Listen Here
By Lauren Wolters 
The University of Findlay Digital Media Club (UFDM) will hold Knockout and 3-on-3 basketball tournaments in the Koehler Fitness and Recreation Center at 8 p.m. on Monday Jan. 16 on courts one through four. The focus of the club’s event is to provide information on depression and mental illness for college students in an inclusive and active way. UFDM President and WLFC General Manager JereMiah Jackson explained the objective of the event in an email interview.
“We would like to come together and make this an open space for people to see that they are not alone in what they are going through, because everyone to some degree deals with mental [health] issues,” Jackson said in an email interview.
Jackson added that there are a variety of factors that can put extra stress on college students.
“As college students there are many factors in which we may feel pressure and or anxiety at times when it comes to our academics, dealing with our peer relationships, being away from home for the first time, and feeling the pressure of being successful after college,” Jackson said.
In July 2022,Mayo Health Clinic reported that “up to 44% of college students reported having symptoms of depression and anxiety” and “as many as 75% of students who struggle with depression and anxiety are reluctant to seek help.”
The basketball aspect of the event reiterates inclusion and togetherness.
“In our world today sports bring people together, and with merging basketball and mental illness we plan to create an amazing, and welcoming atmosphere,” Jackson said.
The event will open with a monologue by WLFC member, Mekhila Woodrick on mental illness. Afterwards there will be a knockout tournament and then a 3-on-3 tournament. UFDM will use various forms of media to display highlights of the event and monologue clips.
UFDM encompasses the radio station 88.3 WLFC, PulseTv, and the Pulse newspaper.
“That’s the best thing about the Digital Media club,” Jackson said. “There are many members from WLFC, PulseTv, and Pulse Newspaper who give their input into making this event the best event possible.”
UFDM members will help with sign-up sheets for students, shooting content throughout the event, commentating, and referring the tournaments. Jackson will be the host of the event.
“I am excited for the UF Digital Media club to host an event like this and show the students the type of event we can host,” Jackson said. “And hopefully it allows us to grow as a club as well.”
Student Government Association (SGA) provided funding for the event. This funding was used to purchase jerseys for the participants, a $25 gift card to Walmart and a medal for each of the winners of the two tournaments. There will also be pizza for those who attend the event.
Jackson shared what he is looking forward to the most.
“I am excited to see and feel the energy of the finale of the 3-on-3 tournament,” Jackson said. “I know the energy is going to be amazing for the finale and I can’t wait to share the memory with many of the UF students.”
The UF Counseling Center, 307 Frazer St., offers walk-in hours Tuesdays from 3 to 4 p.m. and Fridays from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
Email: jacksonj2@findlay.edu to sign up for the 3on3 tournament
