The Neal Bhakta administration is taking a stand on mental health and the health of the planet.
The student body president at the University of Minnesota Duluth had these and other issues on his mind as classes started Monday and the whirl of college life began or resumed for thousands of students, faculty and staff.
Bhakta, a 20-year-old junior from Shakopee pursuing a double major in political science and communications with a minor in Hispanic studies, sat down with the Star Tribune on campus to talk about student life at UMD.
Q: What are some of the biggest issues facing students?
Bhakta: Top of mind for me is sustainability. We're a pretty green campus but we're nowhere near as green as we could be. It's no secret the Earth is dying, and we have all these people in one place here for education, so that's a great opportunity to do more about sustainability.
One just as important issue is mental health. I want to see this campus create a culture where it's OK to talk about mental health anywhere, and where we start ending the stigma.
Q: The campus population is more diverse than the city as a whole. What kind of challenges and opportunities does that present?
Bhakta: When you get into the community and you don't see people like you, or with the same background as you, it makes it harder to be involved. So what can we do as a campus to make them feel more welcome and accepted here? Helping people feel comfortable at their home can help them feel better outside in the community.
