{"id":212727,"date":"2020-09-16T15:51:58","date_gmt":"2020-09-16T19:51:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/?p=212727"},"modified":"2020-09-24T14:32:24","modified_gmt":"2020-09-24T18:32:24","slug":"positive-peer-pressure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2020\/09\/16\/positive-peer-pressure\/","title":{"rendered":"Positive Peer Pressure"},"content":{"rendered":"

As colleges across the country face the challenge of getting students to abide by their pandemic safety guidelines, a group of Montclair State students have stepped up to put friendly pressure on others to wear their masks, practice social distancing and follow health and safety guidelines.<\/p>\n

The University has hired and trained 26 undergraduate students as Community Health Ambassadors to support public health initiatives related to the University\u00a0Restart Plan<\/a>\u00a0and COVID-19 safety guidelines.<\/p>\n

One of these is Debree Rucker, a senior Family Science and Human Development major, whose grandfather died of COVID-19. \u201cI don\u2019t want anyone to go through what my family went through,\u201d says Rucker. \u201cI want students and faculty to fully comprehend just how important these preventative measures are. The biggest challenge is trying to get individuals to think selflessly but it\u2019s rewarding to know I\u2019m helping make a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam Burger, a junior Business Administration major loves interacting with others as a Community Health Ambassador. \u201cWhether it’s letting people know where a certain building is, giving them a mask to use, or simply greeting them as they walk by, everyone is always so kind and welcoming,\u201d he says. \u201cWorking in this position gives me a lot of faith about the future of Montclair State’s community throughout the coronavirus pandemic, because almost everyone is following CDC guidelines.\u201d<\/p>\n

Launched on Red Hawk Day, August 24, the day before classes began, the program works to strategically station Ambassadors across campus to greet students, faculty and staff, and to help them complete\u00a0Hawk Check<\/a>, encourage social distancing and the use of face coverings, and provide information regarding the proper use of masks or face coverings and distancing as necessary.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are excited about the Community Health Ambassadors,\u201d says Marie Cascarano, Office of Health Promotion, who is coordinating the program with the help of Tara Mellor, associate director of Residence Life. \u201cMost students are really concerned about the health and safety of our community and want to do the right thing. This program reinforces that.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Debree Rucker, a Family Science and Human Development major, lost her grandfather to COVID-19. \u201cI don\u2019t want anyone to go through what my family went through.\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Student Community Health Ambassador Jordaniel Norvil answers questions about safety protocols on campus.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Manny Wheagar, a junior majoring in Biology who hopes to go into medicine, either as a pharmacist or doctor and likes being part of something greater than himself. \u201cIn order to stay on campus, we must work together, and try our best to slow the spread.\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Julia Danzeisen, a junior Illustration major hands a mask to a student. \u201cIt\u2019s a challenge to see students and staff get embarrassed when they forget to pull up their masks, because nearly all the people I have interacted with have the best intentions. It is so amazing to see everyone responding with positivity rather than ignorance.\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Story by staff writer Mary Barr Mann<\/a><\/p>\n