Students enjoy a previous Salukis Care Day activity. (SIU Carbondale photo)
September 26, 2025
SIU’s Salukis Care week promotes wellness, helps students succeed
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Salukis Care. It’s the culture at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and in recognition of that commitment to students and their emotional wellness, a weeklong celebration from Oct. 6-9 will help them thrive and succeed.
The theme of this year’s Salukis Care event is “Salukis Striving, United, Soaring and Succeeding,” with daily activities leading up to the university’s three-day fall break, which begins Oct. 10. Each day also features a special theme, and students are invited to join in a variety of activities before, between or after their classes.
Activities abound
The action kicks off on Oct. 6 with Mentality Mindset and Money Mindset Monday as students join counselors from Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), a division of Student Health Services, for an afternoon of fun, games and special activities from 2:30-4 p.m. at Becker Pavilion.
Also that afternoon, Tim Marlo, clinical associate professor of finance, will offer tips and tools to enhance students’ financial literacy as they enjoy pizza from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Room 170 of the Student Services Building.
Turnt Tuesday, Oct. 7, features an assortment of free healthy snacks at the Student Recreation Center from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., along with a variety of health and fitness programs to enjoy, including Zumba, cycling, boxing, several types of yoga and more, 7 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
Salukis Care Day, set for Oct. 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Faner Plaza and the Student Services Building pavilion, is filled with activities to help students unwind, have fun and improve their mental health and well-being. In the event of inclement weather, the activities will move to the Student Center Ballrooms.
Volunteers are needed to assist with Salukis Care Day. Email jacari.henderson@siu.edu by 3 p.m. Oct. 6 to sign up.
Throughout the day, students can take pictures in the College Dreams Photo Booth and share their academic, professional and personal goals on the Dream Wall or on a cutout to stick on the wall.
The Saluki Cares Day schedule includes:
- Food at Student Services Building pavilion:
- 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m. – free pizza and subs for students.
- Water Dogs – free beverages for students, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Snack time – free popcorn noon-3:30 p.m. and snow cones and ice cream 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Games, rock climbing wall, coloring, giveaways, hammocks for relaxing and inflatables for fun, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Chalk fest, students are encouraged to write positive affirmations and comments on the sidewalk, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Cops with Pops, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., get acquainted with campus police while enjoying popsicles.
- Saluki Screening, students can check their mental health by completing anonymous behavioral health questionnaires and also learn about mental health resources available on campus, courtesy of CAPS, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Thoughtful Thursday features Salukis Uniting through Kintsugi, 3-4 p.m. Oct. 9, in Room 170 of the Student Services Building. Also known as the art of broken pottery, this special Japanese artform takes broken ceramic pottery or glass objects and makes them whole by piecing the shards together using gold lacquer, creating a beautiful and valuable new object. As they make their own works of art, students will learn to appreciate the kintsugi concept, which encourages appreciation of “broken” things and the idea of fixing rather than discarding.
Media Advisory
Reporters, photographers and news crews are welcome to cover Salukis Care Day, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, at Faner Plaza. For more information, contact Jacari Henderson at jacari.henderson@siu.edu.
Learn more
For more information about Salukis Care Day/Week or the Salukis Care program, visit the website or email siucares@siu.edu.