Students getting off the bus at College Place on Monday morning were greeted with an unusual scene: members of the Student Association and Healthy Monday campaign holding brightly colored motivational signs. And Otto the Orange — giving high fives.

“I think students don’t get enough of starting their day off right and having an opportunity to have a good day,” said Janine Savage, chair of SA’s Student Engagement Committee and one of the event’s organizers.

SA based the collaboration off of a campaign by Samaritans, Inc. — a Boston suicide prevention helpline, she said. One part of the helpline’s campaign involves holding “welcome parties” in public places such as train stations. Savage said she got the idea to bring the event to Syracuse University after seeing how Mickey Mahan, a Centro bus driver who sings the names of bus stops on his route, cheered students up.

She said the event came together after with meeting Rebecca Bostwick, program director for SU’s Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion — the group that runs the Healthy Monday campaign at SU.

Bostwick said individuals working with the Healthy Monday campaign were happy to partner with SA.

“It’s really about creating a culture of health and wellness on campus, so any chance that we have to partner with students in different ways, we’re always looking forward to that,” she said.

About five to seven members of SA and four representatives from the Healthy Monday campaign stood outside of the bus stop from 8:30-10:15 a.m.

They waved to students, bus drivers, Physical Plant workers and Department of Public Safety officers as they either got off the bus or passed by the group. Signs SA members held displayed phrases such as “Don’t worry, I’m really stressed, too” and “Smile (it looks good on you).”

Often, students passing by the group smiled, though some showed no change in expression or looked confused. Otto rode around on a blue scooter and occasionally stopped to pose for pictures with students and wave.

Savage said the event was also a way for students to learn who their SA representatives are on campus. She said she wanted to change the direction of the Student Engagement Committee to be more noticeable on campus.

“This is kind of the start of what I hope will become more SA outside of the office,” Savage said. “Our initiatives are supposed to be hearing what students have to say,” she added.

SA President Allie Curtis and other members of the cabinet, such as Board of Elections and Membership Chair Emily Ballard, were also at the event. Curtis seemed to share Savage’s opinion on the event’s purpose.

“It’s a really great way to get out there and engage with the students,” Curtis said. “This is not only a great way to do that, but a great way to put smiles on peoples’ faces.”

Published on February 11, 2013 at 10:10 pm

Contact Dylan: dmsegelb@syr.edu | @dylan_segelbaum