Lucas Holter, Senior Photographer
The Yale College Council on Friday announced the launch of the Yale College Health Committee, a new body that will advise Yale Health on strategies to enhance its services.
According to the email that announced the program, the committee’s members were selected via an application released last November. They will advise and collaborate with Yale Health’s leadership to “communicate feedback and enact change in a productive and engaging way.”
“The Yale College Health committee serves as a channel to amplify the voices of students who want to improve Yale Health services,” YCC President Kahlil Greene ’21 wrote in an email to the News. “One of [YCC Vice President] Grace [Kang ’21] and my promises in our 4×4 policy plan was to ensure that all students benefit from a safe, healthy and fair Yale experience. This committee will work with the highest levels of Yale Health to make sure this is the case.”
The “4×4 policy plan” — Greene and Kang’s campaign platform — promises four “actionable proposals” for each of four areas of focus: city and community, health and equity, University policy and YCC reform. While the exact focus of the committee in the short term remains unclear, the committee aims to fulfill the long-term promise to create a safe, healthy and equitable Yale experience.
Greene added that many students have expressed frustration with their experiences at Yale Health by posting memes in the popular Facebook group Overheard at Yale. He hopes the new committee will provide an opportunity for students to share their thoughts and advocate for reforms.
“The committee was established in order to advise and work with Yale Health leadership on initiatives to improve services provided to students,” said YCC University Services Director Aliesa Bahri ’22. “It is intended to ensure that Yale Health is receptive to the voices that it is entrusted with supporting.”
As the University services director, one of Bahri’s responsibilities is to serve as the liaison between the YCC and Yale Health. While she will not have an ongoing role with the committee, Bahri mentioned that she collaborated with Director of Yale Health Paul Genecin to produce the application for the committee’s members.
The email also notes that the committee plans to create future opportunities in which interested students can participate. It encourages students who would like to propose initiatives or offer input to the committee to contact Lauren Horner, the student health educator at Yale Health.
Horner declined to comment for this story.
According to Yale Health’s website, the student health education program aims to develop healthy sleep habits, present stress management strategies and strengthen time management skills, ultimately with the goal of fostering a better quality of life among students. The office also offers free safe sex supplies including condoms and lubrication.
Yale Health is located at 55 Lock St.
Ako Ndefo-Haven | ako.ndefo-haven@yale.edu