The Student Health and Wellness Center has been embroiled in controversy, as Sarah Hahn, director of Counseling and Psychological Services, was fired for whistleblowing on the misallocation of UC Davis mental health funds.

Although the $18 million was not spent hiring new counselors as planned, Student Health and Wellness director Margaret Walter has a solution for students seeking mental health treatment: lavender oil.

Walter released an memo detailing the health benefits of lavender oil to mental health.

“It really helps relieve stress and anxiety,” the memo said. “Which means it will probably help with depression, intrusive thoughts, and compulsions too. They’re basically all related … At this point why even have counselors when lavender oil helps with pretty much everything?”

Student reaction to the memo, so soon after the controversial firing, was understandably negative. In response, the Student Health and Wellness Center held a conference for Margaret Walter to field questions.

When asked for the proof behind lavender oil, Walter responded, “Well, my friend tried it and it just changed her life. Just try it yourself, that’s all the proof you’ll need! Besides, it’s an essential oil. They wouldn’t call it essential if it wasn’t.”

Student advocates agreed that the misappropriated $18 million was still a hot-button issue. The missing money and the firing could not be fixed with lavender oil, despite what Walter claimed.

“Oh, don’t worry about that. In fact, I have an exciting business opportunity for the university,” Walter said, as she unveiled an organizational diagram in the shape of a pyramid. “By selling Vrexus™, which is made with real lavender oil, we can make our money back and more in no time at all.”

Walter continued to explain that all UC Davis had to do was recruit three people into Vrexus™ sales and that “UC Davis will be in the black in no time.”

Several student mental health advocates have released a statement saying that they would be protesting Walter’s actions, but added that resisting would be a lot easier if they had access to mental health services.

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