February 2013 Division of Campus Life at Emory University www.emory.edu/CAMPUS_LIFE/
Message from Ajay Nair, Senior Vice President and Dean of Campus Life
table of contents Spring is almost in the air, and with the change of seasons, I wanted to share with you my excitement for this semester. You may have noticed some second floor changes to the DUC last month. Ben Perlman and his staff have worked extremely hard to create student spaces that are welcoming and that provide a better forum for student involvement. The open spaces and lively colors have created enthusiasm among students. Last fall, the Student Government Association created a task force to recommend guidelines for a contemporary University center. I applaud them for their efforts, and we will continue to build upon their recommendations as we realize the opportunities an improved student center will have for the entire university community. In addition, Megan Janasiewicz and the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life are creating a strategic plan that will provide a roadmap for how greek life can be a source of distinction for Emory University. This process will engage student leaders within the greek community along with alumni, faculty, and staff. The greek community is important to Campus Life and Emory University, and a strategic plan will best guide this office moving forward. Finally, the Committee on Class and Labor made significant recommendations regarding professional development. Building a comprehensive professional development framework is one of my highest priorities, which I have discussed in many meetings since my arrival. The eleven recommendations are consistent with my priorities, and in the upcoming months, the division will continue to engage staff regarding how to implement many of these priorities. In a future full staff meeting, we will discuss these recommendations in detail. Happy February. Continue to dream BIG! Ajay
staff spotlight
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around campus life
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awards & distinctions
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announcements
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first person perspective by Heather Zesiger
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extra, extra
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campus life calendar
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MISSION STATEMENT The Division of Campus Life strengthens and enhances the Emory community through our programs, activities, services, and facilities. We create a welcoming and supportive campus environment and are committed to modeling and teaching holistic well-being, ethical leadership, community service, and global citizenship.
SPOTLIGHT ON CAMPUS LIFE STAFF Please welcome to the Office of Health Promotion (OHP)... Jessica Hill, MPH, is joining OHP as the Health Promotion Specialist with an emphasis on alcohol/other substance abuse prevention. She earned her BA from the University of PennsylvaJessica Hill nia and her MPH from Columbia University. She worked previously with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, assisting statewide coalitions to meet violence prevention goals. She also worked on an evaluation of a national program that funds injury and violence prevention programs at state health departments. She’d like to hear your ideas on how OHP can use public health approaches to support healthy campus culture. Meera Seshadri is the new Advocate for The Respect Program. She provides individual crisis intervention and referral support for anyone affected by sexual assault, abuse in a relationship, or stalking. She holds an MSPH from the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor's in International Development and Global Public Health from George Washington University. She has extensive experience working with issues of sexual health and preventing abuse both in the United States and abroad.
Meera Seshadri Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) welcomes... Elizabeth Hartman-Licensed Clinical Staff Social Worker Mahlet Endale, Ph.D.-Suicide Prevention Coordinator Barbara Emmanuel-Licensed Clinical Social Worker-Group Coordinator Alyson Goodwin, MD is joining Student Health Services as a psychiatrist. She earned her MD from Emory University and completed her postgraduate residency training at UCSF in San Francisco. Prior to her return to Emory, she was working as a psychiatrist at Student Health Services at UC Berkeley.
Alyson Goodwin Dietitian Carol Kelly has earned her Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) credentials! Her official title now reads Carol Kelly, MA, RD/LD, CSSD, CHES Coordinator of Nutrition Education
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SPOTLIGHT ON CAMPUS LIFE STAFF Spotlight on Office of Health Promotion Intern Lisa Sthreshley, BA, ‘14MPH Graduate Assistant for the Respect Program “I am a first-year student pursuing a Masters of Public Health in the Global Health Department with a concentration in Community Health and Development. Before Emory, I received B.A.s in both Anthropology and French at the College of William & Mary. While in undergrad, I interned and performed research with a medical anthropologist in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as she evaluated a program aimed at reducing sexual and gender-based violence in the region. This was an amazing experience and stoked my already strong interest in the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence in all communities. This probably explains why I am now a Grad Assistant to the Respect Program. My leisure interests include dancing, hiking, and reading/absorbing graphic novels.
Don Cornwell, Associate Director of The Career Center at Emory University, recently participated in the Path to the White House, a firsthand introduction to the White House Internship Program. This briefing’s objective was to make college and university career counselors better prepared to inform their students about the exciting internship opportunities in the Executive Branch of the federal government. The event provided attendees with an increased understanding of the White House’s commitment to providing student leaders an opportunity to develop their leadership skills and actively engage in public service, the internship program’s application and eligibility requirements, the profile of a successful applicant, and the internship program’s curriculum. The briefing took place on December 19.
