SXU holds Biggest Loser Fitness Challenge

More than 100 participants have lost almost 300 pounds in five weeks

Chicago (Feb. 26, 2009) Saint Xavier University’s Shannon Center is hosting its annual Biggest Loser Fitness Challenge at its Chicago Campus, 3700 W. 103rd St.
The 103 Saint Xavier students, faculty and staff participating in the weight loss challenge initially weighed in at 11,831 pounds on Jan. 26. They have lost more than 290 pounds after five weeks.

“Everyone is doing great. They’re enjoying having more energy and experiencing feelings of accomplishment,” Shannon Center Assistant Facilities Manager Kristy Allen said. “They still have five more weeks to go and we hope to see more positive results from all participants.”

The Biggest Loser is a 10-week fitness challenge designed to help participants lose weight, make healthy lifestyle changes, maintain weight loss and have fun. Participants received an informational packet, which included a healthy eating plan, food log, workout tracking sheet and exercise suggestions. Everyone completed pre-assessment sheets with their starting weight, waist measurement, body mass index, blood pressure, energy level and activity level.

Health seminars also were offered to participants, such as Calorie-Burning Workouts, Healthy Eating and Nutrition Tips, and Emotional Well-Being. The Shannon Center offers a track walking program during Wednesday and Friday lunch hours for participants to burn extra calories.

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SXU’s School of Education to host Visit Day events

Visitors can learn about obtaining a master’s in education

Chicago (Feb. 26, 2009) The Saint Xavier University School of Education is hosting Visit Day events where guests can learn more about obtaining a master’s degree in education.

Visit days will be held at 10 a.m. on March 7 in Room 176-177 at the Orland Park Campus, and at 10 a.m. on March 14 in the Butler Reception Room at the Chicago campus, 3700 W. 103rd St.

Interested people can earn a Master of Arts in the following programs: Administration and Supervision, Curriculum and Instruction, Certificate of Advanced Studies, Community Counseling, Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Multicategorical Special Education, Reading, School Counseling, Secondary Education and Teaching and Leadership.

For more information about Saint Xavier’s Visit Day events or to reserve a place, please visit www.sxu.edu, Keyword: Visit Day, or call (773) 398-3200 to reach the Chicago campus and (708) 802-6200 to reach the Orland Park campus.

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Public invited to Saint Xavier University’s 6th Annual Health Fair on March 27

Screenings, health assessments and information available

Chicago (Feb. 25, 2009) Free health screenings, assessments and information are available at Saint Xavier University’s 6th Annual Health Fair from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Friday, March 27, in the Shannon Center, 3700 W. 103rd St., Chicago. The fair is free and open to the public.

“It is important that people of all ages have the opportunity to learn how to live and maintain a healthy lifestyle,” said Jennifer Kjos Quinlan, facility manager of Saint Xavier University’s Shannon Center and organizer of the event. “The SXU Health Fair is a one-stop shop to receive free health screenings, instructions, mini massages and much more provided by local vendors.”

Those attending the fair can take advantage of free screenings and testing services for blood pressure, prostate, hearing and vision screenings, foot screenings, cervical spine screenings, blood glucose screenings, injury assessments, postural assessment, shoe assessments and more. Reflexology and mini chair massages will also be offered free of charge.

Information will be available on nutrition, heath, and wellness with healthy cooking demonstrations and 30-minute nutrition presentations, which will be offered at 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. A body fat screening is available for $15 per person and Heartland Blood Centers will be hosting a blood drive from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. as well.
Neighborhood vendors will be at the fair to share health information with the community, including Little Company of Mary Hospital, Greenwood Chiropractic Care Center, OccuSport Physical Therapy, MetroSouth Medical Center, Core Fitness and Physical Therapy/Beverly Ride On, Better Choice Reflexology, Optometrist Dr. Karina Langle, Podiatrist Dr. Robert Sheffey, Dentist Dr. David Baptist, Advocate Christ Hospital Cardiac Rehab, Chiro PV Solutions, Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy, Running for Kicks, Veggie Bites, Evergreen Health Care, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Machon & Machon, Trader Joe’s, CVS Pharmacy, Lawn Medical, Chartwells Energy Zone, Advocate Trinity Hospital, Well Group Health Partners, Devine Nutrition, Vista Family Medicine, Chicago Department of Public Health, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Chiro One Wellness Centers, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Jungle Gym, and Curves.

Representatives from Saint Xavier University’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, the SXU Ludden Speech and Language Clinic, SXU Health Center, SXU Employee Services, the SXU School of Nursing, and the Shannon Center will also be present at the fair. Participants can purchase any health and fitness related books for 40% off sponsored by the SXU Bookstore.

