By Katlin Sweeney

Features Editor

Students who were looking for a positive way to spend their time during U-Hour were not disappointed at “Love Your Body Day” on Thursday, Nov. 15.

CSUSM featured an event that celebrated every body shape and promoted positive body image, rather than generating the idea that there is only one “ideal” type.

“Love Your Body Day is an annual event that is meant to empower women and men. Whether they are on a diet, without a diet, whatever body shape, we want to make them feel good about themselves, and empower them in a positive way,” Gender Equity Educator Raihana Siddiq said.

Multiple groups and student organizations were involved with the “Love Your Body Day” event, such as Gender Equity, Kamalayan Alliance, Hope & Wellness Center, LGBTQA and North County Health Services.

Each booth was set up with different activities for visitors to partake in and information for them to learn about, ranging from art projects to learning about organizations that promote positive body image on a regular basis to Henna at a booth with the slogan that makeup is fun, but users are more beautiful without it. At one particular booth, visitors could write signs with messages about what they liked about their body rather than what they disliked, which were then displayed to encourage others to be positive as well.

“At our booth, we are doing a Women’s Studies project to promote feminism. We want to end ‘fat talk’ and instead promote a positive body image by letting everyone know all bodies are beautiful,” student Julia Chamale said.

While every booth had its own theme and design, all of them were working towards the common goal of making CSUSM students feel more comfortable with their bodies and not feel insecure about their appearance.