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SPOTLIGHT ON CAMPUS LIFE STAFF Melissa Wade is teaching a Senior Seminar in critical thinking at Goizueta School of Business this semester with guest spots by Director of Debate Programs James Herndon. Bill Newnam made the first of two presentations on the use of power point as communication in neuroscience for the Rollins School of Public Health. Christy Bradley will serve as a grant-funded faculty member at the Asian Debate Institute at Chung Ang University in Seoul, Korea for the sixth year. Kara Grant is the Barkley Forum liaison to the Glenn Pelham Foundation’s benefit dinner to be held on March 7 with Atlanta Braves’ John Smoltz as keynote speaker. 2013 Presidential Inauguration & the Office of LGBT Life Office of LGBT Life staff member Danielle Steele marched in the 2013 Presidential Inauguration Parade in Washington, D.C.! She carried the Georgia state flag as part of the honor guard in the Lesbian and Gay Band Association. This was LGBA’s second appearance in an inaugural parade, and the band was the largest civilian group to participate. A special thanks to Michael Shutt for being in the grandstands to cheer her on! After seeing the amazing Danielle Steele march in the parade, Michael Shutt attended the Out for Equality Inauguration Ball representing the Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals. Congressional leaders and celebrities were present to welcome President Obama to his second term in office. Michael Shutt with Al Franken, Democratic Senator from Minnesota, at the Out for Equality Inauguration Ball
Heather Zesiger (in a cowboy hat!) and Susan Hochman PH06 reunited during the Wellness and Health Promotion Directors’ sessions at the NASPA Alcohol, Other Drug Abuse, and Violence Prevention Conference in Fort Worth held January 17-19.
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Creating Change
SPOTLIGHT ON CAMPUS LIFE STAFF
The Emory community had a strong presence at the 25th National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change. The conference was held in January at the Atlanta Hilton. Dohyun Ahn 14C, Lilly Correa 73C, and Michael Shutt, Director of the Office of LGBT Life, presented a session titled, “Creating Change on Campus: Leveraging Cross-Generational Organizing.” Dohyun Ahn 14C, Tiken Savang 13C, Shu Wen Ong 13C, and Amanda Carrington presented a session titled, “Starting a Queer and Asian Student Organization on a Historically White Campus.” Students, staff, and alumni also served as housing hosts for out-of-town attendees and volunteers throughout the conference. Students attended the conference through the support of the J. Michael Aycock Leadership Development Fund and a grant from the Alliance for Full Acceptance. Thank you to all the Campus Life staff who helped throughout the conference. Pictured above: Co-chairs of the Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals Michael Shutt and Sara Bendoraitis (left and right) and award recipient Dr. Sue Rankin (center)
King (aka Mike Huey) and Queen (aka Fontaine Huey) of the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire
Aysha Daniels and M. DeLa Sweeney, both Assistant Directors in the Office of Multicultural Programs and Services (OMPS), will have presentations on “code -switching” at the GCPA Conference in Columbus, GA on February 7. Aysha advised, “If multiculturalism is to successfully flourish on college campuses, student affairs professionals and students must develop an awareness of and sensitivity to how individuals navigate their multiple identities through language and social interactions. This interactive, discussion-based session will focus on defining the phenomena of codeswitching and identifying the often unaddressed internal experiences that permeate the campus environment.”
DeLa Sweeney Assistant Director OMPS Aysha Daniels Assistant Director OMPS
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On January 24, a pizza party was held in the Dobbs Hall Parlor to congratulate the Women’s Volleyball Team on their UAA Championship! The event was sponsored by the Division of Campus Life and the Residence Hall Association.
Despite a winter weather advisory and falling temperatures/snow, over 50 students and alumni gathered at the Art Institute of Chicago for networking and reconnecting on December 20. Students were able to meet alums from McKinsey, Huron Consulting, AMA, Wells Fargo, McMaster Carr, Morningstar, and a handful of law firms. Alumni in attendance were also able to confirm their willingness to serve as career contacts to undergrads and other alumni, as well as volunteer to help interview prospective Emory students for Admisson.
The Office of Health Promotion Celebrates its 20th Anniversary Founded in June 1991, The Office of Health Promotion (OHP) in the Division of Campus Life celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2011-2012. Their celebrations culminated in late fall 2012 with the release of an anniversary film, historical Prezi, and the naming of 20 Health Promotion Champions at Emory. The Office of Health Promotion (OHP) began as the department of Health Education in Student Health Services with a single staff person and a mission focused on patient education. Over the past two decades it has grown into a comprehensive organization promoting student health through diverse and engaging multi-level strategies. The office currently has six staff people, four student employees and over a dozen student volunteers. Students are partners in health promotion, not just patients. They create campaigns to prevent and respond to sexual violence through the work of the Alliance for Sexual Assault Prevention (ASAP) and the Sexual Assault Peer Advocates (SAPA); build a healthy campus community through the Healthy Campus Coalition (HCC); merge creativity, social justice, and the arts through visual design and performance to educate their peers; use social media and film to inspire compassion and healthy behaviors in others (e.g. Project Unspoken, http://www.youtube.com/user/ProjectUnspoken), and gain skills to be health promoting changeagents in their communities now and in the future. Staff in the office provide confidential consultations on topics ranging from sleep, alcohol, tobacco and other drugs to sexual violence recovery and crisis management. Staff and student researchers track student health trends via the National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA II) implemented at Emory every three years. “Student wellbeing is at the heart of what we do,” says OHP Director Heather Zesiger. “Our populationlevel and public health approach allows us to engage with students throughout campus to merge their interests with efforts to protect and enhance the well-being of our community at Emory.”
