April 05, 2012
 
Folks hanging out in the Armfield Atrium around lunchtime on April 4 found themselves caught up in the middle of a flash mob as a group of about 40 students kicked and wiggled through some of singer Beyonce’s fancy dance steps and her song, “Move Your Body.”
 

Staged during National Public Health Week, the dance not only provided stress relief during a busy time in the academic year but also was a reminder that physical activity is fun and easy to incorporate into one’s daily routine.

The event was the brainchild of Anne Fitzgerald, master’s student in health behavior and health education.

“Mostly, I planned this so students could have some fun during a stressful time,” Fitzgerald said. “Beyonce’s dance videos are a great workout, and they can be done with a group. While many public health students are focused on getting populations to be more physically active, they often struggle with finding time to exercise, so this was a reminder that it’s something you can do spontaneously and with friends. It’s also just a great way to celebrate all those who practice, teach and study public health.”

Participating in the flash mob – practicing, keeping the secret, and carrying out the plan – was exciting, students said.

Sarah Weller said such an event had been on her “bucket list” for a long time. “The running man was an especially challenging dance move,” Weller said. “I’m still not sure I can do it right!” Weller is a health behavior and health education master’s student.

Trent Johnson, student government co-president, praised the efforts of colleagues Fitzgerald and master’s student Sadiya Muqueeth. He also appreciated the enthusiasm of the School’s leadership. “While the event intentionally was not publicized – in order to add to its impact – the School’s administration, including Dean Rimer, [student services director] Sherry Rhodes and associate dean Charletta Sims Evans, were incredibly supportive of this student initiative,” Johnson said.

The majority of participants are in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, but students in environmental health, maternal and child health, health policy and management, epidemiology, nursing and American studies also took part. Members of the Minority Student Caucus and the Hunger Lunch planners, who were holding scheduled activities in the atrium at the same time, were involved from the beginning.

“This was not only an exciting event for public health students, but it helped promote awareness about first lady Michelle Obama’s campaign to combat childhood obesity,” said HBHE master’s student Elaine Lo.

Fitzgerald hopes the group can share the video on a wider scale, perhaps with the first lady’s Let’s Move! campaign.

Watch the video on Facebook.


 
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UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health contact: Linda Kastleman, communications editor, (919) 966-8317 or linda_kastleman@unc.edu.
 

 

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