Celeste Boykin gets her blood pressure checked. All photos by Alan Natachu.

Diane Reyna, health fair organizer, gives information and talks with IAIA staff, students, and faculty.

DeBenedittis explores the role ads play in society and shows the affects it can have on self-esteem.

The Santa Fe Rape Crisis Center displayed the Clothesline Project.

IAIA Health Fair Brings Information to Students

By ALAN NATACHU

SANTA FE— There was more than chatter in the halls as students and staff zigzagged from one table to another. Health professionals and exhibitors from around the Santa Fe area took over the halls for IAIA’s health fair, handing out free condoms, products to help quit smoking, and bags of herbal remedies.

Fairgoers were treated to a variety of issues, such as diabetes, sexual assault, cancer, AIDS, ultrasounds, women’s health, and alternative remedies.

“Prior to the health fair, students were asking that people come and that they bring information on the topics,” Jane Oliver, IAIA Healing Circle counselor, said.

There was a presentation by, illustrating the relationship between the media and drinking. The Hogan was packed with students and staff. “What’s more important to you, the world you live in or the world you’re sold to?” DeBenedittis asked the audience.

The presentation went into detail about how the media sells the products. “[I want to] teach you to see through the illusion,” DeBendittis said.

Janice Stump, student at IAIA, was intrigued by the presentation. "I'm surprised by all the technology that they used in that ad." The ad in question was Cindy Crawford's digitally altered cover featured on “Cosmopolitan” magazine.

One of the most powerful images brought to the fair was the Clothesline Project from the Santa Fe Rape Crisis Center. T-shirts were hung on a clothesline and allowed to blow freely in the wind. This seems like an peaceful image, but the messages on the shirts tell stories of rape, incest, and domestic abuse.

"A lot of emotions are coming out," Ourania Tserotas, of the Santa Fe Rape Crisis Center, said. The SFRCC is only one of five agencies in the nation that has more than ten programs working with the community.

"It's not a woman's issue," Therésa Candelaria, director of the SFRCC, said. "We need men to help. We can't do it by ourselves."

Health Fair organizers, Diane Reyna and Jane Oliver, were pleased with the results of the first health fair. "The exhibitors enjoyed themselves," Reyna said.

But it wasn't all work for these two. “We wanted to enjoy [the fair] once the day got here,” Jane Oliver said.

There is a possibility for another health fair next year.

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