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a e f roun i l s pu Dohyun Ahn Becky Castor Davion Colbert Andy Kim Emily Machesney Kerry McGlinchey Grace O'Duffy Nikki Reynolds Jessica Simon Trista Zhu Cluster Facilitator: Ben Perlman
Congratulations to the 2013 LeaderShape Graduates!
Claire Brisse Rachel Cawkwell StevenClaude Dorsainvil David Dvorak Anna Koh Amber-Lee Leslie Olivia Murray Elizabeth Neyman Malcolm Robinson Sherry Yuan Cluster Facilitator: Kayla Hamilton
Madiah Ashraf Monica Isgut Briana Keith Carl Kroeger Zahra Manji Khatdija Meghjani Rebecca Rosen Edmund Xu Saier Zeng Cluster Facilitator: Aysha Daniels
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Over 500 students attended the Spring Career & Internship Fair on January 28 in Cox Hall Ballroom. Organizations were hiring for internships, gap year opportunities, and full-time opportunities from a variety of industries, including for-profit, non-profit, and government. The Career Center hosted its sponsors, SunTrust, Macy’s Triage, and TRX, as well as newcomers from Toyota, PNC Bank, Soletron, and Urban Teacher Center. It was great to welcome back recent alumni returning to Emory to bring more talent to their organizations!
Caroline Capponi Nate Causey Jojo Jones Hye In Kim Daniel Kuzmanovich Lena Miao Thuy Phan Hasina Punjani Kathy Qu Cluster Facilitator: Raphael Coleman
Kristen Bang Peggy Chu Kerry Han Meredith Metcalf Erika Oliver Emerson Qin Joseph Ruiz Diane Ryu Sara Stavile Jonathan Vincent Cluster Facilitator: Gloria Grevas
If you work with a student who attended LeaderShape, be sure to ask them about their vision! LeaderShape wouldn’t have happened without the support of various departments around Campus Life, the Emory Alumni Association, and Enterprise. Thank you for all of your support!
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"Life's most important and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?" - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Volunteer Emory hosted its annual Emory’s “Day On” Day of Service on January 21. By participating, volunteers were able to "Remember Martin Luther King Jr. Through Service.” Over 400 volunteers honored the life and work of Dr. King by engaging in meaningful community work at 15 nonprofit agencies in Atlanta. The opening ceremony began with encouraging words from Dr. Ajay Nair, Senior Vice President and Dean of Campus Life, who charged volunteers with the responsibility of giving back to those in need. Following the day of service, on January 24, members of the Emory community were able to engage in conversation about the critical issues of civil rights and service on Emory's campus and in the community. Three esteemed panelists included: Kala Hurst, a senior in the college and president of the Emory chapter of the NAACP, Nathaniel Smith, the director of Partnerships and Research for Equitable Developmental at Emory Center for Community Partnerships, and Dr. Joseph Crespino, Associate Professor of History,whose work focuses on the history and memory of the modern civil rights movement. Both events were a great success, and Volunteer Emory thanks all community members and community partners for their support and participation!
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Intercollegiate Debate Emory debate finished the fall season in the top eight schools in the national rankings, and the team of Matthew Pesce and Jason Sigalos received an invitation to the Dartmouth Round Robin. Dartmouth's prestigious, endowed tournament invites the top seven teams, based on the fall semester statistical tournament record in the U.S. (out of more than 1,000 teams from 400 colleges) to launch the spring competitive season. Emory has won this tournament four times over the last 20 years. It is unusual that the Emory team is composed of junior Matthew Pesce and frosh Jason Sigalos. Jason is the only frosh at the tournament and one of very few to compete in the history of the tournament. Other schools invited include: Harvard, Northwestern, Georgetown, Mary Washington, Wake Forest, and West Georgia.
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Barkley Forum for High Schools Tournament
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Emory also had strong finishes over winter break at California tournaments. Pesce and Sigalos finished 16th at both tournaments. Seniors John Holland and Fayzan Rab finished in the top 32 at the University of Southern California. Holland and frosh Ben Dean finished in the top 32 at California State University Fullerton. Holland and Dean finished in 3rd place at the University of Indiana, while the team of Martin Sigalos and Reuben Lack finished in 8th place.
