Campus is scattered with sticky notes covered in quotes that seek to be inspiring and words intended to encourage students passing by their message. Typically unsigned, the source of these infamous appearances on campus is often overlooked. This initiative is part of the greater vision of Happy UNew Haven, a club that has only been on campus for five years.
Most people find the notes to be goofy or sweet, but behind them stands the aims to fulfill a more serious purpose.
Happy UNew Haven was founded in 2018 by Mary Lippa, a university alumnus, when she was in her first year.
Not only does the organization regularly put sticky notes around campus, but they also upload pictures of the notes on their Instagram, @happyunewhaven. A post from Nov. 2 has various pictures of the notes, one on a lamppost by Marvin K. Peterson Library says, “You got this. Keep on truckin,” while another says “Be kind to your mind.”
Senior Jonah Junga, Happy UNew Haven president, said the creation and posting of these sticky notes “is one of the ways that we try to connect to the campus community.”
Happy UNew Haven is an organization with the mission of “spreading awareness and destigmatizing mental health issues that people might be afraid to talk about,’’ said Junga.
Students may feel that mental health resources are lacking at the university, so club members say they hope that the short notes can act as a personal encouragement and help individuals feel safe.
Happy UNew Haven’s attitude, according to Junga, is known for being “laid back” with most of their meetings including presentations about different mental health issues and topics. The presentations are meant to help people understand and recognize different issues, some of which might be new to them.
Members have their own reasons for joining but usually they share a motive. Junga said that he joined the club last year because mental health is something that affects everyone he knows. When he heard about Happy UNew Haven from Lippa, he said he wanted to “be a part of” mental health advocacy on campus.
The organization strives to create a safe space for the community and inspire the community to talk about mental health. “We welcome everyone with open arms and we just want to create a calm place,” said Quinny Blaiberg, vice president of Happy UNew Haven.
Blaiberg said they joined because Lippa “provided a very safe space for me.”
Blaiberg also said it felt as if the club is continuing Lippa’s legacy and what she worked for during her time in the university. The organization wants to empower students to talk about mental health, as resources on this topic are things students may be lacking.
“I think this campus, even though [Counseling and Psychological Services], is a very great resource here on campus, doesn’t do a lot for its students regarding mental health,” said Blaiberg. “I think if there are more student voices and more student voices that advocate for that, we may be able to make that change.”
All around campus are sticky notes with inspiring quotes and encouraging words, put there by Happy UNew Haven club.
