Campus Life February 2012 News

February 2012 Division of Campus Life at Emory University Life Beyond the Classroom

LeaderShape 2012

www.emory.edu/CAMPUS_LIFE/

Message from John L. Ford, Senior Vice President and Dean of Campus Life I hope this month’s message finds you well.

During the winter and spring break, Volunteer Emory provides service trips that are meaningful student development opportunities. Over the last couple of years, I have had the opportunity to participate in both a “staycation” with students at the Atlanta Harm Reduction Center and travelled to Southern California to build a house for a Mexican family. Both of those opportunities were rewarding.

This spring,Volunteer Emory will sponsor several alternative break trips. Staff and students will travel to Charleston, West Virginia, to conduct a community needs assessment in environmental advocacy and health inequality; Chavies, Kentucky, to provide home repairs in Perry County—one of the poorest counties in Appalachia with a 27.2% poverty rate and a per capita income of $12,224; New Orleans, Louisiana, to continue Hurricane Katrina restoration efforts; Joplin, Missouri, to continue tornado recovery efforts; Nashville, Tennessee, to assist in outreach, testing, and prevention efforts for those with HIV/AIDS; and, Brunswick, Georgia, to renovate homes in low-income communities. Local “staycation” opportunities include working with refugees, immigrants, and the homeless in the Greater Atlanta area.

I hope you will support students in these worthwhile service opportunities and participate where needed. To learn more about these trips, please go to www.volunteer.emory.edu/WWD_alternative_breaks_trip_details. php Enjoy the month of February.!

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.

table of contents

staff spotlight

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around campus life

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feature articleLeaderShape

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awards & distinctions

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announcements

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first person perspective

by Michael Shutt

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extra! extra!

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campus life calendar

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SPOTLIGHT ON CAMPUS LIFE STAFF Georgia Public Broadcasting Melissa Wade and James Roland from Barkley Forum are participating in the inaugural PBS show, Teacher Talk, as part of the Teachers Ignite initiative. Mayor Kasim Reed is the featured speaker. Atlanta UDL students will participate in a debate on the April 11th show. Their topic will be: “Is a college education necessary for success in the 21st century?” Teachers Ignite is building a web-based teacher training platform around project-based learning. Barkley Forum’s Debate Across Curriculum instructional method will be piloted as part of the work with the potential to significantly increase the reach of debate education professional development programs nationally.

From Student Health & Counseling Services, Erna Wilkerson, BA, MHA, has been promoted to the position of Director of Business Administration and Patient Accounts. In addition to her current supervision of our Business Office, financial management and budget preparation process, Erna will now also oversee the Student Insurance Office, Administrative Office, and IT Support Services. Erna has transformed and stabilized the financial and business systems during her time at Erna Willkerson EUSHCS, and this promotion is well deserved!

Student Health and Counseling Services takes great pleasure in announcing that Karen Griffith has been selected as the new Senior Administrative Assistant at the Counseling Center. Many of you may know Karen as our former receptionist, or “voice” of the Counseling Center. She is an extremely competent “point of first contact” for students in need. Please join us in congratulating Karen, not just on her new job but on all of her accomplishments and hard work leading up to it.

Donna Weaver has been hired as the Student Health Services Administrative Assistant after a year of excellent work in a temporary status. Donna has done a wonderful job, and we are happy she wants to stick around!

Willie Bannister, Heather Zesiger, and Lauren Bernstein presented at the NASPA Alcohol Abuse Prevention and Intervention and Mental Health Conferences in Atlanta in January.

Donna Weaver

Karen Griffith

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Fifty upper-class students participated in the Office of Multicultural Programs & Services’ first Crossroads Retreat held January 20-22. Diversity education and discussions about community building at Emory are among the goals of the Crossroads Retreat. In addition, teambuilding is achieved through challenges and indoor activities as pictured here.

THANKS FOR COMING OUT On January 20, Emory alum Gerry Lowrey hosted GALA’s 7th Annual Winter Fundraising Reception to support current LGBTQ students at Emory.