Over 1,550 secondary school participants from 163 schools in 30 states came to the Emory campus for the 58th Annual Barkley Forum for High Schools tournament January 25-27. The event featured multiple national meetings of college and secondary school teachers and coaches, academic forensics organizations, and debate policy-making groups. Winners in the nine competitive divisions ranged from Harker School in California and Bronx High School of Science in New York to Nova High School in Florida. Two Georgia teams defeated a strong elimination bracket of schools from Illinois, Texas, California, Michigan, Maryland, and New York to meet in the final round of policy debate. Pace Academy page 7 defeated Stratford Academy to win the tournament. page 14 Barkley Forum alumnus and former U.S. Senator, George Lemieux, came in from Florida to serve as one of the final round judges for Congressional Debate. Campus Life Ajay Nair gave a 13 page wonderful speech and helped distribute trophies at the final Awards Assembly on Sunday night. The opening Convocation of the tournament showcases several national awards. The Paul Slappey Award for the Promotion of Diversity in Forensics was given to Barkley Forum staff member James Roland for his contributions to urban debate education. The inaugural Social Justice Award is a national contest for students who use the power of forensics and civil discourse to promote civic action. The highly competitive honor features a $500 award for the nonprofit of the winner’s choice. The winner was Priten Shah, from Lakeland High School in New York, who, it was discovered during the final assembly, happens to be Dean Nair’s nephew!
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The Emory Office of Admissions had representatives at various sites on campus throughout the event.
Opening Convocation of the 58th Annual Barkley Forum High School Debate Tournament
James Roland presents Priten Shah with the Social Justice Award at Convocation
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ELE 2.0 is Underway With every semester, the University welcomes eager-to-get -involved students. This semester is no different. The Emerging Leader Experience (ELE) program has remained a staple in the Office of Student Leadership and Service (OSLS). The program has continually evolved to meet the growing and changing needs of a dynamic student body. ELE started as a short program for less than 30 students, evolved to be a month-long program with engagement opportunities throughout the fall semester, and now ELE is attracting two cohorts of about 43 students for a semester-long leadership challenge. In the fall semester, ELE focused on harnessing participants’ enthusiasm and eagerness by connecting them with a variety of campus resources and filling their leadership toolbox with the fundamentals needed so they may use their second semester seeking involvement opportunities in various organizations and departments. Activities in the spring semester, although very similar, are helping the participants identify what they are passionate about and how they will make a difference at Emory, through a leadership lens. The OSLS is excited to have the most diverse ELE cohort to date with international students, veterans, and a variety of faiths, academic majors, and career interests represented. Congratulations to the 46 amazing first-year students who accepted the challenge to learn more about self and others through ELE. Jumpstart Update Jumpstart at Emory welcomes Elizabeth Howell, Sarah Schatzman, and Tiffany Ding. These lovely ladies will be joining fall service teams to help achieve Jumpstart‘s mission by providing preschool-age children with the language and literacy skills they need to succeed. Spring Orientation Success! OSLS welcomed 27 transfer students to campus on January 17. Orientation Leaders and Orientation Captains hosted a meet-and-greet where transfer students were invited to meet current students and enjoy snacks and board games.The following day, students were welcomed by Dr. Ajay Nair and spent the rest of the day learning about being a student at Emory. Students heard from current transfer students, scheduled for classes, learned about transfer credit, and participated in the Majors Fair. On January 19, over 200 student organizations tabled in the Coca Cola Commons during the Spring Student Activities Fair to showcase the many opportunities to get involved this semester. OSLS also welcomed 350 Oxford Continuees for Oxford Day. These students will join Emory in August. The Oxford Continuees received important information regarding class registration, major selection, and adjusting to life on the Atlanta campus. Spring Orientation served as a great practice for New Student Orientation in August. Thanks to all of the students, faculty, and staff who participated in this day.
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Faculty in Residence
First Year @ Emory (FYE) – the inaugural FYE Summit kicked off this year right after first-year students returned to campus. On January 14, over 200 first-year students attended nine different sessions on a variety of topics including: EPASS and Academic Support, CIPA and studying abroad, internships and career advice, and research opportunities. Sessions were led by upperclass students as well as campus partners.
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Words That Changed the World As part of Emory’s MLK Week celebration, twelve members of the Residence Life and Housing staff read the words of famous civil rights leaders in the Coca-Cola Commons as part of the sixth Annual Words That Changed the World program on January 16. Some of the civil rights leaders whose words were read included W.E.B. DuBois, Nelson Mandela, John F. Kennedy, Thomas Merton, Maya Angelou, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The event concluded with Clairmont Tower RA Riakeem Kelley reading Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
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Welcome Dr. Anna Leo to the Faculty in Residence program at Clairmont Campus! Dr. Leo has been at Emory since 1993. Her teaching areas include modern and ballet techniques, dance history, solo composition, and a Anna Leo seminar on the history, philosophy, and practice of yoga. This fall, Dr. Leo will lead a new theme program, Living with the Arts, where residents will live and create a vibrant community that shares their artistic works, aspirations, and ideas about the arts. If you know any rising third- or fourth-year students who might be interested in this program, please direct them to: www.emory.edu/HOUSING/UNDERGRAD/opt_ theme_arts.html. Applications for this theme are due by February 2. Dr. Anna Leo joins Dr. Tracy McGill, Dr. Patrick Cafferty, and Dr. Irene Brown on the Faculty-in-Residence team.
