Edition 4: March - April 2015
ACUI region V Newsletter
Fun in Flyover Country
Greetings Region V Colleagues! It is refreshing to see many of our regional members connecting on and off line at conferences, educational opportunities, and other ACUI events. We are excited to continue to bring you regional information via the newsletter, Facebook, emails, and Twitter. Speaking of Twitter, we have a special social media treat for you! Tom Krieglstein, 2014 Region V conference keynote speaker, founder of #SAChat, and a long list of other accomplishments, shared with us some of top Twitter accounts to follow in student affairs!
Tom Krieglstein’s Twitter Picks! @The_SA_Blog @Lmendersby @Ammamarfo @EdCabellon @ChrisConzen @ReyJunco @TonyDoody @StudentActivism @StacyLOliver
As with all of our newsletter content, we hope you find this information valuable and we hope you enjoy the fourth edition of our newsletter. If you have any questions or submissions for the newsletter, please contact Kat Shanahan at shanahankj18@uww.edu.
Contents 2 Regional Leadership Team 3 Member Schools 5 Message from the Director 7 Introductions 8 Announcements & Reminders 9 See Yourself in the Picture: The Value of Inclusivity Audits
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11 Institution Spotlight 12 2016 Region V Conference Save the Date
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Community of Practice Highlight Battle of the Regions Announcement San Antonio Preview
Region V Leadership Team Regional Director Scott R. Maas Creighton University 200 Skutt Student Center 2500 California Plaza Omaha, NE68178 Phone: (402) 280-1701 scottmaas@creighton.edu (Dec. 1, 2014 - Dec. 31, 2016)
Volunteer Coordinator Aaron Flynn University of North Dakota Memorial Union PO Box 8385 Grand Forks, ND58202-8385 Phone: (701) 777-0872 aaron.flynn@email.und.edu (9/13/2013 - 11/30/2014)
Communications Coordinator Kat Shanahan University of Wisconsin-Whitewater University Center 800 W Main St, UC 250 Whitewater, WI53190-1705 Phone: (262) 472-1239 shanahankj18@uww.edu (9/13/2013 - 11/30/2015)
Student Involvement Coordinator Shelby Schuppe University of Wisconsin–Stout Memorial Student Center 212 302 10th Ave. E. Menomonie, WI 54751 Phone: (715) 232-1772 schuppes2274@my.uwstout.edu (Oct. 9, 2014 - Nov. 30, 2015)
Membership Coordinator Andy Williams Macalester College Ruth Stricker Dayton Campus Center 1600 Grand Ave Saint Paul, MN55105 Phone: (651) 696-6472 awillia8@macalester.edu (9/13/2013 - 11/30/2014)
Web and Social Media Coordinator Seth Dohrn Iowa State University 201 Memorial Union Iowa State Memorial Union Ames, IA50011-1130 Phone: (515) 294-7226 sdohrn@iastate.edu (9/13/2013 - 11/30/2015)
Business Manager Dan Abler Marquette University Alumni Memorial Union Room 245 PO Box 1881 Milwaukee, WI53201-1881 Phone: (414) 288-5528 Daniel.Abler@Marquette.edu (9/13/2013 - 11/30/2015)
Awards & Scholarships Coordinator Paul Wraalstad North Dakota State University Memorial Union 246 PO Box 6050 Department 5340 Fargo, ND 58108 Phone: 701-231-8241 paul.wraalstad@ndsu.edu (Oct. 9, 2014 - Nov. 30, 2016)
Regional Corporate Partnerships Coordinator Brent Freeman University of Nebraska–Lincoln Nebraska Union, Room 200 PO Box 880452 Lincoln, NE 68588-0452 Phone: 402-472-8169 bfreeman9@unl.edu (Sept. 15, 2014 - Nov. 30, 2015)
2015 Regional Conference Chair Vanessa Ryan University of St. Thomas Director of the Anderson Student Center 2115 Summit Ave Mail #5012 Saint Paul, MN 55105 Phone: (651) 962-6149 ryan7119@stthomas.edu (9/13/2013 - 11/30/2015)
Online Learning Coordinator William Tourville Minnesota State University-Mankato Centennial Student Union 220 Student Union Mankato, MN56001 Phone: (507) 389-6076 william.tourville@mnsu.edu (9/13/2013 - 11/30/2014)
Educational Program Coordinator Vacant Interested in joining the Regional Leadership Team? Email Scott Maas at scottmaas@creighton.edu
2016 Regional Conference Chair Kyle Burke Northeastern Illinois University Student Union 5500 N Saint Louis Ave Chicago, IL 60625-4625 Phone: 773-442-4632 KE-Burke@neiu.edu (Oct. 9, 2014 - Nov. 30, 2016)
Inclusivity Coordiantor Jeni Eltink University of Minnesota Duluth 134 Kirby Student Center 1120 Kirby Drive Duluth, MN55812-2403 Phone: (218) 726-6526 jeltink@d.umn.edu (9/13/2013 - 11/30/2015)
Connect With ACUI Region V /ACUIRegionV
@ACUIRegionV
http://www.acui. org/region/v/ ACUI Region V Newsletter Edition 4
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region V Member Schools
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Illinois College of Lake County DePaul University Elmhurst College Illinois College Illinois State University Knox College Lake Forest College Loyola University Chicago Millikin University Northeastern Illinois University Northern Illinois University Northwestern University Southeastern Illinois College Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville University of Chicago University of Illinois-Chicago University of Illinois-Springfield University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign Western Illinois University Iowa Iowa State University Simpson College University of Iowa University of Northern Iowa Manitoba Minnesota Bemidji State University Hamline University Macalester College Minnesota State University-Mankoto Minnesota State University-Moorhead Normandale Community College St. Catherine University St. Cloud State University
