Written by
Nicolle McMurray

Mental health, community-building, and the challenges of a global pandemic

In the Department of English at CSU, initiatives that seek to bolster mental health, such as reading, writing, and thinking reflectively, creatively, and critically have long played an important role among students and the broader community: Initiatives that include the Writing Center, the Veterans Writing Workshop, and Speak Out! These opportunities to explore both joyous and difficultexperiences require an emotional labora re-tooling during pandemic times, and an awareness that not all mental health healing can come from the mind. 

College of Liberal Arts Winter 2020/Spring 2021 News

New programs, alumni spotlights, retirements, and other recent news from the College of Liberal Arts.

In A Year of Challenges, SMTD Experiences Great Support

It’s been a very tough year for the performing arts, but donor support has not wavered. The School of Music, Theatre, and Dance received $20M in support in 2020, including the upgrade and naming of the Instrument Rehearsal Hall, thanks to Cindy Haraway “Boomer.”

Navigating the Complex Terrain of Life

Health isn’t solely the purview of hard science. Politics, economics, rhetoric, art, and history all provide essential perspectives on what it means to be healthy. This issue gives a liberal arts perspective on health.

Surviving an Invasion during a Pandemic in the 14th Century

The people of Provence were undergoing multiple crises of war, famine, and plague in 1360. Their stories about a miracle woman, collected during an inquest considering her for sainthood in the Catholic church, helped them understand what was happening, and gave them ideas for how to recover from these devastating issues.  

COVID-19: Stories from CSU Abroad

Students from the International Studies program recount the stories of exchange students and people native to Japan, the UK, and China to better understand the experience of this global pandemic around the world and to recognize the commonality of hardship across borders. 

A Spotlight on the Mental Health Struggles of Students of Color at CSU

The pandemic has impacted everyone, but students of color experience particular stresses that negatively affect their mental health. A variety of units on campus – B/AACC, the Health Network, and the Ethnic Studies dept are providing resources, support, and education to help students navigate this difficult time.