Lehman’s Own DishwithDina Raises Over $1k During Virtual Wellness Retreat
A photo promoting Dina’s MadeWithLove Virtual Retreat. Courtesy of DishwithDina.
By Michael Omoruan
As confirmed cases of Covid continue to rise and movie theaters have been shut down, it can feel pretty draining trying to keep spirits up and energy high. Lehman College nutrition professor Dina D'RAlessandro has taken it upon herself to make this daunting and depressing time to host a virtual event focused on proper logistical mindset, healthy eating, and all-around focused on positivity.
D’Alessandro, or more commonly known by her online moniker DishwithDina, not only works as a Lehman professor, but is also a registered dietitian. D’Alessandro frequently hosts Instagram lives for her nearly 2,000 followers, where she welcomes nutrition enthusiasts and experts. She also allows up to 30 minutes of free nutritional and all-around guidance on many online platforms, including Zoom and Zocdoc.
The MadewithLove Virtual Wellness Retreat was held all day on Dec. 5 via Zoom and featured a list of talks hosted by many of D’Alessandro’s friends and colleagues.
When asked what inspired her to make this event, Dina stated to the Meridian “This all started as a way for me to end the year with self-care. All too often, we think we have to wait for the "New Year, New You" promotions before we can take time for ourselves and get back on track with our goals.” She went on to explain that she also wanted to raise money for a good cause, which she more than accomplished as donations for Mental Health America reached over $1000!
Dina’s banner for her Dishwithdina website.
One of the first talks was hosted by Andrea Gonzalez, a Miami-based medical student, author, and creator of the Plan with Productivity brand, which focuses on teaching people how to chase their biggest goals and aspirations. Her talk focused on practical advice like limiting one’s time on social media, making alarms to get ready throughout the day, and gradually learning to stick with a routine.
A highlight of the event was the exercise intermission hosted by Amber Trejo, a certified personal trainer. It served as a way to liven things up and was much more active than other online events tend to be. And since most gyms and recreation centers have been closed, it helped in getting those in attendance up on their feet and shaping muscles that most likely haven’t been strengthened for quite some time.
Jaime Maldanado, a recent Lehman graduate, stated “I truly loved the variety of speakers. [Dina] had… just what I needed to hear! It was a great event to attend and I’m so glad I did."
All in all, Dina hosted a great number of events that helped everyone in attendance take a brief pause from their daily lives, whether they’re students currently in the last stretch of the fall semester or parents needing some time to focus on themselves.
One can only hope for more events to be hosted like these in the future to mitigate any wariness those in school and even those out of school might feel. To quote recent Lehman graduate Mitchelita Touzin, "Please make this a yearly event.”
Link to her Instagram.
Link to her Twitter.
Students and Staff Anticipate an Open Campus This Fall
(Photo Credit: Lehman College's Facebook page)
By Rebekah Gamble
As registration for the Fall 2021 semester approaches, Lehman College students are forming opinions about the upcoming semester. When the 37-acre campus closed in March 2020, it was the last time that thousands of students laid foot in the college.
The Spring 2021 semester included 90% of all classes being taught online but the approaching Fall 2021 semester will allow for more in person classes.
In an email to faculty sent in March, Interim CUNY Executive Vice Chancellor and University Provost, Daniel Lemons stated, “The occupancy of each space will be adjusted to its particular characteristics. Some of our spaces have 100 percent outside air entering and high room air changes per hour, allowing higher than 50 percent occupancy. Other rooms may require lower than 50 percent occupancy due to their size and air distribution pattern.”
For some, this is exactly the news they were waiting to hear. Christopher Cabrea, a 21-year-old junior Exercise Science major, stated, “I’m nervous but I can’t wait for in person classes because I learn better.” When asked how he felt about wearing a mask for long periods of time he stated “I don’t mind wearing a mask since I’m used to it. I just hope other students can say this so we have a better chance at staying safe everywhere on campus.”
Whether the community will be safe for return is a concern for other students as well. The New York Times reported, that due to proactive safety measures as of April 8th, there were 4,178 cases. This is 20% less reported cases than the previous 14 days.
It begs the question of how a campus that previously had up to 15,000 excited students, plans to comply with NY safety standards, once 50% of classes are held in person. This will largely be the responsibility of staff members to make the departments safe environments.
Some of the busiest departments include Bursar, Financial Aid, and The Admissions Departments. Abigail Laryea, an Undergraduate Admissions counselor, expressed her own feelings of caution and anticipation for the Fall 2021 semester. She stated “My department will allow for staggered schedules so that we are complying with the CDC guidelines at all times. I trust that the precautions I plan to take in regards to sanitizing and the administration as a whole will promote safety.”
Which classes are offered in-person are a top priority for Rebeca Aragon, a junior Biology major. She stated, “I’m so thrilled that our campus is finally going to open. Until everyone is vaccinated we should still take safety precautions. I look forward to having my labs in person, but I’m still not comfortable being in a large lecture setting yet.”
One thing is for sure: it will take a collective effort to make the campus a safe space for everyone.