Thanks to all who attended and donated, and special thanks to those who helped organize and host the evening!

Jumpstart at Emory kicked off 2012 with a Welcome Back Celebration and Winter Training Event held January 20 -21! Corps Members were reenergized through song and game, celebrating the new year and welcoming the newest Jumpstart Corps Members: Debora Blair, Julia Marshall, Hadia Ahmad, Onda Kim, Jana Taylor, Ericka Dixon, Akshay Goswami, and Caroline Scott.

Covering topics selected by Emory Site Manager, Olivia Wise, Jumpstart members revisited the problem-solving approach, discussed the importance of book prep and high-quality readings, and explored the need for strong family involvement.

Intercollegiate Debate Emory debate started the year with strong showings at the University of Southern California where the team of Matthew Pesce and Megan Cambre finished in 8th place, while Jessica Moore and William Rains finished in a tie for 16th with the Emory frosh team of Greg Adler and Julia Marshall. At California State University-Fullerton, Cambre-Pesce finished in a tie for 16th with the team of Eli Kuenzel and her frosh partner Nikhil Bontha. It is a great event when three Emory frosh become nationally ranked! Cambre-Pesce finished in 4th place at the national University of Pittsburg tournament.

At the University of Georgia, the team of Erin Collins and David Mullins finished 2nd with strong showings over Dartmouth and Wake Forest. The team of Jessica Moore and John Holland finished 3rd. Emory debate coach John Turner received the outstanding critic award for the tournament.

January Celebrations… from MLK Day to Lunar New Year!

On January 18, staff members from the Office of Residence Life and Housing staged the fifth annual "Words That Changed The World" program as part of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Week at Emory. Eleven staff members from all levels (SA, RA, SRA, RHD, and professional staff ) read the words of noted civil rights leaders in the DUC Coca-Cola Commons during lunch. Civil rights leaders represented this year included: Audre Lorde, John F. Kennedy, Frederick Douglass, His Highness the 14th Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela, and Dr. King. One student staff member who participated noted, "These words have so much more power when read aloud." Special thanks to those staff members who made the event happen: Kyle Griffith, Kayla Hamilton, Helen Hill, Jamal Garnett, Clint Kimzey, Liz Carson, Hillary Li, Adam Stockhausen, Breanna McDaniel and Frank Gaertner.

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The Spring Career and Internship Fair hosted 64 employers and over 650 undergrads on January 26. Students were able to learn about opportunities from both corporate and non-profit Emory Network Nights representatives, including Macy’s, PwC, Newell Rubbermaid The Carter Center, Nissan North America, City Year, Georgia Aquarium, and more.

Nearly 75 alums, 40 students, and over ten employers joined the Emory Career Center and Emory Alumni Association for Emory Network Nights in Chicago and Washington DC over the winter break. Students were able to make connections for internship searches, and recent alums in the job search were able to build their networks as well. Alumni also shared job/internship opportunities following the event.

Chicago Networking Night

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Spring 2012 Career & Internship Fair

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In conjunction with the Global Cultures theme, Longstreet-Means staff organized a weeklong series of events celebrating the Chinese New Year. The events provided residents with an opportunity to explore the familiar concept of New Years in a new cultural context. The activities were designed to engage residents with the traditions and experiences associated with a true Chinese New Year celebration and many residents came out to enjoy the opportunity.

On January 18, President Carter signed copies of his new book, Through the Year with Jimmy Carter: 366 Daily Meditations from the 39th President, at the Emory Bookstore. In anticipation of his four o’clock arrival, people began lining up by two o’clock. The bookstore sold 443 copies of the book that day, in addition to 43 copies sold earlier in the week. They also saw a boost in sales of past titles by Carter, selling 93 other books he authored.

A cameraman from Fox 5 Atlanta was in attendance as well as another credentialed reporter and the student newspaper. Representatives from the publisher and a representative from Carter’s office were all pleased with the turnout.

New York City Networking Night

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Volunteer Emory Commemorates MLK Jr. with 2012 King Week Events On January 16, Volunteer Emory hosted one of its most traditional mass service events, “Emory’s Day On.” “Emory’s Day On” is part of the national “Day On” Movement to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday and commemorate his remarkable achievements during the Civil Rights Movement.

