Tongue Fu your anger away

By Greg Feltes and Tia Speat

Do you know Tongue Fu?

Strangely with “Anger Management” doing well in theaters, University Resources for Women is offering its own anger management workshop, the uniquely titled “Tongue Fu Tuesdays: The Awful Zinger: Who Holds a Laser Beam Directed at Your Hot Button?”

Diane Henning, a counselor with the CHANCE program, said the timing is right for the workshop.

“It’s a time in our lives with war and all that is going on the world, people might be on edge more,” she said. “The demands that society places on us often increases stress that we experience. Anger is really very important to deal with. People need to have a place where they can go and vent about how anger is affecting their lives and how to effectively deal with their anger.”

Judy Skorek, assistant director for URW, has noticed the same trend.

“If you open a newspaper or open up a magazine or turn on a TV, anger is what you see,” she said. “It’s extremely prevalent.”

The program will allow people to discuss dealing with their anger in an open forum, as well as provide tips on how to deal with stress when it becomes too much.

An open forum is critical for the program’s success, Henning said.

“It’s a safe place where people can confidentially talk about what is going on in their lives,” she said. “I think it’s really important because it shows them other people are experiencing the same things. It follows the philosophy that two heads are better than one.”

Skorek hopes for a diverse crowd. People should come prepared to deal with their problems.

“I would like to see people who are willing to work,” she said. “Certainly there will be occasions where we are preaching to the choir – people who are already working on it.”

Henning said ignoring your anger will not make it go away.

“Don’t avoid your anger, but experience and deal with it effectively,” she said. “You have to have your needs met.”

Henning decided to do this program as her counseling practicum after she observed the short-temperedness around campus.

“I felt it was a great time to do it,” Henning said.

Junior elementary education major and community adviser Nakika Skinner also has noticed the quick tempers around campus.

“As a CA, I am constantly involved in conflict resolution. I have found that the reason why people have so many problems is because they don’t know how to deal with their anger,” Skinner said.

In addition to Tongue Fu Tuesdays, Henning also will offer a brown bag series on anger management which will take place in the Blackhawk Cafeteria at the Holmes Student Center from 12 to 1 p.m. starting this week until May 6.