Visit the UConn Coastal Perspectives website for connection information. These lectures are being offered online and in-person. Tuesday, April 22, 2025; 7:30 p.m. Thomas Halaczinsky, filmmaker | producer | photographer | writer Plum Island – Telling the Story of One of the Most Mysterious Islands on the Eastern Seaboard Plum Island, located just 1.5 miles off Orient Point on the eastern tip of Long Island's North Fork and 9 miles as the crow flies from the Connecticut shore, is most likely one of the most mysterious islands on the Eastern Seaboard. For more than 100 years, the 840-acre island has belonged to the federal government, housed an army fort, and was part of the coastal defense system protecting the back entry through Long Island Sound to New York City. In 1948, the U.S. Army Chemical Corps took over the island when Congress allocated $30 million—$390 million in 2025 dollars—to prepare the country for possible biological war. However, in 1954, the Department of Agriculture took over the laboratory—infamously known as Lab 257—focusing on developing vaccines against highly contagious animal diseases like foot-and-mouth disease. After more than six decades, the Plum Island Animal Disease Center bids farewell to Plum Island. The 2008 legislation regulating the move of the laboratory called for selling the island at auction to the highest bidder. A coalition of over 120 organizations of environmentalists, conservationists, historical societies, and impassioned citizens rallied to defy the sale and safeguard the island's legacy. Meanwhile, the Montaukett Indian Nation, once the owner of the island, is fighting for state recognition. In 2018, documentary filmmaker Thomas Halaczinsky started to document the fight to preserve Plum Island. The film is currently in post-production. As the filmmaker navigates the intricate tapestry of Plum Island, where local stories echo through time, the documentary uncovers a microcosmic American story. The talk offers a behind-the-scenes look at the production process.

UConn Gives, the annual 36-hour fundraising event at UConn, will be taking place on April 21 and 22. Every year, the UConn community rallies to support many different causes on campus, including our ownCampus Sustainability Fundand theUConn@COPFund!TheCampus Sustainability Fund (CSF)finances programs and initiatives that support students and advance UConn's position as a global leader in university sustainability. Contributions to the CSF provide critical funding of transformative learning experiences for students including hands-on professional development through internships and research projects that nurture our natural environments, improve health and wellbeing, and enhance environmental justice in the communities which we serve. The CSF also funds our experiential learning events such as the Haunted HEEP (https://sustainability.uconn.edu/haunted-heep/), the UConn-famous annual haunted trail walk at the Hillside Environmental Education Park (https://sustainability.uconn.edu/operations/grounds/#HEEP).TheUConn@COP Fundsupports the UConn@COP Fellowship program (https://sustainability.uconn.edu/uconn-at-cop/), helping the OS send a cohort of students each year to the annual United Nations Conference of the Parties. Through UConn@COP, students have participated in panels at international press conferences, networked with global environmental leaders, and heard from and interacted with international delegates and core members of international environmental justice movements. UConn@COP is an incredible, transformative experience for fellows, and it would not be possible without the support of generous donors!Every donation, big or small, means so much! You can donate athttps://s.uconn.edu/uconngives25 Select the UConn@COP (mailto:UConn@COP) Fund and/or the Campus Sustainability Fund to support our work. Thank you to everyone for supporting sustainability achievements and the environmental leaders of tomorrow!

For the full class schedule, descriptions, and to register, please visit the UConn Recreation website (https://recreation.uconn.edu/group-fitness-schedule/).

For the full class schedule, descriptions, and to register, please visit the UConn Recreation website (https://recreation.uconn.edu/group-fitness-schedule/).

More info about SHaW's Group Sessions. (https://studenthealth.uconn.edu/mental-health/group-therapy/)Huskies on Track: Navigating ADHD at UConn This group provides a space to discuss the ways ADHD can show up in your life. We'll focus on understanding how ADHD functions in the brain, navigating common challenges people with ADHD face, and talking about the emotional experience of living in a world designed for neurotypical people. The goal of this group is to help create a sense of community and understanding for students with ADHD at UConn. Example topics that the group will cover include time management, task prioritizing, and emotional regulation. All individuals who feel the group would be beneficial to them are welcome, regardless of whether they have a formal ADHD diagnosis. To join this group therapy session, please call SHaW at 860-486-4700 (tel:860-486-4705). This session is held by Alyson Faires, Psy.D. For many concerns that students face – like overwhelming stress, anxiety, difficult relationships, depression, academic difficulties, and more – group therapy is the best option for support and healing. Facilitated by Student Health and Wellness (SHaW) counselors, our therapy groups encourage peer support, promote emotional wellbeing, and increase a felt sense of connection. Participants often find that they feel less alone in their struggles, and walk away with newfound support and ideas for coping.

This is a skilled based experiential mindfulness workshop offered to UConn faculty/staff and students. It includes an introduction of concepts and skills of mindfulness and practice exercises.Skills and Concepts Introduced: • Definition and benefits of mindfulness • Present moment awareness • Noticing • Accepting Making Time for Mindfulness may be requested as a program event here (https://uconn.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eOHtWoqN0I8CHVb)