We are about, in a word, FUN. Everything we do to help educate students on healthy decision making is driven by fun. Have you looked at our office? Have you seen our behind the scenes videos? Have you seen us around campus? We are always goofing around. Whether it’s rockin’ to the not so greatest song in the world, Rebecca Black’s Friday, creating words [Booshawa], or planking around campus, we are always finding ways to get your attention so that we can hit you with facts about how you can be a healthier, wiser, awesomer, wicked cool student. Seriously.

So if you think you have what it takes and you don’t mind having a place to hang out after hours to study, play video games and watch movies, maybe, just maybe, you should get involved.

OUR MISSION

Peer Health was established in 2002 and commissioned with the task to Engage, Empower, and Educate students on how to make wise choices when it comes to alcohol & tobacco use, healthy relationships & eating.

Peer Health is managed by Ismael Torres, UNK’s Health Education Coordinator and a team of student volunteers who are excited about making a difference on campus.

HOW IT ALL STARTED

In the fall of 2009 UNK’s Counseling & Health Care (CHC) was asked to assist in community efforts of reducing high risk drinking. Under the direction of the Buffalo County Community Health Partners and with funds provided by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services’ “Nebraska Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant” (SPF SIG), CHC began working toward this goal.

One of the many tasks that were set before us as part of the grant requirements was to establish a social norms campaign. With Ismael Torres having earned his Masters in Journalism & Mass Communications/Advertising, this aspect of the grant was handed over to the Peer Health Education Office. Ismael solicited the help of freelance photographer/media guru and former UNK Student Michael Nyffeler  and former UNK marketing student Happy Macwan. Together the three began the process of developing what is now known as…It Ain’t Pretty.

It Ain’t Pretty is a social norms media campaign which aims at reducing binge drinking at UNK in a fun and interactive way!

WHY “IT AIN’T PRETTY?”

Prior to the development of this campaign, there were many twist and turns (and there still are) to get to where we are at today. Overall all we felt like we needed to do something that was humorous yet educational without throwing numbers out at students to scare them. We began sharing stories, some our own…some that we heard about in regards to binging. At the end of that night after numerous funny stories, watching videos on Collegehumor and YouTube, we came to the conclusion that although funny…BINGE DRINKING JUST AIN’T PRETTY.

From there the campaign was born and now you get to be a part of it by interacting with us through Facebook, Twitter, Youtube or Flickr. Share your stories with us and who knows— maybe yours will be the next poster hanging up on Campus!