Emory University has hosted “Emory’s Day On” for over a decade, expanding from traditional treeplanting activities with Trees Atlanta to other volunteer activities with community agencies around metro-Atlanta. In following Martin Luther King Jr.’s principles, close to 230 volunteers participated in “Emory’s Day On” and volunteered at various community partners around Atlanta.

The service day was followed by a panel on January 18 where both panelists and students delved into the cross-section of community service and civil rights. Panelists included: Dr. Joseph Crespino, a faculty member from Emory’s History Department, Mr. Nathaniel Smith, a staff member at the Office of University and Community Partnerships (OUCP), and Ms. Alicia Phillips, an Emory Alumni who founded the Community Foundation, a local non-profit organization. In collaboration with the King Week Committee, Volunteer Emory also participated in the International Coffee Hour that included trivia on Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and shared information about how to be more involved in the Emory community and the Atlanta community-at-large. These events were part of King Week, an annual week-long event to spread awareness about Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and discuss his work.

Spring Orientation Success!!

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Emory University welcomed 30 transfer students on January 17. With the help of the Orientation Leaders, these students met one another, took a tour of campus, learned about resources that Emory has to offer, and registered for classes.

Additionally, 500 Oxford students visited the Atlanta campus for a pre-arrival Orientation. These students declared their major and got an idea of what life will be like this fall.

The Orientation Captains under the guidance of the Office of Student Leadership & Service also coordinated the Spring Student Activities Fair (SAF) on January 18. Over 100 student organizations participated in the fair and many new students, transfer students, and early Oxford continuees were exposed to involvement opportunities available this semester. The Spring SAF took place in the DUC Coca Cola Commons and the Eagles’ Landing. We hope to have the Spring SAF as a staple opportunity for involvement in years to come.

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In addition to “Emory’s Day On,” Volunteer Emory will be organizing several other events this semester including World Read Aloud Day, an event to spread awareness on global literacy, and a sandwich drive with the Residence Hall Association.

Student staff members will also be running alternative break trips during Spring Break in early March. More information about these opportunities will be sent out over the coming weeks.

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FEATURE ARTICLE

LeaderShape The Office of Student Leadership & Service hosted the inaugural campusJill Camper based session of The LeaderShape Institute from January 15-20, 2012. This nationallyrecognized leadership program is featured at over sixty campuses across the country and is highly regarded as an intense energizing six-day program.

It is designed to prepare students to be effective leaders who are ethically driven and socially responsible. Sixty-five students from both Oxford campus and Atlanta campus and seven faculty members participated in this weeklong event. According to Jill Camper, Assistant Director of Student Programming and Leadership in the Office of Student Leadership & Service, “Typically we would send one or two students to a national LeaderShape session with other students from around the entire country.

Students always have a great experience, but then they return to Emory with little support from their peers because no one quite understands the LeaderShape experience. Now that we have a campusbased session, we have sixty-five students back on campus wanting to make a difference who are supporting each other in making their visions a reality.”

LeaderShape is open to freshmen, sophomore, juniors, and any non-graduating student who is interested in producing extraordinary results while also developing a commitment to lead with a high level of integrity. Taught through large and small group discussion and experiential education, students are active participants in their own leadership development and the leadership development of others.

One main component of LeaderShape is teaching students to have a “healthy disregard for the impossible.”

While students may never accomplish the vision they created during the program, it’s the idea of being committed to something larger. LeaderShape teaches students to become visionaries who can recognize a social ill and imagine what the world could be like if that ill didn’t exist.

a few words from LeaderShape students.......

“I earned something back that I lost a long time ago: True belief in myself.”

“Don’t be afraid to dream big!

What you can do is limited only by your imagination.”

