The Suffolk University Peer Education Resource (SUPER), is a group comprised of undergraduate students trained to provide their peers with information and resources concerning issues with which many college students deal.
“The goal is to help students develop the tools needed for making informed choices that will support and encourage healthy living,” said Bridget Byrne, a SUPER pursuing a baccalaureate degree in biology with a minor in sociology.
The SUPERs have created campaigns, events and programs to educate the Suffolk community in a number of topics including sexual health, drug and alcohol use, eating disorders, self-esteem sexual violence, and nutrition.
The group tackles recent health issues as well. In September when campuses around the nation were affected by Four Loko, the group created a “guerilla-style” campaign to warn students of the alcoholic beverage.
“It has been proven effective to receive education through your peers, as there is an additional level of comfort and understanding,” said freshman SUPER John Livingstone.
According to Eli Sullivan, a sophomore SUPER, this year has been very successful. He said the group has been receiving a great deal of feedback and requests from the student community and has been working with other groups, such as the Balloti Learning Center and the Off-Campus Housing Office (OCHO).
At the Winter Involvement Fair, students requested more information on nutrition. As a result, the SUPERs provided a screening of “Food Matters,” followed by a question-and-answer session with a Suffolk- registered nutritionist and a guide to eating cheap and healthy in college.
More recently, the group traveled last weekend to Fairfield, Connecticut to present their newest nutrition program “You Are What You Eat” at the Regional Area 10 BACCHUS Conference. According to Byrne, the program gained valuable feedback from peer educators at other schools, according to Byrne.
Upcoming events include the Program Council’s “Study Break,” at which the SUPERs will be providing ingredients to make trail mix and informing students on how to recover from all-nighters. At the Ballotti Learning Center’s iStudy, the group will be handing out materials to make trail mix and sleep masks.
The SUPERS are also working with the Eco-Reps for “Green your Spring Cleaning” to provide information about alternative homemade options to toxic and chemical cleaning products and a program that will break the silence of sexual assault victims on campus.
“For me, it has been very rewarding seeing all of the progress we have had,” said Byrne.
For those interested in the program or general information, the office is located on the fifth floor of 73 Tremont.
