Students can expect to participate in exercise sessions, see group performances and sample free food as Sodexo Campus Services hosts its fourth annual Health Fair today in the West Gym.

The event, which was organized by Alexa Schmidt, Sodexo’s registered dietitian, is scheduled to run from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Schmidt coordinated a majority of the event but received some help from the on-campus Eating Awareness Committee.

According to Schmidt, the fair will offer attendees a wide variety of food selection and activities that are free for students.

The exercise sessions, which will be taught by Binghamton University instructors from the health and wellness studies department, will feature various activities such as taekwondo, yoga, Zumba, BOSU, Pilates and cycling.

According to Schmidt, each of the sessions will last for approximately 15 minutes and will run for the duration of the fair.

“The point of the sessions is to allow students to try out these activities with someone to instruct them,” Schmidt said.

The Health Fair will have DJ services by Dave Simek, as well as presentations by many on-campus groups including Children’s Dance Theater, the Pappy Parker Players, a cappella groups the Vibes and the Crosbys, and the Ballroom Dance Association, which will be going on from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The Lourdes Mission in Motion Van will also be in the West Gym Parking Lot (Lot G) from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for the fair. They will sponsor skin screenings and tests for blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol at $12 each. Organizers recommend that students schedule appointments during the fair to ensure they will have time for these tests.

Forty-four different vendors and organizations will be participating in this year’s event. Sodexo along with many on-campus and local vendors will have tables where information and healthy food selections will be available.

“The goal is really to try and help the students see healthier choices and options,” Schmidt said.

According to Schmidt, the health fair has been successful in the past, and is expected to be this year as well.

“Last year we had more than 800 people attending,” she said.

Mary Davis, a senior double-majoring in geological sciences and environmental studies, thought last year’s fair was very interesting and enjoyable, and plans on attending today’s event.

“They have a lot of free food to test out and it’s great that all of the food is organic,” she said.

Kathryn Steigerwaldt, a graduate student in geological sciences, agrees, adding that the fair usually has a variety of organic and environmentally friendly cosmetic products as well.

“When I went the last two years the fair has had a good selection of fun and new organic products. I really like seeing what’s new in the market,” she said.

Visit www.budining.com for more information about the fair.