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The LeaderShape Institute National Program The LeaderShape Institute is featured at over eighty campuses across the country. Emory University students joined over 46,000 students from across the country who have already graduated from LeaderShape since its inception in 1986. With national offices in Champaign, IL, LeaderShape® has as their mission to produce a breakthrough in the leadership capacity of participants through an interactive and pragmatic program. They believe that for students to bring their personal vision into reality, it requires sharing it with others.

They are committed to the following outcomes for their LeaderShape Institute.

Participants will: • Commit to identifying their core ethical and personal values and then commit to act on them.

• Identify when their behavior is not in congruence with their core ethical and personal values.

• Develop relationships where the dignity and contributions of all people are acknowledged and respected.

• Create a vision for the greater good of a community which includes a “healthy disregard for the impossible.”

• Develop skills to be able to successfully work in groups and teams to accomplish a collective vision.

• Articulate action steps necessary to implement a vision.

• Increase their capability to produce extraordinary results.

What does a week at The LeaderShape Institute involve?

Day 1: Building Community; Day 2: The Value of One, The Power of All; Day 3: Challenging What is, Looking to What Could Be; Day 4. Bringing Vision to Reality; Day 5. Living and Leading with Integrity; Day 6: Staying in Action

“Every person in the world has the capacity to effectively lead with integrity™, and this capacity can be developed in all people who are committed to doing so. One’s capacity to lead with integrity™ can be developed over time through disciplined practice. A commitment to the discipline of leadership development is a lifetime journey.

Source: www.leadershape.org

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Partnerships with Emory’s academic units and other departments are critical to the success of LeaderShape. Through financial support, faculty/staff participation, and student recommendations , the Emory community can offer valuable help and become actively involved. LeaderShape faculty and staff participants at this year’s session included: James Francois, Office of Multicultural Services; Marthaellen Florence, Nebraska Educational Television; Aby Parsons, Emory Ph.D. Candidate, GA in the Office of LGBT Life; Stephen Deaderick, Residence Life – Oxford Campus; Emily Sankey, Emory Orientation & Family Weekend; Dusty Porter, Emory Alumni, Lead Facilitator; Danny Shoy, Emory Alumni, East Lake Foundation; Natasha Hopkins, Emory Alternative Breaks & Student Organizations; Kylie Long, Emory Undergraduate, On Site Coordinator.

If you would like more information or if you would like to become involved with The LeaderShape Institute at Emory, please contact Jill Camper at jill.m.camper@emory.edu (404) 727-2787. Also, there will be a special Dobbs University Center Art Gallery display in March 2012 showcasing the 2012 Emory LeaderShape’s participants’ visions. Mark your calendars to attend and when you meet LeaderShape students, be sure to ask them about their visions.

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Campus Life Awards and Distinctions

Leadership Emory named NASPA Outstanding Spotlight Program of the Year Praised for the effort of institutional collaboration and innovative thinking, Leadership Emory was named the 2012 Spotlight Program of the Year by the Student Leadership Programs Knowledge Community.

Matt Garrett, Associate Director of the Office of Student Leadership & Service, also authored an invited NetResults article for NASPA on the program that will be published in early April. Be on the lookout for more about Leadership Emory this spring as Leadership Emory forms a faculty advisory board (co-chaired by Dr. Michael Elliott), analyzes and shares Multi-Institutional Study of Leadership data, finishes validating and pilot testing assessment instruments, and gears up for additional professional development opportunities for Campus Life staff this summer.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS Orientation Leader Selection Orientation Leader applications will be available on February 1, for students who are interested in serving as peer mentors for incoming first-year students. Please encourage qualified students to apply to the Office of Student Leadership & Service.

Campus Life Employee Portal The new Campus Life Employee Portal is now live at http://emory.edu/CAMPUS_LIFE/employeeportal. There you will find useful links to a variety of Emory sites, a list of items to know this week, and a new staff member highlight. Please take a moment to check it out, and please send any link recommendations and feedback to Gina Myers, Communications Coordinator for CL Technology & Communications, at gmyers4@emory.edu.

Call for images The Campus Life website homepage and the Campus Life Employee Portal are in need of new photos. So if you have pictures from a recent student event or pictures of staff that you think would fit on either site, please send them to Gina Myers, , at gmyers4@emory.edu. Please note: images should be at least 736 x 318 pixels.