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Living Green – The Few/Evans team welcomed back students to the spring semester with fun programs. Continuing with the theme of “Keep Your Head Above Water” from December, programs such as “Watercolor Painting” and a future “DecorateYour-Own Water Bottle” educate residents about water conservation and sustainability.
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E4X – On January 16, the Emory 4th Year Experience (E4X) hosted a dinner with Dean Nair for seniors. Students, staff, and administrators gathered in the Clairmont Tower penthouse for dinner to kick off the spring semester. Representatives from OUE, EAA, and Residence Life chatted with seniors about their last semester, becoming alumni, and postgraduation plans. Dean Nair ended the evening with great advice for seniors as they embark on their last semester. Thanks to Dean Nair, Andrea Trinklein, Priscilla Echols, and the Emory Alumni Association for their participation and support of this event.
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Bukie Adebo Catherine Bioc Kelsey Bohlke Lindsey Coyle Kayla Davis Brian Fuller Eduardo Garcia Michael Goldberg Cassandra Gonzales Lauren Henrickson Khalil Husary Riakeem Kelley Scott Kaston Tess Komarek Ian Margol Kevin McIntosh Catherine Muse Whitney Pennington Perrinh Savang Brooke Thyng Rebecca Wang Jonathan Yenni
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Residence Life & Housing would like to congratulate all the student-leaders who were honored at the recent100 Senior Honorary Recognition, particularly the ones who have been a part of the Residence Life & Housing family!
On January 19, Emory and Oxford Residence Life & Housing hosted over 900 resident advisors from 35 different Georgia colleges and universities for a day-long seminar, GRASS. The Georgia Resident Assistant Saturday Seminar (GRASS) is an annual program for students who work in residence halls to attend program sessions facilitated primarily by their peers from other institutions. The day is a great opportunity for students to learn from each other, network, and even swap shirts and tchotchkes (see photo roundup). A HUGE “thank you!!� to all who participated and assisted with the seminar, especially our student volunteers, Residence Life staff, presenters, and Countess Hughes for delivering the keynote. Additionally thanks to Dr. Nair for his welcome address and Dr. Joe Moon (Oxford College) for providing a fantastic closing activity.
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RESIDENCE LIFE & HOUSING PHOTO ROUND UP
1 – Follow the Fevans Family on Instagram! @fevans_lg 2 – Fevans staff recruiting for new RA/SA staff on Fridays in January 3 – RA Henriette Zoutoumou reads from Maya Angelou’s poem, On the Pulse of Morning, at the 6th Annual Words That Changed the World (photo by Frank Gaertner) 4 – Upperclass students joined Dean Nair for dinner at Clairmont Campus (photo by Jason Lee ’13) 5 – Resident Advisors from around Georgia gather at the Swap Shop during G.R.A.S.S.
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No sooner had students returned from winter break than a diverse group of upper class students were whisked off to Eatonton, GA’s Rock Eagle campsite for Crossroads III hosted by The Office of Multicultural Programs and Services (OMPS). Students’ multicultural competencies as well as leadership skills were fine-tuned, while deep introspection and discussions on bias and diversity issues were encouraged. This retreat is designed to assist students in their preparation to launch into diverse careers in diverse work places.
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Katie Marshall, a graduate student from UGA interning in Office of Student Leadership and Service (OSLS) and the OMPS Office, had the following to say of her experience:
Katie Marshall
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“The Office of Multicultural Programs and Services kicked off the spring semester with Crossroads 3 on January 18-20. As a new intern in OMPS, I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting myself into by signing up for this retreat. After hearing students in the office describe it as ‘amazing,’ ‘incredible,’ and ‘life changing,’ I had to know what Crossroads was all about. So, on Friday afternoon, I headed off to Eatonton, GA with about 50 students to find out. The weekend was filled with community-building and diversity activities that helped me learn more about others and myself. The group of students attending the retreat was very diverse, and I enjoyed hearing each person’s story. At the same time, it was also humbling to realize how similar we all are. There were many points brought up at Crossroads that do not get brought up in our day-to-day lives. For example, we were able to speak candidly about the stereotypes faced by different races and how it feels to be put into a certain category just based on the way you look. Crossroads also made me realize that we are all born with certain privileges or disadvantages that we often cannot control. It was amazing and encouraging to see a group of students come together and have a place to talk about several issues that face society, such as race, gender, and economic stereotypes. Everyone can help to reduce these stereotypes in our daily lives by understanding people for who they really are and encouraging the people around us to do the same. By doing this, we realize how similar we all are as people and create a more inclusive environment where people feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings.
