducted a workshop the following day on how to use theatre with peer education. All of the peer educators are trained and nationally certified by BACCHUS. They do more than 50 performances a year that are seen by approximately 5,500 students during that time.

For more than 20 years, the award citation notes, WMU's Theatre for Community Health has demonstrated outstanding work addressing student health issues utilizing the strategy of social change through applied theater. The troupe engages audiences by providing entertaining, thought-provoking and action-encouraging messages that align with the goal of having a healthy, diverse community.

For more information, visit wmich.edu/healthcenter/healthpromotion/theatre.

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