Textbook rental Barnes & Noble @ Emory now offers textbook rentals, and so far students have been very excited about the opportunity to rent their textbooks. By renting, students can save over 50% off the cost of new printed textbooks. All forms of accepted payment, including financial aid, can be used for rentals. If you have any questions or would like to know more about the program, contact Myra Haley at sm757@bncollege.com.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS Campus Life Development Office announces the solicitation for nominations for the Emory Alumni Board (EAB) Leadership Scholarship which will be awarded to one undergraduate and one graduate student for the 2012 2013 academic year. The EAB Leadership Scholarship recognizes outstanding students whose actions, beliefs, and passions have improved the Emory community in the arts or sciences, in academic, pre-professional or extracurricular pursuits, through mentorship, via social outreach, or through other avenues. The scholarship will be awarded for one academic year in the amount of $5,000, and strong preference will be given to those students who qualify for financial aid.

In order to identify the most deserving among all qualified Emory students, we need your help. You can help in one of two ways: nominate students you know who would be strong candidates and distribute the application widely. We have already shared the forms with each school’s financial aid liaisons, but would appreciate your sharing it with student services staff, student groups, etc. Students who are nominated will be invited to complete an award application, though a nomination form is not necessary for a student to apply. Final selection will be made by the Campaign Committee of the Emory Alumni Board.

Completed applications from students are due March 1, 2012. Please contact Andrew Christopherson, CL Development Director, (andrew.christopherson@emory.edu) if you have any questions or would like more information regarding the scholarship and the desired qualifications of recipients.

Housing Selection Housing applications for 2012-2013 are now open! Please remind your students to submit their applications (online at http://myhousing.emory.edu) before February 15. Students who are unsure of where they would like to live should still submit an application to be assigned a selection time. (Without a complete application, we will not offer them a time to select housing.)

Employment Opportunities University Conferences is hiring for the summer of 2012! Please help us recruit exemplary juniors and seniors in the College to apply to be Conference Managers for this summer. Conference Managers will gain financial organization and billing exposure, as well as great customer service experience. Managers will also receive: • • • •

free furnished private housing for the duration of employment, free parking during employment, a $4,000 stipend; and a SAAC membership

Please find the position description and application online at: www.emory.edu/HOUSING/JOBS/confcm.html.

Questions may be directed to Leia Clement at lacleme@emory.edu or Sherry Ebrahimi at sherry.ebrahimi@emory.edu.

The Office of Residence Life & Housing has many student employment opportunities available for the summer or for the academic year! Available positions are posted online at www.emory.edu/HOUSING/JOBS, along with position descriptions and applications. Current available positions include: Commencement Housing Assistant, SAAC Facility Manager, SAAC Desk Manager, Pre-College Resident Advisor, Residence Hall Director Fellow (graduating seniors only), University Conferences Conference Assistant, and Clairmont Campus Conference Assistant. page 12

ANNOUNCEMENTS Introducing “Queer Connections” Beginning in the spring, the Office of LGBT Life is offering a series of events and opportunities for students to connect with queer faculty and staff in networking and mentoring environments. The first part of this program includes hosting informal lunches and dinners each month for queer faculty to dine and chat with students. You can find the dates of meals as well as a list of faculty online at lgbt.emory.edu. Please stay tuned for future announcements about ways to be involved!

Office of LGBT Life Leadership Funds Now Taking Applications The Office of LGBT Life promotes the leadership development of students. Two funds were set up by generous alumni and friends of Emory University and the Office of LGBT Life to support this aspect of the Office's mission.

The J. Michael Aycock Leadership Development Fund and the Dr. Daniel D. Adame Leadership Fund provide ongoing financial support for student leadership opportunities. Students interested in receiving funds to further their growth as leaders are encouraged to apply. Details on the individual awards as well as application instructions can be found at: http://www.emory.edu/CAMPUS_LIFE/LGBTOFFICE/funds4leadership.php Discussion Groups—Time Changes The Office of LGBT Life and the Center for Women are continuing the Queer Discussion Groups after a successful first year in 2010-2011. A new Queer Interfaith Group was added this fall. The groups are peer led and supervised by the Directors of the Center for Women and Office of LGBT Life. The group times and days are as follows: Queer Students of Color Group Mondays @ 6:00 p.m..