Light refreshments from Panera Bread and Great American Bagel will also be available. Parents can enjoy a children's activity corner sponsored by Jungle Gym as well as bean bags and Wii Tournaments. For more information, please call (773) 298-3592 or visit www.sxu.edu/athletics.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact: Rick Ducat
773-298-3325 or ducat@sxu.edu

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart to give law enforcement insider’s view

2nd 2009 Breakfast with the Experts hosted by Saint Xavier University and BAPA

Chicago (Feb. 24, 2009) Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart will address topics ranging from forced evictions to dog fighting rings at 2009’s second Breakfast with the Experts event, sponsored by Saint Xavier University and the Beverly Area Planning Association.

This intriguing discussion begins at 7:45 a.m., Thursday, March 12 in the Butler Reception Room of Saint Xavier’s Warde Academic Center, 3700 W. 103rd St.

Tickets are $20 for the general public and $15 for BAPA Members. Space is limited and reservations are required. For more information or to buy tickets, please contact Marcia Walsh at 773-233-3100 or mwalsh@bapa.org, or visit www.bapa.org.

Dart will discuss life at the Cook County Jail—the nation’s largest, holding 10,000 people—and methods of reducing inmate recidivism.

He also will detail how the County’s vice unit combats Internet facilitated sex industry, including the trafficking of teenage girls, and review the animal crimes unit’s recent success in breaking up dog fighting operations.

Finally, Dart will describe his role as the first sheriff in the nation to refuse to conduct foreclosure evictions until new rules were created to protect homeowners and tenants.

“This is a unique opportunity to get an insider’s view of Cook County law enforcement,” said SXU Director of Community and Government Relations Maureen Connor-Kelly. “These are extremely interesting topics, especially for local business and civic leaders.”

Breakfast with the Experts brings notable business, community and civic leaders to the south side to share insights, experience and industry knowledge with local business people. The breakfasts are interactive and designed to engage all participants through networking, keynote address, and a question-and-answer period.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact: Joe Moore
773-298-3937 or jmoore@sxu.edu

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Acclaimed broadcaster and documentary host Bill Kurtis packs the house at SXU

Chicago (Feb. 23, 2008) Acclaimed documentary host and producer, news anchor and rancher Bill Kurtis entertained a standing-room only audience Thursday night at Saint Xavier University when he discussed “The Case against America’s Diet.”

The lecture was part of Saint Xavier’s 2008-09 Squeaky Weal Lecture Series.

Among Kurtis’ many accomplishments, the former CBS Morning News anchor hosted the Peabody Award-winning series The New Explorers, which aired on A&E®, and the long-running Investigative Reports and Cold Case Files®.

In a lecture that was free and open to the public, Kurtis addressed the nation’s increasing obesity and health problems by drawing a direct line between federal subsidies for corn farming and factory farm beef production. As a rancher, active conservationist and supporter of small-town America, Kurtis founded Tallgrass Beef Company in 2005 to champion the environmental and health benefits of grass-fed cattle ranching.

“I don’t really see myself as replacing corn fed beef,” Kurtis said. “I see myself as a guy who is coming in with decaf coffee, with the alternative. So if you want a choice of a Big Mac hamburger, a Quarter Pounder, a cheeseburger, or a healthy grass-fed burger, I think that’s very good. I think they should put it in.”

Sister Joy Clough, R.S.M., of the University’s Office for Mission and Heritage said Saint Xavier was “privileged to welcome Kurtis to campus.”

“Kurtis’ style of thoughtful, open inquiry and marvelous sense of humor delighted a packed house,” Clough said. “It was a perfect example of the kind of social examination we strive to provide with the Squeaky Weal lecture series.”

Saint Xavier’s Squeaky Weal lecture series explores issues of public concern with an emphasis on their religious, moral or ethical implications for the common good. The series is sponsored by the Center for Religion and Public Discourse.

To learn more about the Squeaky Weal lecture series or to learn about its next speaker, Chicago Tribune Columnist Mary Schmich, go to http://www.sxu.edu/ and search key word “Squeaky Weal.”

For more information, please contact the Center for Religion and Public Discourse at (773) 298-3981 or e-mail mareska@sxu.edu.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact: Joe Moore 773-298-3325 or ducat@sxu.edu

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SXU recycling rate on the rise for RecycleMania contest

Nearly twice as many recyclables collected since last year

Chicago (Feb. 23, 2009) Saint Xavier University’s pounds of recyclables for the 2009 RecycleMania recycling contest are nearly double the amount of its 2008 figures.

RecycleMania is a friendly competition and benchmarking tool for college and university recycling programs to promote waste reduction activities to their campus communities. Over a 10-week period, schools report recycling and trash data which are then ranked according to who collects the largest amount of recyclables per capita, the largest amount of total recyclables, the least amount of trash per capita, or have the highest recycling rate.

Saint Xavier’s recycling rate has increased each of the last three weeks:

Recycling rate:
21.26 percent

Weekly Recycling per Week:
Week 1 19.20 percent
Week 2 19.60 percent
Week 3 21.26 percent

Pounds per week compared to 2008:
2008 2009
Week 1 3,533 7,440
Week 2 3,811 7,280
Week 3 6,428 8,010

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact: Rick Ducat
773-298-3325 or ducat@sxu.edu