On October 3, 2019, the second Narcan training of the year took place inside Frey Hall at Stony Brook University. The event was dedicated to Steven Robert Van Cott, the younger brother of Allison Van Cott-McEntee, a nontraditional student and an SBU Chill Peer Educator, who died of an accidental overdose.

The two sessions for 2019 combined saw more than 440 SBU students NARCAN trained. They were each provided a NARCAN Overdose Rescue Kit.

NARCAN, also known as naloxone, is a medication that can be used to block the effects of opioids. Properly administered, it can be a lifesaver in cases of opioid overdose.

“Stony Brook is proud to support efforts to train our students and community on how to use NARCAN in the event of a heroin overdose,” said Richard Gatteau, the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students. “It is a wonderful partnership with our Student Affairs Health Education team and University Police to help save lives.”

The 45-minute training session was conducted by the University Police Department Community Relations Team, and the Narcan kit distribution was supported by Catherine Marrone’s Sociology Teaching Assistants, Chill Peer Educators and Red Watch Band Care Team volunteers.

Additional support was provided by Dr. Richard Gatteau,  Isobel Breheny-Schafer, WUSB Station Manager; Emily Snyder, Director, Department of Student Community Development and Kathleen Valerio, health educator, Chill Peer Education Program Coordinator and event organizer.

University Police Department also hosts their own NARCAN training. Students can request one on their webpage. Upon completion, students will receive a NARCAN kit.

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On Sunday, November 3, 2019, the Staller Center Instrument Petting Zoo (IPZ) stepped out of the schools and libraries and onto the Staller Center stage. The IPZ team gave an introduction to their instruments and the symphonic fairy tale for children, Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf.

The goal was to learn about the sounds of the instruments, emotions they can portray, and how they all come together in a traditional piece that kids will love. The concert was the perfect introduction to classical instruments and music for young children.

The Instrument Petting Zoo started in Summer 2015 to help introduce children and families to classical music, and to reach out to undeserved school districts and those districts where music and arts education has been cut or drastically reduced.

Working with Stony Brook’s Department of Music, Staller Center put together a team of student musicians and trained them as instructors to form the IPZ. During the past four years, the IPZ has reached thousands of children across Long Island. Most of the time, it is the child’s first experience with classic instruments. The IPZ goes to local libraries and schools to help introduce children and their parents to classical instruments.

Learn more about the Staller Center for the Arts.

The Stony Brook University campus community has once again demonstrated  acts of kindness, generosity, caring and compassion throughout the year in 2019.

Each day for the month of December,  we will share a campus story of the ways SBU gives back to the community. We welcome your feedback. Contact the Office of Community Relations at Joan.Dickinson@stonybrook.edu   Happy Holidays!