Office of LGBT Life Queer Women’s Group Tuesdays @ 6:00 p.m...

Center for Women at Emory, Cox Hall Queer Interfaith Group Thursdays @ 7:00 p.m.

Office of LGBT Life

SAVE THE DATE 2012 Pride Awards: Saturday, March 3 at 7:00 p.m. Tull Auditorium, Emory Law School The Pride Awards are held on or around March 2 of each year to commemorate the march through campus that began Emory's move toward equal rights for LGBT people. The Awards are attended by LGBT and ally students, staff, faculty, alumni, and President Wagner. The GALA Leadership Award, the Studies in Sexuality Essay Contest prizes, the Chesnut LGBT Person of the Year Award, and Lavender Diplomas are all presented during the ceremony. Additionally, the Office of LGBT Life will present its own awards. RSVP at: https://secure.www.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/EMR/event/showEventForm.jsp?form_id=119853

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ANNOUNCEMENTS Safe Space Training Dates Announced Safe Space trainings are offered throughout the year. These sessions are 3.5 hours in length, and are facilitated by trained facilitators. Emory University faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends may sign up for a Safe Space training. There is no cost to participate in a training or request a training for your department, unit or student organization thanks to the support from the Office of LGBT Life and the donated time of our facilitators.

UPCOMING SESSIONS FOR SPRING 2012 Wednesday, Feb. 15, 1-4:30pm Thursday, March 8, 9am-12:30pm Friday, April 27, 9am-12:30pm You can register at: http://www.emory.edu/CAMPUS_LIFE/LGBTOFFICE/safe_space.php Safe Space Lunch and Learn Dates Throughout the spring semester, the Office of LGBT Life offers hour-long continuing education opportunities that focus on various areas of the queer community. The next Lunch and Learn of the semester is February 9th at noon in DUC 355. This Lunch and Learn will be a panel of Emory students sharing their experiences being queer on campus and beyond.

You are invited even if you have not completed Safe Space training, and you can RSVP at lgbt@emory.edu. Bring a lunch and bring a friend!

Trouble finding where you’re going in the DUC!!!

Same Place, New Numbers Occupants of the DUC It’s Official!!! Please begin to use your new numbers.

Schedulers of Space As a scheduler for events in the DUC if your original confirmation was sent before January 18 it will not have the new room number on it. Due to the amount of reservations placed with Meeting Services, we are unable to individually email new confirmations to each person. Therefore, to assist you in your advertising please visit this link http://www.emory.edu/DUC/index.php to find the new number of your room. There will be signage throughout the building in case your advertising still has the old number on it. Please note, this change will only effect the East Wing of the building. If your event is on the West Wing of the building, you are not affected. Reservations submitted after January 17 will already have the new room number listed on the confirmation.

If you have any questions or concerns, contact Victoria Hanson at 404-727-1033. page 14

ANNOUNCEMENTS Thank you to all CL Staff Members who attended the Luncheon at Everybody’s! We had a great time.

Please be on the look-out for other upcoming events sponsored by the Campus Life Enrichment Committee.

February

Sunday, February 12-Think Pink Basketball Game at 2pm. Happy Hour for Campus Life Staff. Free Food and Prizes and a chance to win an Eagles Pink Blanket!! Hope to see you there!!!

The “Healthy You” Initiative was started by Paula Scotman, Senior Financial Analyst in Residence Life. It is a walking group that meets in front of Alabama Hall from noon-1:00. The path varies, but all paces are welcome!! If you have any questions, please email Paula at PSCOTMA@emory.edu.

New Initiative-Box Tops for Education (On-going community Give Back Program). Collect the box tops off of your office supplies and other household/food items. If you have a child or know of a particular school that participates in this program, please provide your name and the school to Ieisha Fuller at ifulle2@emory.edu.

