Author: Ryan Graff
Cooler chef Henry Bojorquez began a wellness program this year in which he and his fellow Dining Services staff take 15-minute walks during their designated break time in an effort to address public health issues. Bojorquez has been working on developing a health program for almost two years and began walking by himself during his free time from the Cooler about a year and half ago At 62 years old, Bojorquez enjoys the health benefits of walking and the feeling that he is adding years to his life. His twice-daily walks caught the attention of other members of the Dining staff, and a walking group of five formed. Now, workers Sergio Gonzalez, Robert Chavez, Carla Saucedo and Diana Cevallos-Rodriguez join Bojorquez every day during their breaks at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. to walk around campus for 15 minutes. They all appreciate the camaraderie and the physical benefits of walking. “I like going on our walks because I’m trying to look good this summer,” Saucedo said. “For me, walking has strengthened my heart and has made me healthier overall,” Bojorquez said. The Dining staff members often work long hours dedicated to preparing food and serving students. They discussed how much they look forward to taking their walks. “So much of our time is spent working and waiting on the students. While we do enjoy our work, it is also really nice to take out some time for ourselves. By walking, we bond together and have something for just us,” Bojorquez said. Although it started as a personal goal for Bojorquez, the Cooler walks have become part of a larger effort that extends campus wide. Bojorquez uses the Cooler walks to advocate a healthy lifestyle, promote campus involvement and form a stronger community. He began working in conjunction with Betsy Butterick in the athletics department, and together they have erected an Occidental Wellness Program. They are leading the wellness movement and have come up with original ways to make it better known. Occidental hosted a health and wellness fair in the quad on March 16 entitled “Wellness 101: A Prerequisite to A Healthier You.” This fair encouraged participation from students, professors, staff members and individuals from the surrounding communities. Members of the wellness program are also trying to get color-coded exercise routes placed throughout campus, which would designate safe and exciting trails for those who wish to utilize them. To show his support for the wellness program, President Veitch decided to partake in the walks with the Cooler staff. Bojorquez is excited about the effort and embraced Veitch’s participation in the event. “President Veitch obviously has a lot of power around campus. It was great to see him come out and support us. I would really like to see more and more people continuing to get involved,” Bojorquez said.
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