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Although all the activities and discussions were thought provoking and intriguing, my favorite part of Crossroads was getting an introduction to Emory students and the Emory community. I had only been at Emory for two weeks before attending Crossroads, so I did not know many students or understand the culture. Leaving Crossroads, I felt that I had learned so much about the students at Emory and the issues they face every day. I feel very fortunate that my introduction to Emory was through Crossroads because I feel that I got to see the students through a different lens that others may never get to see. Overall, I am extremely grateful that this experience was a part of my internship, and I know it will be a highlight of my semester at Emory.”
Black History Month kicked off with the Step It Up show at 6:30 pm on February 2. The Office of Multicultural Programs & Services (OMPS) is also assisting with assembling the Black History Month Calendar of student events. page 17
Campus Life Awards and Distinctions
Matt Garrett has received the Outstanding Mid-Level Professional Award from the Commission for Student Involvement. He will be recognized by the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) at their annual convention during the Awards Ceremony & Leadership/Corporate Partner Reception on March 3 in Las Vegas. Matt Garrett
Sherry Ebrahimi, Director of University Conferences, was elected to the ACCED-I Board pageof19Directors this January. The Association of Collegiate Conference and Events DirectorsInternational (ACCED-I) consists of over 1,500 campus professionals who design, market, coordinate, and plan conferences and special events on college/university campus around the Sherry Ebrahimi world. Since 1980, ACCED-I has increased the visibility and enhanced the stature of the collegiate conference and events profession. Sherry’s term will last three years. Additionally, Sherry presented a virtual roundtable on February 6 to the National Association of College Auxiliary Services (NACAS) on “Commencement Housing: Is it right for your campus? ”
Michelle Wu, Assistant Director of Conferences, received her Collegiate Conference and Events Professional (CCEP) certification from ACCED-I this January. The two-year process requires candidates to present at conferences, volunteer with the organization, and submit 15 essays for evaluation. Only fifty-five Michelle Wu other conferences professionals are certified, including Sherry. Michelle will be recognized at the ACCED-I conference this March in Toronto.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS INTERESTED IN WORKING FOR INTRAMURALS?! Clinics began January 24. If you are interested in officiating basketball, please contact Ricky Talman, ricky.talman@emory.edu, ASAP for more information.
WANT TO GET MORE PHYSICALLY FIT IN 2013? COME TRY FITNESS EMORY‌NOW OFFERED MORE AFFORDABLY TO YOU! *See rec.emory.edu for class descriptions and schedules NEW PRICING STRUCTURE! 1 class card $6.00 Unlimited Class Card Students = $20/semester WoodPEC Members = $40/semester $100 flat fee for Martial Arts (valid for entire semester) To Get Started: Come by our office and purchase a Fitness Emory or MAAC. All classes require a 2013 card. Location: Rec Services/Membership Office Woodruff PE Center, #208B Hours: Mon-Thurs 11am-6:30pm Fridays 11am-5:30pm Contact Us: 404-727-6551 or www.rec.emory.edu
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ANNOUNCEMENTS Humanitarian Award nominations are now open.
Break Out of the Emory Bubble with an Alternative Spring Break Volunteer Emory continues to create meaningful opportunities for students to explore a variety of social justice areas through the weekly service and large-scale service events. However, the alternative break opportunities immerse students into a broader community. This Spring Break, Volunteer Emory will take nearly 115 students to destinations throughout the Southeast including: Kissimmee, FL; New Orleans, LA; Charleston, SC; Atlanta, GA; Bolton, NC; and Nicholls, GA. Kudos to the Volunteer Emory staff who have challenged themselves and their comfort levels to create such meaningful opportunities for their peers. Some social justice areas being addressed this Spring Break includes state park restoration, Native American preservation, food sustainability, homelessness and poverty, natural disaster rebuilding, and home security.
