Doing simple but creative art can alleviate everyday pain and stress, said Dr. Jennifer Allen, professor of psychology and art therapy at OCCC.

She gave a presentation on art therapy April 7 to an audience of 30 college students in the college union where she explained what exactly art therapy is.

“Art therapy is the power of healing through art,” Allen said.  “If you think about art therapy in a sense, in really simple form, it’s a form of therapy that utilizes the creative process of art-making to improve health and well being.”

Allen comes from a background of helping children, generally with Attention Deficit Disorder or other problems focusing. One activity for the children is to color on a circular pattern of shapes and figures known as a Mandela that was created by Swiss psychologist Carl Jung, a student of world-famous psychologist Sigmund Freud.

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has partnered with OCCC to host the 59th annual National Swimming and Diving Championship on campus in the Aquatic Center.

The event runs from March 4 through March 7, and OCCC is looking for volunteers for the event, including: door attendants, ticket takers, heat sheet and program sales, and hospitality.

“The eyes of the entire nation are on OCCC during this event,” said Recreation and Fitness Secretary Laura Swain

Volunteering one hour typically equals around $22 of labor. Add up all of the hours OCCC students, faculty, and staff volunteer each year, and the sum of money is huge, said Student Life Director Erin Logan.

OCCC partners with over 130 volunteer organizations. They are invited to campus to talk with students and sign up volunteers once each semester.

The Volunteer Fair will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 11 in the General Dining Area.

Students will have the opportunity to talk with their legislators at Higher Education Day at 9 a.m. on Feb. 10 at the Oklahoma State Capitol.

OCCC will be attending the event and Erin Logan, student life director, said students should get involved.

Legislators will be available for students from 9 a.m. until around 1 p.m. Then,  at 2 p.m., a group session will start in the meeting room.

OCCC is conducting a voluntary campus safety survey regarding sexual assault and sexual misconduct beginning Monday, Nov. 24, said General Counsel Nancy Gerrity.

The survey seeks to aggregate information regarding sexual misconduct on OCCC’s campus, Gerrity said. She said the survey is completely anonymous.

A link to the survey will be sent to students’ OCCC emails on Nov. 24, Gerrity said, and will remain active for two weeks, until Monday, Dec. 8.