St. Olaf College University of Minnesota-Crookston University of Minnesota-Duluth University of Minnesota-Morris University of Minnesota-Rochester University of Minnesota-Twin Cities University of St. Thomas Nebraska Creighton University Midland University University of Nebraska-Lincoln University of Nebraska-Omaha North Dakota North Dakota State University University of North Dakota South Dakota Black Hills State University South Dakota State University University of South Dakota Wisconsin Carroll University Madison Area Technical College Marquette University St. Norbert College University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire University of Wisconsin-Green Bay University of Wisconsin-La Crosse University of Wisconsin-Madison University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh University of Wisconsin-Parkside University of Wisconsin-Platteville University of Wisconsin-River Falls University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point University of Wisconsin-Stout University of Wisconsin-Superior University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
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Message from the Director Scott R. Maas, Creighton University
In the last edition of “Fun in Flyover Country,” I referenced the eight banners that adorn the railings of the Skutt Student Center here at Creighton University. One would think these are just banners but these banners are so much more to the Creighton community. The eight Ignatian values, which Creighton University time and time again instills into our students, are values of love, care, and compassion; not only for oneself, and one’s community, but also for others. Yesterday, I received an article from a priest here on campus that referenced the Jesuit/ Ignatian value “Men and Women for Others.” The article was the text of a talk given in 1973 by Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ, a groundbreaking Jesuit of his time. It was in this talk when the value “men and women for others” was coined. Arrupe was speaking to the European Congress of Jesuit Alumni, sharing a message that is relevant for our students and alumni today. So I stopped to ponder what it means to truly be men or women for others. That brought my thoughts back to my community here in our union. How do my students grow and develop into men and women who are dedicated to their peers, devoted to their studies, committed to the advancement of what is good, right, and just, and enthusiastic participants in a campus community that inspires and challenges? Then I remembered the key critical elements that ACUI believes there are to building a community. The elements (found under About College Unions on the ACUI website) are: inclusiveness, transformation versus conversion, chaos and conflict are a natural part of the community-building process, an important key to community building is the individual community builder, and community building is a continual process. I found it interesting that Arrupe discusses similar elements as fundamental aspects of truth to becoming a whole person and a valuable member of one’s society or community. Here are some reflections and connections between our Jesuit Ignatian values and our student union elements of building a strong community. Inclusiveness. We strive for our students to reflect a value that doesn’t just “invite someone different to join the group” rather it confronts differences (both within self and the other person) so that together “we might transcend those differences.” Arrupe refers to inclusiveness by stating that our educational goal and objective, to form men and women who live, not for themselves but for others, is rooted in a genuine care and love for others; not simply a spoken love, but a true commitment in truth and in action. He goes on to say that we must move “beyond this dilemma of conflicting alternatives.” He explains that we are only hurting ourselves and our own communities when we do not listen and develop our conversations and our attitudes with those who think differently. Transformation versus conversion. ACUI states that, “in a true community, you respect differences and the right of a person to keep an individual opinion,” as well as the right to change or not to change that opinion. In Arrupe’s speech, he says that we must go a step further than simply respecting the differences of others and their opinions, he points out that we cannot completely change ourselves (into respectful people who value others differences) if we do not change our world. He states, “Education for justice is therefore educating for change; it means forming men and women who will be effective agents for change and transformation.” It is through a transformation of becoming a man or woman for others that our personal center turns to our neighbor, so selfishness disappears from our inward being. 5
