Cards instructing students how to conduct self-tests for breast and testicular cancer will be displayed in every other bathroom of all residence halls as part of a joint project of Brandeis University Health Services and the Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC). According to Kathleen Maloney, the nursing director at the Health Center, the project is designed to foster a sense of routine health care for all students. Originally, the goal was to put the cards only in the showers of residence halls inhabited by seniors. However, Maloney felt it would be best to put one in every other shower in all residence halls as to try to promote this type of personal care to as many students as possible. The cards will be placed in the showers within the next few weeks.

"The goal is to try to reach as many people as possible," Maloney said.

Maloney continued that the original plan was to also only include information about breast self-examinations. However, staff at the Health Center felt that the cards should include information for men as well, so as to increase health education for all students.

Maloney also stressed that while there is a very high rate of testicular cancer among men ages 15-35, there is a very low rate of breast cancer among women.

"Testicular cancer occurs approximately one in 25,000 men per year," Maloney said. "The risk of developing testicular cancer in a man's lifetime is approximately one in 500. It occurs most commonly between the ages of 15 and 35."

She also said that women who continually do checks will notice subtle changes that may save their lives. She added that if students find something abnormal they are highly encouraged to make an appointment with a doctor.

"If one life is saved, our effort and time will be well spent," Maloney said.

Nicole Karlebach '04, director of public affairs and communication for the Student Union and a member of SHAC, said that she has received a positive response from the Union Senate as well as Residence Life. She added that the committee consists of several Community Advisers who are working closely with the Department of Residence Life on the project to make sure it happens quickly.

"We will be working to with them in order to see they are put in as quickly as possible," Karlebach said.

Karlebach added that now that SHAC has become a more cohesive and organized committee, there will be more programming and promotion of health services provided by the Health Center.

"Our goal is getting people to use the Health Center as much as possible," Karlebach said.

East Quad Director Jeremy Leiferman said that Residence Life has not encountered any obstacles in putting these cards in the showers so far. The primary responsibility of Residence Life is to count up the number of showers in the different quads and notify the Office of Facilities Management once the cards are placed in the showers.

Leiferman added that Community Advisors will most likely be placing the cards in the showers and they will be responsible for educating their residents about the information. He feels that it is a good opportunity for CAs to educate about health issues which will help lead them to approach education in other areas.

"We are supportive of the project and want to educate the students about the importance of self-examinations," Leiferman said.

As far as working with the Health Center on other projects, Lieferman said that Residence Life would always support the projects of Health Services and any other office on campus.