Wellness program is justifiable

To the editor:

In Speak Out on Wednesday, the following question was asked: "Would someone explain to me what the wellness program has to do with the education of students?" Every year ,hundreds of Southeast students in disciplines such as athletic training, exercise science, health promotion, nursing, dietetics, communication disorders and recreation gain valuable skills they will utilize as professionals. These experiences include learning how to perform fitness assessments, developing and leading exercise programs, performing health assessments and health screenings and providing educational seminars.

During this period of escalating health care costs, it is particularly important for any organization or business to curb health care utilization. By providing a health promotion program, the university provides both Southeast students and employees the opportunity to improve their health and reduce their risk for disease. In a study to be published next year, it was shown that participants in Southeast's Wellness Program had significantly lower health care costs when compared to non-participants.

Several members of the Southeast faculty and staff have had diseases diagnosed early because of programs offered through the wellness program. In most, if not all cases, it reduced the cost of care.

In times of financial constraint such as Southeast is facing presently, it is important that every aspect of the university budget is examined. We are in agreement with the reader who said that Southeast needs to save money. However, one has to remember that a University has to do more than simply teach students.JEREMY BARNES, Ph.D

JOE PUJOL, Ed.D.

Southeast Missouri State University