Aside from simply housing throngs of students, the South 40 is also home to the police station, the Social Justice Center and Residential Life. Those organizations may soon have some company-Student Health and Counseling Services (SHCS) might be making the move to the South 40.

James McLeod, vice chancellor for students and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said that he envisions the possible move as a solution to a problem of space, not merely as a way to improve SHCS’s proximity to students. McLeod said that with more facilities, students can receive better service.

“We’re simply running out of room [in Umrath Hall],” said McLeod.

McLeod stressed that the problem does not lie with SHCS’s current quality of service to Washington University students. Improving student care, rather than letting it stagnate, notes McLeod, is part of the University’s ongoing process of improvement.

“We have made health and wellness a priority,” said McLeod. “We want to make it even better.”

SHCS could not comment on the potential move, instead referring all questions to McLeod.

As the proposal is still in its preliminary stages, a specific location on the South 40 has not yet been chosen. McLeod said that a good deal of time may pass before such plans come to fruition, with even more time passing before the move could actually take place.

“That’s the question we’re presently looking at,” said McLeod. “We discussed this with students [both] graduate and undergrad and staff.”

Students on the South 40 seem optimistic about the proposed move. They say the proximity of SHCS would be a welcome convenience.

“Basically, [SHCS is] here to help residents, and most live on the South 40,” said freshman Shreepada Tripathy. “[The move would] help us out more.”

Junior Dan Larremore, who lives off campus in the De Mun/Clayton area, had a different view of the move.

“I’m sure that the University would have their reasons for moving Health Services to the 40, but as far as I am concerned, that just makes the trip 10 minutes longer,” said Larremore.

The proposed move of SHCS is part of the University’s plans to keep student services in general as effective as possible. According to the SHCS website, it sponsors two University-wide student advisory committees to solicit input on a variety of student health concerns, namely the Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC), composed of undergraduate students, and the Graduate Student Health Advisory Committee (GSHAC). Additional programs are available free of charge to any individual student or student group on stress management, alcohol or drug awareness, nutrition, and general wellness.

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