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Chaos and conflict are a natural part of the community-building process. “It takes time for people to work through the evolution of understanding, accepting, respecting, and then celebrating differences. We can expect confrontation, anger, frustration, and alienation to occur. Suffice it to say that community building may sometimes be a lengthy and painful process, and we must learn to accept conflict and chaos as part of the natural community-building process.” Arrupe says that as long as the opposing sides view the problem in terms of alternatives that exclude one another, there can be no solution to the problem. A man or woman for others is rooted in respect for others and is able to foster conversation and dialogue that may “bring into profound harmony extremes which at times are presented as contradictory and conflicting.” An important key to community building is the individual community builder. “A successful community builder must have the disposition… to create community.” A community builder must have a strong sense of self-awareness and self-understanding. Before one can be open and accepting of another’s differences, one needs to understand one’s own limitations. Arrupe tells us that an agent of change is one who can love their enemies, a true love that is selfless and focuses on the truth within a community that is challenging to find or hidden. He says that it is difficult being good in a bad world; we want to fight evil with evil, selfishness with selfishness, hate with hate, and if possible, destroy aggressors. But it is through an individual who holds true to the importance of community, and is able to persevere through trials and challenges who can dedicate themselves to creating a world and a community that values everyone. “Evil can be overcome only by good, hate only by love, selfishness only by generosity; all those are necessary in this concrete world… In order to be just, we have to do more than simply refrain from contributing to the already gigantic reserve of injustice in the world; we must also voluntarily experience the effects of injustice, we must refuse to continue playing its game, and above all we must replace its dynamic of hatred with the dynamic of love.” Community building is a continual process. “Community is not a product or a destination; it is a process that creates, evolves, and changes as it seeks to be inclusive.” The speech has a reminder that when we focus on that which is right, true, just, and loving, only then have we preserved something that allows us to renew ourselves continually, namely, the spirit of continual searching for a keen spiritual sensibility for discerning the ways in which we are called to continually build our community. As we approach our San Antonio conference, I am excited to see everyone and to reconnect with a community that I have come to know and love, a community that is dedicated to each other, and shows how to love each other through mutual respect, the sharing of ideas, and the fostering of healthy relationships and communication. Our students can truly learn from the way we exemplify community here in Region V. Pedro Arrupe concludes his speech by saying, “We are centers who are called to go out of ourselves, to give of ourselves, and to reach out to others in love, because love is the definitive and encompassing dimension of human beings; it is the dimension that gives all the other dimensions their meaning, their value, or their lack of value. Only the person who loves becomes fully realized as human. We are most truly persons not when we close in upon ourselves but when we open up to others.” Let us show our love for each other, for our community, for our unions, and for our campus, by showing others our love and giving ourselves to others, as we all strive to be men and women for others. Promotion of Justice and Education for Justice. Pedro Arrupe, SJ. «Iglesia y justicia. Actas del X Congreso de la Confederación Europea de Asociaciones de Antiguos Alumnos de Jesuitas,» Valencia, Spain, 29 July-1 August 1973, pp. 92-118. ACUI Region V Newsletter Edition 4
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Introductions Student Involvement Coordinator: Shelby Schuppe, University of Wisconsin - Stout Hello! My name is Shelby Schuppe. I am an applied social science major at the University of Wisconsin – Stout. My volunteer position through ACUI Region V is the student involvement coordinator. This is a newer position to the organization which means that navigating exactly what I can do has been a challenge but I want to help! Through this position I am able to bring to the table different workshops or add-ons for the region to improve student outreach. I have a passion for working in student affairs and plan to continue it in some fashion after graduating (this semester!). I have worked in the Involvement Center, which helps the more than 150 organizations on campus stay organized; Ally Initiatives for Civil Rights and Civic Engagement, which organizes trainings and events focused on social justice and volunteering; and I am currently the organizational affairs director for our student government which takes on more of a supervisory role of the organizations. Through all of these positions I have made connections with people all around campus who I never thought I would ever meet. I am more than happy to help any students who want to get involved in ACUI or on their campus more. It has been a life-changing and rewarding experience for me and I would love for everyone to feel the same way I do!
