Uncomfortable conversations often yield opportunities for productive change and heightened awareness. On Sunday, Oct. 23, the campus organizations Voices of Strength (VOS) and Head in The Game held a collaboration meeting which aimed to discuss healthy versus unhealthy relationships within athletics.
Arden McHugh ‘25, a current VOS intern, explains “VOS is a peer education group under the Prevention Education Department dedicated to preventing sexual, gendered and intimate partner violence.” VOS members undergo 32 hours of training in order to best implement their preventative practices related to consent, sexual health, how to access services on and off campus, intimate partner violence and sexual harassment and misconduct. Their outreach to the Muhlenberg community has sparked open conversations within the student body and has encouraged inter-student connections. VOS Intern Isabel Molettieri ‘23 states, “Through these connections we are able to build trust with students and serve as a confidential resource on campus that students can rely on if they need advice, have a question or want assistance in dealing with a difficult situation without having to make any reports to the school.”
Head in The Game was founded by Joel Hark ‘22 and has since been succeeded by current president Sara Peretti ‘23, captain of the women’s basketball team. “The goal of Head in the Game is to create a safe space for athletes to discuss their mental health.” says Caleya Tereska ‘23—women’s volleyball defensive specialist. Grady Boruchin ‘23, assistant coach of men’s football, adds, “It provides an opportunity for student-athletes to truly speak their minds when we aren’t often given the platform to. You usually find out that your fellow peers are thinking and experiencing the same things as you.” In order to encourage expansion, Peretti has made clear goals for the organization moving forward. “We want to emphasize the community aspect of it rather than it being a formal club. Knowing what I have been through the past four years and seeing my teammates experience similar things, nobody should feel that they are alone and that is why I hold the club near and dear to my heart.” Member of the women’s lacrosse team, Emily Gaffney ‘23, promotes her experience of Head in the Game thus far saying, “I have gained a larger network of new friends outside my sport but within the athletic community who could relate to me and open up in a safe environment. I find it easier to build deeper connections within this club because of the safe space it provides.”
The meeting between the two organizations was initiated by a five-minute meditation period, which set the tone for deep discussion. Although details of the talk will remain confidential to those selfless enough to tell their stories and motivate discussion, many overarching takeaways were expressed.
One interesting perspective comes from a member of both VOS and Head in The Game, softball player, Sara Fallon ‘23, who says, “I think that being an athlete at Muhlenberg puts us in more high-risk situations, we’re involved in a lot more things and are around a lot more people and so knowing how to navigate healthy relationships [and] learning what signs/flags (red or green) to look for are super important skills to have. I think this collaboration was so important and the meeting flowed so smoothly. I really hope that VOS gets to [collaborate] more with athletics in the future. Being a part of both groups, I can really see how VOS has educated me and helped me navigate situations as well as help others navigate situations that we, as college students, are frequently faced with.”
Molettieri adds, “Yesterday’s discussion was a great opportunity for Voices of Strength to have a quality conversation with some of Muhlenberg’s athletes and talk about issues that directly affect their day to day lives. It was so rewarding to watch those at the meeting talk openly with each other, relate to each other’s experiences, and offer advice and words of affirmation. This kind of open communication and support is exactly the kind of culture Voices of Strength hopes to create on campus through making the space to talk about these topics; whether that be through events, tabling campaigns or collaboration meetings like this one.”
Both organizations have important events approaching, which may provide the necessary environments for further important conversation. Newcomers are welcome and encouraged by both groups to join in.
McHugh notes, “We [VOS] are tabling with PHAM and other peer education groups to promote healthy practices on Halloweekend on Oct. 27 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.in Seegers! That same day, Prevention Education is hosting speaker Jen Fry who is giving a keynote speech on the 50th anniversary of Title IX. In November, we’re hoping to continue to fundraise for the Allentown Women’s Center by hosting a period pain simulator.”
On Sunday, Nov. 6, Head in the Game will be hosting Muhlenberg College athletic coaches and students alike in an effort to spark conversation about mental health in athletics. Peretti describes the event as an “Open conversation between coaches and student athletes to educate both sides about the many struggles that athletes face everyday.” Peretti continues, “An invitation will be sent to all coaches to participate and all athletes are welcome to pose their concerns and or questions with any of the coaches.”
