A.S. approved additional funding for a keynote speaker needed for upcoming Eating Disorder Awareness Week. The event, which is sponsored by CSUN’s Joint Advocates on Disordered Eating, got an additional $800, bringing its total to $2,300.

“This is a huge accomplishment that the majority of the senate is standing by their constituents,” Senator Cinzia Lettieri said.
Some senators challenged the funding increase for JADE.

“Do you consider it financially responsible or fair to other clubs and organizations?” Senator Jonathan Gjemso asked Director of Finance, Anthony Kendryna.

A.S. President Amanda Flavin struck down his inquiry to the director, as it wasn’t a question pertaining to the fiscal issues at hand.

The event’s funding included $3,350 for the week’s activities, $1,700 for classroom presentations and $950 for training seminars.

In an appeal to the student senate, Lettieri emphasized just how many CSUN students are affected by eating disorders.

According to a study of over 1000 students in Fall 2011, meant to represent a total class size of 36,897 students JADE’s CSUN chapter found that 60 percent of students knew someone with an disorder and 15 percent said they had or have an eating disorder.

The senator also said that 25 percent of all students at CSUN either have or used to suffer from an eating disorder. Of those who are suffering from this disease, 10 percent are male.

Lettieri said 90 percent of all CSUN students report worrying about their body image in some way.

Lettieri shared a disturbing statistic – somewhere between 74 and 80 percent of all CSUN students report that they have skipped a meal at least once with the intention of losing weight.

The action item had been brought up in prior meetings and according to Lettieri, she fought to revisit the previously adopted motion to the A.S. agenda.

JADE’s “Celebrate Every BODY” Eating Disorder Awareness Week is a five-day event, beginning Monday, Feb. 27 to Friday, March 2.
The week-long event includes a variety of engaging activities, talks, cooking classes and speakers.

Some events listed include keynote speaker, Whitney Thompson, America’s Next Top Model Winner, delivering her speech “Breaking Down Barriers- A Plus Size Figure in a Zero Sized World,” in the Grand Salon from 3 – 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 29.

Other events slated include “Mirrorless Monday” where all mirrors across campus will be covered to advocate the importance of not focusing too much on looks, but on how individuals are inside and out.

Tuesday’s “Celebrate Every BODY Fair” will feature games, booths and activities.

“We went from only three senators approving the funding to the majority… I think we did something really good today,” Lettieri said.