All term long, the massage club has been offering what they call “random acts of massage.” This event was a club idea and was started as a way to fulfill club requirements through the Associated Students of Central Oregon Community College, according to Jane Heddles-Flint, COCC massage club member and massage program alumni.
“To remain a club we had to host an event and thought what a better way to be able to go have fun in the COCC community,” Heddles-Flint said.
During the term, students in the massage club went to different locations on-campus unannounced and offered massages to students. They went everywhere from the Campus Center to the Health Career Center.
“The main goal of the massage club is networking and outreach … this event really helps our students share the passion of massage,” Heddles-Flint said.
This was one of many events the massage club has done throughout the year, according to Stephanie Manriquez, massage program director at COCC.
Other events include a t-shirt contest for club members, “food for finals” for their students, and sponsorship of other on-campus events. The club also helps connect massage program alumni with employment opportunities after graduation.
“When employers in the community have a job opening for massage students, the massage club is able to get that information out to our students quickly and connect them with those opportunities,” Manriquez said.
The club also provides self-care tools for massage students as well as tabletop massage cradles for practicing purposes and other supplies.
“By having the massage club on campus we are able to get students those supplies that as program director I might not always have funds to provide,” Manriquez said.
The students plan to offer one more “random acts of massage” event before the end of spring term.
Molly Svendsen | The Broadside