Binghamton University’s Eating Awareness Committee (EAC) tackled the issue of eating disorders Thursday with a screening of “Someday Melissa,” a documentary about a life cut short by bulimia.
The film follows the life of Melissa Avrin, who struggled with bulimia through her early teen years and died at age 19 in 2009 as a result of her eating disorder.
Sodexo, who co-sponsored the screening along with the EAC, provided healthy snacks for about 100 attendees. The event took place in the Mandela Room and featured a screening of the film, as well as a question-and-answer session with Judy Avrin, mother of Melissa and the person responsible for the film’s creation.
“Someday Melissa,” which debuted in late 2011, looked at the lives of Melissa’s family and friends, as well as the personal thoughts left in Melissa’s journal.
Avrin said she is uncertain about publishing the entirety of Melissa’s journal.
“I have been asked this question at every Q&A I have done,” Avrin said. “I will need to give it some thought before I decide that. There is a lot more to her journal than the excerpts shown in the film.”
Avrin concluded the Q&A by providing advice for people with an eating disorder or who know someone with one.
“If you are concerned someone has an eating disorder, talk to someone,” Avrin said. “If you are struggling, you have to reach out no matter how hard it is.”
Sarah Thompson, a health and wellness lecturer and chair of the EAC, explained the goal of the event.
“We hope students will understand that eating disorders are very dangerous and that they should be treated early and intensely for the best results for recovery,” Thompson said.
Jennifer Heavey, committee secretary of the EAC and part of the University Counseling Center, spoke before the screening on the hopefulness that can be found despite the effects of eating disorders.
“People can be free from enslavement, food and body obsessions, numbers and self-hate,” Heavey said. “They can be free to finally live the life that has been waiting for them.”
Students who attended the event found it to be insightful.
Diana Siegel, a sophomore in the Decker School of Nursing, enjoyed the unique look the film had on eating disorders.
“[‘Someday Melissa’] was good because it looked at the power of the disease besides preventative measures,” Siegel said.
Sydney Kaufman, a senior majoring in human development, appreciated the film’s attention to both aspects of bulimia.
“I am glad it focuses on both parts of bulimia,” Kaufman said. “It’s not just the purge; people tend to forget the binge aspect.”
Francesca Hraska, president of the Eating Awareness Student Sub-Committee and a junior majoring in integrative neuroscience, explained what she saw as the lesson of “Someday Melissa.”
“I think this movie will show viewers the possible severity that an eating disorder can amount to if gone untreated and also point out behavioral patterns involved with eating disorders,” Hraska said.