Through the establishment of the Humanitarian Awards in 1987, the Division of Campus Life and the Office of Student Leadership and Service continue to strengthen its commitment to build a greater awareness of leadership and humanitarian spirit within the Emory community. The Humanitarian Award was created to recognize students who have qualities of honesty, integrity, courage, and responsibility which are fundamental to effective leadership. The criteria used to determine the recipients are as follows: • Consistent living of one's own life with honesty, integrity, responsibility, and a sense of the welfare of the community • Special acts of courage benefiting others • Unusual commitment of time and energy in service to others • Special gifts of friendship Students selected as Humanitarian Award winners will be recognized at the annual Office of Student Leadership and Service Awards reception on April 17. Immediately following the awards reception, Humanitarian Award recipients will have a private dinner with President Wagner and Dr. Ajay Nair, Senior Vice President and Dean for Campus Life. Nominations are now being accepted for the 2012-2013 academic year. To nominate a deserving student please visit: www.osls.campuslifetech.org/forms/view.php?id=110. Students, faculty, staff, and alumni are encouraged to nominate members of the Emory community. The deadline for nominations is March 1. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Natasha Hopkins, at natasha.hopkins@emory.edu or by phone at 404.712.9747.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS 2013 Pride Awards Save the date for the Office of LGBT Life’s 21st Annual Pride Awards to be held on February 28 at 6:30pm at the Miller-Ward Alumni House. Come honor Emory’s great faculty, staff, students, and alumni for all the work they do on behalf of the LGBT communities at Emory. RSVP now at: https://secure.www.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/EMR/event/showEventForm.jsp?form_id=142499
Queer Discussion Groups Are BACK! The Queer Discussion Groups have returned this page 17 and semester with the addition of a new Bisexual Pansexual group! Below are days and times of each group. Queer Students of Color: Tuesdays @ 6:00 pm Queer Men: Tuesdays @ 7:30pm Transforming Gender: Wednesdays @ 5:00 pm Queer and Faith: Wednesdays @ 7:15 pm Bisexual/Pansexual: Thursdays@ 6:00 pm Check the Office of LGBT Life website: www.lgbt.emory.edu/ for start dates and more information about the groups.
The follow-up A Community Speaks’ forum, co-sponsored by OMPS and OSLS in response to ETV’s Dooley Show, will take place on Feb. 11 in Harland Cinema at 4 pm. Students will map out steps to a more cohesive and respectful Emory campus community. The OMPS Office is currently recruiting Multicultural Outreach and Resources at Emory (MORE) Mentors for the upcoming fall semester. MORE, a peer mentoring program for incoming multicultural freshmen, has an exciting fall schedule of events to get students acclimated to campus.
SAVE THE DATE Safe Space: Spring Semester A new semester and a new list of Safe Space trainings! Sign up at: http://lgbt.emory.edu/programs_events/safe_space/registration.html February 18, 1:00 pm-4:30 pm March 13, 12:00 pm-3:30 pm April 9, 9:00 am-12:30 pm
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ANNOUNCEMENTS HOUSING SELECTION! Fall housing selection is underway! Please direct your students who may have questions about the selection process to the Residence Life & Housing office. Joni Tyson primarily facilitates rising second-year student (including new second-year transfer students) and Greek housing assignments. Countess Hughes primarily facilitates incoming first-year students and rising third- and fourth-year students. Anyone (including parents, students, staff, etc.) should email housinghelp@learnlink.emory.edu and Joni or Countess will respond. The following are some important selection dates to keep in mind: January 22 – February 4: Practice Room Selection (for students who want to run through the process prior to their assigned selection time) February 1: SYE Registration Deadline (the SYE registration is mandatory for all rising second-year students) February 11 (noon): Housing Application Deadline for current second-, third-, and fourth-year students, study abroad students, and Oxford continues February 15 (noon): Housing Application Deadline for current first-year students February 12 – 18: Same Room (eligible students only) February 18 – 25: Upperclass Open Room Selection February 20 – 26: Second-Year Open Room Selection ** Greek housing assignments have a separate timeline; please contact the chapter for specific information.
SAAC 10-Year Celebration! – April 13 / TBD Campus Life Family Fun at the SAAC – April 27 / TBD The SAAC has five new Cybex bikes in the fitness areas this January – two new recumbent bikes and three new upright bikes.
ON SALE NOW! SAAC Summer Memberships for Summer 2013 Members who purchase memberships before March 15 will get a bonus month! SAAC getFIT passes for Spring 2013 Check out our class offerings online: one visit ($6.00) / unlimited until May 10 ($20/students; $40/members) http://saac.emory.edu
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First--Person Perspective by Heather Zesiger Colleagues outside of student affairs will sometimes question my decision to practice public health within a higher education setting. They challenge whether college students “deserve” my attention, or they consider high-risk drinking or sexual violence as hopelessly endemic. They warn me I’ll never get grants for research because students aren’t an underserved population. These comments irk me on many levels, but they do give me a chance to wax poetic on the value of public health work with university students. First, promoting the wellbeing of all students, including those from underserved communities, is part of our mission. Our students come from a variety of communities from across the nation and around the world; these students espouse very specific needs, which we must work hard to understand and to address. Another reason I am drawn to work in higher education is because I can assume a certain level of privilege and socioeconomic power among my colleagues and my students (if not when they enter, then at least when they graduate). Thus, I see my work as less about serving “needy” populations and more about engaging with students as partners and collaborators to explore the impact of wellbeing on individuals and within communities so that they can be change agents on campus and in their communities after they leave Emory. I hope they will factor their own self-care and the wellbeing of those around them into their decision-making process as consumers, parents, business leaders, politicians, artists, writers, voters, members of faith