2015 Regional Conference Introducing the 2015 Conference Program Team! Kyle Burke, Northeastern University David Lemon, University of St. Thomas Annie Wood, Minnesota State University-Moorhead Laura Walton, University of Minnesota-Morris Christina Geissler, University of Minnesota-Duluth Michael McKean, Northwestern University Jill Ward, Bemidji State University
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Announcements & Reminders Scholarships Available Soon! Every year, Region V offers an opportunity for our members, undergraduate or graduate student and/or professional staff member, to apply for scholarship funding to cover the registration fee of any ACUI-affiliated program. Programs may include Women’s Leadership Institute, I-LEAD®, IPDS, the Student Organizations Institute, the annual conference, or a regional conference. Up to five scholarships will be granted with at least two going towards I-LEAD®. Applicants will be required to submit an essay explaining their desire for the scholarship, which program they would like to attend and why, and include a plan for development through attendance at the selected ACUI affiliated program. Student applicants must provide proof of good academic standing is required in addition to a letter of support from their host institution and one letter of recommendation. Nominations Must Include: • Essay explaining: A) what program individual would like to attend and why as well as B) their individual plan for development through attendance at the selected program • Proof of academic good standing (if a student) • One letter of recommendation • Acknowledgment that fees not covered by program registration are at cost to the host institution or individual Please contact Paul Wraalstad (paul.wraalstad@ndsu.edu), Region V awards & scholarships coordinator if you have any questions.
Region V Core Values I. Innovation II. Fiscal Responsibility III. Connections IV. Educational Resources V. Inclusivity
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See Yourself in the Picture: The Value of Inclusivity Audits In 2009, the University of Minnesota-Duluth was fortunate to have Beverly Daniel Tatum, president of Spelman College, as the keynote speaker at the Summit on Equity, Multiculturalism, and Diversity. Her talk was full of thought-provoking ideas, but the one that’s stuck with me most over the years is the importance of being able to see yourself in the picture. Tatum explained the concept this way. When you see a photo that you know you’re in, what’s the first thing you look for? Usually, it’s yourself. From there you look at other elements of the picture: the other people, the background or place, and what else is happening. But what if it’s a picture you’re not in? In that case, you look at all the elements of that photo and consciously or subconsciously ask yourself, “Could I see myself in this picture? Would I be welcome here?” That idea is a powerful one for those of us who work in student unions. Are our buildings, our programs, and our services set up to be welcoming to many different kinds of students? What about staff/faculty members or people from our local communities? An inclusivity audit is one tool for seeing whether your “picture” is welcoming to people with many different identities. One advantage of the inclusivity audit is that every member of your staff – professional, graduate student, or undergraduate student – plays a role in gathering information and providing feedback. Administrative staff can review policies, procedures, and budget allocations. Communication/ marketing staff can review signage, email and online communications, web pages, and digital and print materials. Activities and programming staff can review the types, times, intended audiences, funding, and participants of the programming that happens in the union. Operations staff can look at the facility itself: look and feel of spaces, accessibility, photos/art/artifacts, and who are the typical facility users. Supervisors can consider the holistic diversity of the teams they supervise, as well as review how staff interact with customers in the course of their duties. What should staff be looking for in their part of the audit? That will be guided by your department’s and college’s or university’s mission, by the composition of your student body and the surrounding community, and by what you prioritize in terms of space, funding, and services. For example, do you have a growing population of off-campus/commuter students, and is it important to you that they feel welcome and participate in the activities of the union? You might consider the timing and
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location of your programming, the language you use in your communications, the available space for commuter students to spend time in, or the open hours for your services. You can choose from an endless number of different identities in order to make your union more inclusive. In the process of gathering information, don’t forget to talk with people other than your staff. In the example above, hearing directly from off-campus/commuter students is vital. Give them opportunities to weigh in on your facility, programs, and services. Open-ended questions work best, because these students may have ideas you haven’t thought of. Be sure to also ask them for their opinions on what the priorities should be – because we all know that we are working with finite physical, human, and fiscal resources. After the data is gathered, your decision-makers need to review the information and prioritize items for action. To the extent you can, try to have some priorities for each of the staff areas that participated in the inclusivity audit. Seeing concrete action come from the information and suggestions they put forward helps to increase staff engagement, and makes it more likely that staff will contribute constructively to future inclusivity audits. Finally, make sure you close the loop by communicating what you’ve done. Part of demonstrating your commitment to inclusivity is showing the campus and community that you’ve taken action on the information you collected. Show your students, colleagues, and community that you’re paying attention to your mission and to the college’s or university’s strategic priorities. Be prepared to explain why some ideas weren’t prioritized for action at this time, and help people understand what it might take in order to move those items up the priority list. Remember, the goal is to help people “see themselves” in the “picture” of your student union. Through collective effort, we can broaden that picture to be more inclusive and welcoming to all.
