By Denise Washington
The staff and student workers of the Counselling and Wellness Center gathered in the University Center on Feb. 17, to educate students about ways to be healthy and cautious during Mardi Gras and the cold weather season.
“Bystander intervention can be very helpful, if you see someone approaching people who are not sober don’t leave that person alone,” said Chantel Gant, the wellness educator and counselor for the Office of Counseling and Wellness.
There are a lot of fun and exciting festivities this carnival season, with over 78 parades through New Orleans communities this year. Students should prepare for vibrantly large crowds and big bands and the counselors encouraged students to make sure to implement personal safety measures to have the best and safest parade season.
In more recent years, the high spirits have gotten out of control with the surge of carjackings, shootings, and robberies, during the Mardi Gras season. Xavier is taking extra safety precautions for students going to Mardi Gras activities through providing safety and wellness tips on campus.
“Reach out to the police, the metropolitan crisis hotline, and for non-emergency 311, and for medical assistance. Parade goers can go to the University Medical Center on Canal Street,” Gant said as a tip.
Over 1 million visitors come to New Orleans each year for Mardi Gras. The city announced it reached the required numbers of law enforcement officers needed for patrols for the season. The city recently ranked first for murder in 2022 that prompted calls for major reforms in public safety.
“The XULA safety informational gave good tips like hotlines I can call besides the police, like the metro crisis line, but some info is common sense. If you are not from here, of course, you got to be careful,” said Nia Geathers-Williams, a first-time parade goer and Xavier student from Richmond, Calif.
In keeping with Mardi Gras festivities, counseling staff offered students incentives like snowballs, grab bags, and test your knowledge games, and wellness advocates from different organizations provided students with resources and safety options.
“My number one safety tip is to walk through crowds as if you’re not a tourist. You are less likely to be subjected to danger, walk with a purpose but also have fun,” said Maya Taylor, a New Orleans native and senior, at Xavier. “Be courteous of other people’s space because there will be crowds of people walking past or with you to similar locations so a simple “excuse me” is customary in the South,” Taylor said.