In the subject line, please type “Box Tops for Education,” and we will be sure that your name is added. If your department is interested in participating, send Ieisha an email. A member of the committee will be assigned to gather your collection box at the end of the month. We will have a drawing to decide which school will receive what we have collected as a Division. It could be your child’s school - so please support this effort!

SAVE THE DATE: FEBRUARY 27 Black History Month Play, A Conversation between President Barack Obama and Malcolm X, WH 208 , 4:30pm Black History Month events are available at www.emory.edu/MULTICULTURAL.

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First Person Perspective by Michael Shutt The Division of Campus Life at Emory University is a pretty special place to work. Although it is still a very young division, turning 30 only a few years ago, the people, programs and services make coming to work very rewarding. That being said, I sometimes ask myself, “How did I get here?” As I look around my department, I ask a similar question, “How did this thriving space get here?” These questions make me look to the past and then launch me into the future, strategically of course. My problem is, I often cannot just “be.” I therefore put forward a challenge: Learn something new about your past and/or the history of your department. It may help you better understand yourself and your department a little more. The second part of the challenge is to look toward the future. Imagine yourself and/or your department in a way that inspires you. The third and final challenge is to allow yourself to “be.” Take a moment to look around and appreciate what just “is” about yourself and your department. This is my biggest challenge and the one I need the most help. Maybe we can do these things together.

My Journey I grew up in Angola, Indiana, and was the child of working class parents. Not unlike other families, there were challenges, divorces, etc. That being said, there was also more love than you can imagine. I worked in a restaurant kitchen from the age of twelve and went to college not knowing what I was supposed to do there. Michigan State University enabled me to learn about others and myself. I studied in England for a year, worked as a resident assistant, came out as a gay man to myself and others, and applied for graduate school. I stayed at Michigan State and received a master’s degree in public administration. I also met my husband.

Upon graduation, I worked in HIV policy at AIDS Action in Washington D.C. and then moved to Georgia. I took a position at the University of Georgia as a Health Educator and advocated for LGBT inclusion. This turned into my second job as the founding Director of the first LGBT Center at a public institution in the State of Georgia. Although that had its challenges, it only added to my already complicated life because I was also trying to complete a doctorate at UGA. Emory then came calling and the rest is history.

Office of LGBT Life’s Journey The Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Life opened its doors in 1991. Under the leadership of two, part-time graduate students, Donna Smith and Michael Wyatt, the Office provided a space for students to gather and just “be.” When it opened in 1991, Emory became the ninth campus in the United States to provide support services for LGBT students. From that time, the Office of LGBT Life has made great strides to create access for students of all sexualities and genders. Emory University is now listed as one of the most LGBT-friendly institutions of higher education in the country. It has a five-star rating on the Campus Climate Index and the Daily Beast ranked Emory University as the 16th most “gay-friendly” campuses in the country. In addition, five Emory Healthcare facilities were rated highly in a recent survey of LGBT-related policies for the Healthcare Equality Index. It is therefore an exciting time to be a part of this work at Emory.

Journeying Forward Emory provides me the opportunity to bring together myself and my work. The University provides us the space to thrive. As we move forward, we must create opportunities for leadership, scholarship, and personal growth. This is important for the staff in the Office as well as our students. Our strategic plan helps guide this in an intentional way.

What about the here and now? Well, I am still working on that! Maybe I should look to this Sanskrit poem: "Each today, well-lived, makes yesterday a dream of happiness and each tomorrow a vision of hope. Look, therefore, to this one day, for it and it alone is life."

Michael D. Shutt is the Assistant Dean for Campus Life and Director of the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Life at Emory University.

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extra! extra! news from..........

Barkley Forum Barkley Forum for High Schools Tournament Over 1,500 participants from 178 secondary schools in 27 states attended the 57th Annual Barkley Forum for High Schools tournament January 27-29, 2012. The final four in policy debate reflected the national strength of Georgia high school debate: Homewood Flosmoor High School from Illinois joined Woodward Academy, Stratford Academy, and Dunwoody High School from Georgia. Stratford defeated Dunwoody in the final round on a 14-9 decision of the critics. Other first place winners were from: Greenhill School (Texas), Lake Highland Prep (Florida), University School (Florida), Harker School (California), Scarsdale (New York), and Nova (Florida).