communities, educators, tourists, and more. Given the link between educational attainment and personal health outcomes, we have a responsibility to embrace students as the next generation of change agents in their communities. When we factor in the opportunities an Emory degree will afford these students in the future, we come to see college health promotion as the ultimate train-the-trainer exercise. p p Over the past three decades, the World Health Organization has shifted its emphasis from a sanitation approach to a settings-based approach in the practice of public health. This transition provides a greater role for examining social determinants of health and socio-ecological implications in addition to personal actions. As public health trained student affairs professionals, my Office of Health Promotion colleagues and I are uniquely positioned to see the synergy of accreditation; the emphasis on assessment of learning outcomes; the increasingly complex student demographics and wellness needs, and the need for systems thinking and successful application of an ecological approach to student success and the organizational dynamics within institutions of higher education. So, how did I get here? My interest in public health has its roots in Appalachia. While a child there, I was exposed to the power of education, prevention science, and public health in ameliorating challenges in complex systems: poverty, obesity, pollution, socioeconomic stratification, and substance abuse. As secondary teachers in a rural area, my parents were preeminently concerned with their students’ welfare and acutely aware of the impact of these challenges on academic performance and persistence. Their emphasis on education and the impact of health behaviors on the future of a community formed my first public health framework and set me on my career path. At Amherst College, my research projects focused on the intersections of socioeconomic status and educational access. In one study I qualitatively explored undergraduate students’ perceptions of class while in another I investigated intersections of race and gender identity with educational aspirations among adolescent girls in Holyoke, MA. Through these sociological research projects focused on identity, education, and wellbeing, I was clearly beginning to examine social determinants of health. I supplemented my academic work with related co-curricular endeavors as both a trained peer health educator and a peer responder to survivors of sexual violence. After Amherst, I worked in public affairs consulting in Washington, DC, gaining exposure to health policy and public awareness campaigns. I then transitioned into a non-governmental organization and engaged in systems thinking as I explored the impact of human population growth on environmental resources by developing, implementing, and evaluating a teacher training curricula. That experience training pre-service teachers cemented my interest in working in higher education and in public health, so I applied to Emory for master’s page 24
First--Person Perspective by Heather Zesiger studies. At RSPH, I focused on health concerns of college students (nutrition, alcohol abuse, social belonging) in class projects but diverged from that population for my thesis work in which I expanded a faith-based sexuality education curriculum for Jewish adolescents. In fulfilling the charge to update the curriculum to be consistent with best practices in both science-based and faith-based approaches to adolescent sexuality, I conducted a literature review, met with Jewish teens to get their input, consulted curriculum design and evaluation experts, re-worked the curriculum, and subjected it to an expert panel review. The resulting product is still being taught at The Temple in Atlanta and has been requested for use by educators throughout the US, Canada, and Great Britain. I also got my first formal training in student affairs at Emory, serving as a Fellow with the Office of Residence Life and Housing while pursuing my MPH. Res Life was my first “home” at Emory – in more ways than one! As my career here continues and deepens, I hope to start a movement at Emory to embrace all of the characteristics of a health-promoting university as advanced by the WHO. Health-promoting universities promote health and wellbeing for all on campus and in the communities where graduates will live, work, and serve. We are well on our way. I leave you with this parting quote to start us on our journey together: “A health promoting university project is not and should not be seen as some sort of luxurious and trendy thing to do in times of prosperity – on the contrary, investing in such projects at times of financial difficulties can prove a tremendous asset for protecting and promoting the health of students and staff…and promoting healthy dialogue, trust-building and participatory decision-making (p. 19).” (Tsouros, A. D., Dowding, G., Thomson, J. & Dorris, M. (Eds.) (1998) Health Promoting Universities: Concept, Experience and Framework for Action. Copenhagen: World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe.
Heather Zesiger is the Director of the Office of Health Promotion where she supports students and colleagues in exploring the intersections of health, learning, and social justice. Heather received her B.A. in Spanish and a B.A. in Sociology from Amherst College and her M.P.H. from Rollins School of Public Health at Emory. She is in her first year of doctoral studies at the Institute of Public Health at Georgia State University.
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extra! extra! news from... barkley forum Community Programs Over 400 students, coaches, judges, and parents attended the opening Atlanta Urban Debate League (UDL) tournament at McEachern High School on January 19. More than 50 Emory students, staff, and volunteers assisted with the event. The next UDL tournament will be held on February 9 at South Cobb High School. The Barkley Forum’s new partnership with the Street Law program at Emory Law School was launched on January 17 with a teacher training presentation for Emory Law students, Coca Cola’s legal department, and King and Spalding attorneys by Barkley Forum staff James Roland at the law offices of King and Spalding. Over 100 participants will teach law in several Atlanta Public Schools this semester, and many will also work in Barkley Forum community programs. A $35,000 grant from the Glenn Pelham Foundation for Debate Education is funding a Debate Across Curriculum (DAC) pilot project in six Atlanta area schools to create a scalable model for national replication. A new partnership with the National Forensics League facilitates a national DAC teacher assessment in 3,000 secondary schools over the next six months.
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