BINGHAMTON, NY – Binghamton University will host a series of events from Monday, Feb. 23 through Friday, Feb. 27 to coincide with National Eating Disorders Awareness Week.

The week will kick-off with a Library Tower Lighting event at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, near the fountain, hosted by the Eating Awareness Committee (EAC). The EAC’s "Find Your Light - #binghappy," project; will highlight hope, positive thinking and self-compassion.  This event will feature a symbolic lighting of the Library Tower where each participant will receive a jar lantern and instructions to fill the jar with hand written positive thoughts. Participants that fill the jar for the month can bring the jar to the Health Fair on March 25, and redeem a prize.     

The purpose of the "Find Your Light" project is to challenge the community to focus on their positive attributes, promote self-compassion, and to reduce and prevent disordered eating and co-morbid mental health issues. "The EAC wants students to find their light, see bright through dark and focus on what is really important," said Jessica Surdey, an EAC member and one of the event coordinators.

A discussion on body image, social media and a jar project will be led by the EAC and Residential Life simultaneously in Hillside, College-in-the-Woods, Mountainview, Hinman and Newing/Dickinson C4 from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24. Concluding the week, EAC members and students will lead a discussion on eating disorder prevention and the jar project from 3-4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, at the West Gym Lobby. 

According to The National Eating Disorders Association, 20 million women and 10 million men suffer from an eating disorder at some time in their lives. Eating disorders are serious, potentially life-threatening illnesses; help is available and recovery is possible. It is important for those affected, and their loved ones, to remember that they are not alone in their struggle. The mission of Binghamton’s Eating Awareness Committee is to provide education, outreach and resources to the campus and local community related to body image, eating disorders, nutrition and fitness. For more information, e-mail Jessica Surdey at jsurdey@binghamton.edu.