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Region V Institution Spotlight Normandale Community College
Number of years as an ACUI member: More than 40 Last renovation: 2011 What is the most beneficial/exciting part of your building? Lots of natural light created by numerous windows overlooking a beautiful Japanese Garden, giant video screen, and tiered performance area in the open lounge area. What are some unique challenges you face and how do you overcome them? One of our biggest challenges is developing students in a short window of time (two years, or just over). We have to make students aware of our programs right away so we can “hook� them immediately. We do so through conventional marketing methods, but most successfully through building relationships and a strong reputation of excellence in relation to student life/student center. What are your most successful programs or initiatives? S.A.I.L. Students Achieving Leadership Program. Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at Normandale, the international honor society of two-year colleges and academic programs, consistently ranks in the top 100 of chapters in the organization. What makes your building or organization different from others in our region? We are one of only a handful of community colleges in the region with a dedicated student center. What is something other institutions can learn from you? When designing a smaller building, do so with flexible (multi-use) space in mind.
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Save The Date: 2015 ACUI Region V Conference Nov. 6-8, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Lodging Information: http://www.commonshotel.com/ Conference Information: http://www.acui.org/region/v/
Community of Practice Highlight: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender
The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Community of Practice serves as an advocacy group providing educational and networking opportunities for GLBT members of the ACUI community and their allies. The GLBT Community of Practice serves to offer networking opportunities, develop educational resources, facilitate mentoring opportunities, and coordinate social offerings for students and professionals within the college union and student activities field. We serve to empower our members and strive to provide a welcoming and supportive environment for all. The GLBT community is open to all ACUI members regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. (Via ACUI.org)
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Battle of the Regions Contact: Aaron Flynn, aaron.flynn@email.und.edu The 2015 ACUI conference in San Antonio again brings us the ACUI Battle of the Regions competition. There are a variety of ways to volunteer and help your region. Here are the highlights: Wednesday, April 8: ACUI Trivia - competition begins at 9:30 p.m. Open for four to eight delegates with one required to be a student or newcomer at all times. ACUI Trivia takes quick thinking and fun to a whole new level. The trivia will be basic knowledge questions (eg: current events, pop culture, music, etc.) with some ACUI questions tossed in! Each question will have a different point value. This is a simple trivia night game - pen, paper, and volunteers tallying the answers! In the event of a tie at the end of the night, the points will be averaged among the tied regions. Thursday, April 9: Poetry Slam - competition begins at approximately 9:30 p.m. One team of four to five and participants do not have to be from same institution. Battle of the Regions Poetry Slam brings a premier ACUI program to the annual conference. Each region will have a team of four, no more than five members who will create and perform an original group piece within 3 minutes and 30 seconds. Official Poetry Slam rules and guidelines will apply to the competition (no props, no costumes, no musical accompaniment are allowed). Official Poetry Slam guidelines can be found on the ACUI website at: http://www.acui.org/content.aspx?menu_id=14&id=11119 . Thursday, April 9: ACUI’s Got Talent (NOTE: Participant information is due by MARCH 25 to allow for space allocations and setup logistics) Each region will have five minutes to complete their talent. The performers may be either an individual or group (no more than five individuals in a group). The individual or groups will need to provide all props, music, or items needed for the competition. Scoring: Talent/Ability (10 points); Entertainment Value & Appeal (10 points); Creativity (10 points) Crowd Reaction (10 points); Interested? Please submit what the talent will be, audio-visual needs, and additional participants to Aaron Flynn. Other ways to help score points for Region V: Volunteering at the conference, FUNd Run/Walk participation, Silent Auction big spender, Tower Run participation, Step It Up! Wellness step counts, and attendance at the business meeting. Have something you would like to donate for the regional silent auction basket? Let Aaron know!
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