[dropcap]DCU[/dropcap] Students’ Union held events from Monday the 13th of February to Thursday the 16th of February will honour Body and Soul week.
The Glasnevin and Drumcondra campuses had small mirrors around campus encouraging students to compliment themselves, a total of 4,000 condoms were handed out, 70 people were tested for diabetes, while 200 cups of hot chocolate were given out and over €400 was raised for Ballymun social projects and Epilepsy Ireland.
When asked about the event, the Students’ Union Engagement and Development officer, Eimear Maguire, said; “The purpose of Body and Soul week was to promote acceptance of your physical body and to embrace imperfections as well as developing your self confidence.”
“Body confidence is important because it has a huge influence on your own development and it sets the foundation for how you approach life. If you are feeling low in yourself you might not be able to motivate yourself to accomplish all you want. A lack of body confidence may deprive yourself of opportunities to reach self-fulfilment. It’s all about your mentality,” she added.
During the week events included a USI Shagpad Stand on campus, free condoms in the Henry Grattan, therapy dogs, arts and crafts and a Love Run in Albert College Park on Monday night.
Love Run
The Love Run was a 5km run decorated with colourful lights to guide students in the dark. Maguire said she was “excited to get people involved”. While running students carried balloons to tie to trees along the track.
Other events included a Soul Space with Kingdom Café in the Interfaith Centre, a Body Whys information stand, a talk by sex therapist Siobhan O’Higgins, a Get It Off Your Chest therapy event with RAG. Meanwhile, a Compliment Shite Night was run with all proceeds going to Epilepsy Ireland.
Get It Off Your Chest “is all about sharing and accepting all of our worries and doubts together” according to the RAG Society.
On Wednesday all students were welcome to strip down to their underwear for a Naked Mile run around campus with DJ Society playing music to keep them entertained.
Laura Horan
Image Credit: Gavin Quinn