A performing troupe from Chicago will shed light on mental health issues at a performance and presentation Wednesday.

Jacob Knight, the chairman of the University Housing and Dining Services committee for Social Justice, Diversity and Community Engagement, said the idea of bringing “Erasing the Distance” to Eastern came from a fellow committee member who had seen them perform at another institution.

“We’ve been looking at different stances on diversity that we feel like our campus doesn’t always focus on, and we’re trying to give them some attention,” Knight said.

The two presentations will take place at 3 p.m. in the 7th Street Underground and at 7 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

“Erasing the Distance” will present five skits at each of the two sessions that will address the topics of sexual assault, eating disorders, depression, drug addiction and long-term health issues.

“We really liked the fact that we could select different scenarios and monologues to have them present to our students,” he said. “We really wanted themes that would connect with our students.”

Knight said many students have dealt with mental health issues either directly or indirectly through friends and family members.

“We contracted with them to do those five themes, which will take up the first hour or so of the presentation, and the last half hour, they will talk through the issues with the audience and answer questions,” he said.

Knight said they have also worked with the Counseling Center to bring in a representative who will help to answer questions as well.

Bringing the troupe to Eastern cost the committee $2,500, but their funds were helped by a few RSOs and halls that contributed as well.

“The Residence Hall Association, the National Residence Hall Honorary, Stevenson Hall and Carman Hall all donated,” Knight said.

The committee had a yearlong budget for diversity programming, and contracting with “Erasing the Distance” was a part of that budget, Knight said.

“We had originally budgeted that much to spend that much on (the program) at the beginning of the semester, so in order to cover our marketing and a couple additional expenses, we reached out to those organizations,” he said. “They pretty much always support us, especially when we want to do something that’s a little bit over our budget.”

Robyn Dexter can be reached at 581-2812 or redexter@eiu.edu.