Sherry Benton, the new director of UF's Counseling Center, introduced herself to student senators on Tuesday night after more than two weeks of being on campus.
Benton came to UF following an 18-year counseling career at Kansas State University. She said she is most well-known for her research of changes in the mental health of college students during the past 20 years.
Through her studies, she found that the prevalence of anxiety and depression has tripled on campuses, and college students with higher grade-point averages are at a higher risk, she said.
Benton acknowledged the tough budget year ahead, but she said she would like to create a stress-and-anxiety lab to provide counseling services for more students. She did not estimate how much the lab would cost.
"It's very difficult to perform academically when you're feeling anxious," she said.
After Benton spoke, the senators approved giving $12,240 to the School of Music to pay for music shows. This amount was based on attendance from fall performances.
Senators voted to increase SG emergency funds from $1.2 million to $2 million to cover damages to SG-sponsored facilities in the wake of a catastrophic event, such as a hurricane.
