Above photo: Three sunscreen stations were installed March 23 by the Wellness Center, Campus Recreation and Student Government. They can be found next to the volleyball and basketball courts, inside the recreation field and next to the Haney Landing Sailing Center. Jonah Hinebaugh | The Crow’s Nest
By Lauren Meri
Student Government is looking to transform USF St. Petersburg into “SPF St. Petersburg.”
Three sunscreen stations were installed March 23 in a joint effort between the Wellness Center, Campus Recreation and Student Government.
The stations can be found next to the volleyball and basketball courts, inside the recreation field and next to the Haney Landing Sailing Center. If you didn’t know what they were, you might mistake them for hand sanitizers like the ones you see on cruise ships and in some restaurants.
Student body president David Thompson said that they will add more stations around campus as needed.
“I think sometimes people feel like big projects are the only ones that will be effective, but having sunscreen is a thing that is important,” Thompson said. “It’s just something that is super simple that people will be able to use. It will impact the students who take advantage of the outside areas on campus.”
Austin Edge, a boathouse employee at the Haney Landing Sailing Center, had positive feedback about the sunscreen station at his job.
“I have used it every day since it has been here, since I don’t bring any sunscreen with me to work. It’s great for other people who forget,” Edge said. “Hopefully people will use it and complain less about being sunburned.”
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, over 76,000 people are diagnosed with Melanoma yearly in the U.S., and a little less than 10,000 of those cases are fatal.
The sunscreen stations are provided by BrightGuard, and dispense SPF 30. They come equipped with a mirror so people can see their face when applying the sunscreen. They also have an infrared sensor so it dispenses without touching them, making it more sanitary for multi-person use.
The refills come in inexpensive 1000ml pouches and are easy to replace. The dispensers come in green or yellow, which aid in promoting school spirit.
The project was funded by the student body president’s discretionary fund, and will be maintained jointly by Campus Recreation and Student Government.
