Big House fitness
Diversity award for staff returns, nominations sought
Nominations are being accepted through Oct. 18 for the 2024 Distinguished Diversity Leaders Award. The awards recognize staff members who demonstrate extraordinary dedication to fostering diversity in its broadest sense at the University of Michigan. As many as 10 awards for individuals and five awards for teams will be presented. Recipients will receive written recognition and funds to use for professional development activities or training. Individual recipients will receive $1,000. Teams will receive $2,500 to share. “Honoring our exceptional staff who advance diversity, equity and inclusion in their roles is essential to supporting our campus culture,” said Tami Strickman, special adviser to the president and executive director of the Equity, Civil Rights, and Title IX Office. “The awards shine a bright light on some of the most effective work staff have accomplished throughout all campuses and workplaces.” Active faculty and staff at all campuses and Michigan Medicine are eligible to submit nominations and to be nominees. For more information or to submit a nomination.
Safe Medication Disposal Event scheduled at two locations Oct. 1
The College of Pharmacy will host another Safe Medication Disposal Event from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 1 at two locations: Ingalls Mall across from the Rackham Graduate School Building, 915 E. Washington St., and on the Medical Campus in the triangle area between University Hospital, C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Taubman Health Care Center. People will be able to drop off their unused or expired medications. Accepted items include prescription and over-the-counter medications, medicine samples, vitamins, ointments, lotions, inhalers, antibiotics, steroids, veterinary medicine items and controlled medications. Sharps and sharps containers will also be accepted. For more information, go to pharmacy.umich.edu/events/safemed.
Poll indicates 1 in 5 parents worry their child doesn’t have friends
Developing friendships is often seen as a natural part of childhood, but it may be easier for some kids than others. And many parents worry about their children’s friendships, according to the U-M Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health, with 1 in 5 saying their child ages 6 to 12 has no friends or not enough friends. About 90% of parents believe their child would like to make new friends. Over half of parents report at least one factor that makes it difficult for their child to make new friends, with about 1 in 5 saying that shyness or being socially awkward got in the way of their child’s friend-making efforts. Fewer parents say friendship challenges stemmed from kids being mean or that a child’s disability or medical condition made friendships more challenging. Parents of older children were also more likely than parents of younger children to say that difficulties making new friends are related to other kids already having friend groups or having too few places to get together. Read more about the poll.
Poll looks at use, beliefs and risk of cannabis use by older adults
Whether they’re using it for recreational or medical reasons, a sizable percentage of people in their 50s and older have smoked, eaten, drunk or applied to their skin at least one form of cannabis in the past year, a poll shows. In all, 21% of people age 50 and older said they used a form of cannabis that contains the psychoactive compound THC at least once in the past year, according to findings from the U-M National Poll on Healthy Aging. The poll report focuses on use of cannabis products with psychoactive amounts of THC, not CBD-only products. More than half of those who used a cannabis product did so frequently: 12% of adults 50 and older said they did so at least once a month. Those 50 to 64, and those who are in fair or poor physical health, or in lower income households were more likely to report using cannabis at least monthly. As for the reasons older adults use cannabis, many cited sleep (68%), help with pain (63%) or mental health (53%), and/or to relax or feel good (81%).
— Compiled by James Iseler, The University Record
