Today I was shopping at the Queenstown Outlets when I noticed a sign on the vending machine. In big, bold letters it read 'CALORIES COUNT. CHECK THEN CHOOSE.' I nearly stopped in my tracks, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't triggered. I posted a picture of it to my private snapchat story and 2 women (current Gunston students) responded, saying this same vending machine and sign were located...in Gunston. 

I frantically looked online to see if there was any type of discussion about this, and to my comfort there was. An article written by a student at Providence College:

"We cannot remove the stickers put up by a corporation or force them to change their messaging—at least not immediately. But what we can do right away is remain mindful of triggers, and start having conversations on this campus about healthful, balanced lives in order to support our community in the best ways  we can."

https://www.thecowl.com/opinion/calories-count-starting-the-eating-disorder-conversation

I graduated from Gunston in 2020, and of course have friends that still attend. As someone who has suffered through bouts of eating disorders and disordered eating, and as someone who knows a handful of young women  who have also suffered through this, I am speaking up and asking that this marketing gets either taken down, replaced, or merely covered with some sort of permanent sign. Calorie Counting is at the center of many and most eating disorders, such as anorexia, bulimia, orthorexia and more; this is not something that should be advertised to developing teenage brains, especially within the halls of a school that prides themselves on being able to ''spread awareness and acceptance about mental illnesses'' and ''valuing a healthy balance between mind and body''.

I believe Gunston has the power and care within them to put a stop to this, and I am not the only one who sits with this belief. Once we reach 50 people, I will personally email staff members that I think have the ability to make OUR voices heard. Thank you.

https://www.gunston.org/about/mission-values

https://www.gunston.org/student-life/clubs-activities