BOLTing into health awareness on campus
Based on Life Theatre wants to make sure CSU students are aware
of current health issues.
BOLT is a peer group that presents lifestyle behavior issues
through drama.
According to the group’s Web site,
www.colostate.edu/Depts/HHS/Bolt, BOLT’s mission is to raise
awareness on CSU’s campus and in the Fort Collins community about
vital health and social issues, using dramatic performance as an
education method.
Hartshorn Health Service has sponsored BOLT since 1992, said Deb
Morris, director of health education at Hartshorn. For the last 12
years the group has presented many topics, from drug and alcohol
use to civility and sexuality. The actors use both written scripts
and improvisation to get to the bottom of an issue.
Because of the sensitivity of the topics discussed, BOLT
provides an outreach method to both its audience and its
members.
“People who watch the show often comment that the performances
help them to recognize and sometimes change their preconceived
ideas about certain groups of people,” said Frances Southwick, BOLT
coordinator and a three-year member.
New members are gathered each year on a voluntary basis. The
group size is generally 10 to 12 people. Any interested students
are invited to join the team.
BOLT has performed at diversity programs, health-promotion
events, residence halls, Greek houses, conferences and
classrooms.
Meetings are Monday nights at 7 p.m. at the health center.
Participation requires one to two hours of practice each week, in
addition to scheduled performances. The amount of time spent
performing changes with the season but generally hits its peak at
mid-semester with about one performance a week.
For Erica Romero, a freshman chemistry major, the performances
seem interesting, but she said she would be more interested in
attending small group shows rather than visiting larger venues.
“If there’s an announcement, (the residence hall is) where
people will see it,” Romero said.
Breakout: Any interested groups may request a performance by
e-mailing CSUbolt@hotmail.com or by calling 491-1702. Performances
vary in length from 15 minutes to two hours and include audience
interaction.
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