Middle Earth Holiday Merch - Crewneck

About this campaign

Give yourself or a loved one some Middle Earth gear this near year! 100% of proceeds go to Middle Earth and our programs that support thousands of students every year. Thank you so much for taking the time to purchase some swag and support our work!

Our History: In 1970, a University at Albany student, Louis Ringe '71 and two other students had a dream and took action to make it come to fruition. They envisioned the establishment of a crisis hotline on campus to respond to the needs of students who were affected by personal concerns and societal events of the time, such as the drug crisis, the Vietnam War, and civil rights issues. In the spring of 1970, with the assistance of the University Counseling Center, the dream of these students was realized, and a student-operated hotline, CRISIS 5300, was born. Eventually, CRISIS 5300 turned into Middle Earth and year after year grew into the program it is today.

Present Success: Currently, in 2025, after 55 years of operation, Middle Earth is a student-run organization through Counseling and Psychological Services at the University at Albany. The Middle Earth Peer-Assistance Program provides telephone hotline (518-442-5777), educational programs and awareness, motivational interviewing and peer-coaching to students at UAlbany. As a result of COVID-19, our members have been calling every UAlbany student to check on their well-being. To date, our members have called over 10,000 students to support their health and wellness during the pandemic. This February we are also hosting our Annual Sexuality Month, featuring a keynote speaker and events that educate UAlbany students and community members about concerns related to gender and sexuality, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections, relationships, identity, and reproductive health.

Thank you for the read and thank you for your continuous support of Middle Earth! :)