On March 26, Norwich University alumni group Fins and Feathers will host an interactive panel on mental health in Mack Hall at 7 p.m., exploring outreach strategies, remedies, and building resiliency.
“This remains an ongoing challenge within the Norwich community, and we need to be more aware of it,” said Brandon Beal, 27, a corps of cadets alumnus from the Class of 2019 and member of Fins and Feathers. “It is important for students to know what resources are available to them.”
The event, titled “Beyond the Buddy Check”, will be moderated by Randall H. Miller, 53, a corps of cadets alumnus from the Class of 1993. Panelists include Dr. Isabelle Desjardins P’22, Lieutenant Colonel Chris Cadigan, and Reverend William Wick.
Mental health has become a central focus for Fins and Feathers. In fall 2023, the group launched a campus-wide campaign featuring a video with Cadigan and donated a statue of a service dog named Fin, now located on the Upper Parade Ground.
The statue was designed to emphasize the importance of mental health awareness, especially within the Norwich community.
“As someone who spends quite a bit of time on the UP, passing Fin is a reminder of those in the Norwich family who have lost their lives to mental illness,” said Mitchell Drain, 19, a corps of cadets sophomore communications major from Georgia. “It reminds me to check in on my peers and alumni.”
This initiative complements the Buddy Check program launched by the Norwich University Alumni Association in January 2023. The program encourages students and alumni to reach out to one another and check in on mental well-being.
“While these are all good initiatives, they’re not enough,” said Miller. “We continue to have people in the Norwich family that are struggling with mental health issues. We want to go a little deeper.”
The first half of Wednesday’s panel will focus on expanding the Buddy Check program. The second half will center on supporting students and fostering resilience on campus.
Organizers hope the event will spark deeper conversations around well-being. The first 60 students to attend will receive a free Fins and Feathers shirt.
Over the past several years, Norwich has lost community members to mental health struggles. The panel aims to honor them while equipping students with tools for support.
“You don’t have to be a combat vet to suffer from trauma – there’s financial stuff, family stuff, personal things,” said Miller. “When those events come, and they will come, we want people to be prepared for it, have the tools to navigate through it, and come out the other side stronger.”
