Student Health mixes fund-raising with delicious cuisine

What a feast! Did you know Cassandra Jordan, director of the Student Health Center, is a great cook? Or that Brooke Durland, medical director, has great recipes for avocado mandarin orange salad, chicken with oriental vegetables and Uncle Dewey cake?

Now you can make these favorite dishes yourself—they’re all in Student Health Center “Cooks,” a cookbook of more than 150 recipes from every member of the Student Health Center staff.

The cookbook features a full gamut for the palate including appetizers, soups, entrées and side dishes, salads, sauces, breakfasts and breads. It was compiled, designed and put together entirely by Student Health Center staff.

“The amount of time and effort that went into it—the design, layout, editing typing, all done by Student Health Center staff—is incredible,” says Durland.

The cookbook went on sale Oct. 11 during Brick City Festival as part of a larger fund-raiser by the Division of Student Affairs to benefit RIT’s Capital Campaign. It’s available at the Student Health Center’s main desk and costs $10.

“Over the years, the Student Health Center has become quite well known for its cooks,” says Jordan. The recipes have been well tested at department potluck lunches and plans are in the works to hold a tasting event of favorite recipes.

Other student affairs departments and student organizations will host fund-raisers of their own throughout the year, including a performance of The Nutcracker in December.

“This is a way to keep the Capital Campaign visible and present and to encourage the RIT community to participate in campus events,” says Mike D’Arcangelo, director of the Center for Campus Life.

The Division of Student Affairs will also encourage individual staff and faculty members to give to the Capital Campaign, says Frank Lamas, associate vice president of student affairs. The division has a 100 percent participation goal for its 175 full-time faculty and staff.

“We’re very fortunate to have an employer like RIT, providing us stable employment and the opportunity to work at a strong, vibrant, active university,” says Lamas. “This is a way to give back to the university and its students and make a statement about being part of this community.”