Alumni of Emory debate provided long leadership in the event: Michael Jablonski, counsel for the Democratic Party of Georgia led the opening tournament convocation for his 38th year; Sharon Semmens, Paul Hastings law firm, her 32nd year as head of the six speech and forensics events; Mike Slade, Kirkland and Ellis law firm, his 20th year as head of extemporaneous speaking; Catherine Beane, Children’s Defense Fund, her 17th year of administrative staffing; Isaac Wolf, High Meadows School, his 7th year as head of Public Forum debate; Rob Mills, doctoral student at Northwestern, his 3rd year as head of Congressional debate. Barkley Forum debate coaches rounded out leadership in the debate divisions of the tournament. A special thanks to Meredith Honeycutt and Jill Camper from Campus Life for processing fees, administration, and judging for the tournament, and to John Ford for facilitating our move back to campus through negotiating competition rooms in the Rollins School of Public Health. The Medical School, Gambrell School of Law, Goizueta Business School, and Emory College provided rooms for the event. Patty Ziegenhorn facilitated food services for the weekend to feed our guests and provide our final assembly site. The Emory Bookstore, Admissions Office, and Starbucks had a steady stream of customers. Dean Robin Forman visited the tournament with his family. Finally, Jamie Chan in the Office of Admissions staffed a recruiting table for four hours on Saturday in the DUC and four hours on Sunday in White Hall.

The tournament is staffed by over 60 Barkley Forum staff, alumni, and students and takes over a year to produce, but it is truly the work of the entire Emory community!

Presidential Debate Commentary Six Barkley Forum professional staff provided local and national media commentary during the U.S. Presidential debate cycle.

During the packed opening day of the Barkley Forum for High Schools, debate coach and former Emory national debate champion Nick Miller was tasked with a national Associated Press interview on the change in Mitt Romney’s debate style between the South Carolina and Florida primary debates which can be viewed at: landing.newsinc.com/shared/video.html?freewheel=90121&sitesection=ap&vid=23565934 Columbus Urban Debate League Retired Barkley Forum staff Betty Maddox has taken the initiative to build an Urban Debate League in Columbus, Georgia, with her brother, Reverend Richard Jessie. While she was fulfilling her duties as a KEY Society (national forensics coaching honor society hosted at Emory) critic during the Barkley Forum for High Schools, her work was being covered in the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer: www.ledger-enquirer.com/2012/01/28/1911062/muscogee-county-school-district.html

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Emory Campus Life Calendar FEBRUARY 2012 Sunday 29

Monday 30

Tuesday 31

Wednesday

Thursday

1 9a Division of Campus Life Meeting

2 6p Out @ Work: Queer Alumnae/i Career Panel

10a Caldecott Medal Winner 2011 Reading Series 10a Storytime for all ages 5p MORE Mentor Applications due 5 12p Athletics Men's Basketball

6

7 8 1p Resume and 10a Storytime Cover Letter for all ages Writing

2p Athletics Women's Basketball 6p Super Bowl Party

6p Sophomore Recruiter Town Hall 6p Stacia M. Brown, Reading and Book signing

12 13 9:45a Athletics 11a Noble - Softball Reads Book Club 12p Athletics - 4p Book Men's Discussion and Basketball Signing 1p Athletics Men's Tennis 1:45p Athletics - Softball 2p Athletics Women's Basketball 6p Athletics Men's Tennis

14

19 3p Athletics Baseball

21 2p Athletics Baseball 8p What's New in Poetry: Rosmarie Waldrop

26 9:45a Athletics - Softball 12p Athletics Baseball 1:45p Athletics - Softball

20

27

15 10a Storytime for all ages

Friday 3 6p Athletics Women's Basketball

Saturday 4 1p Reading and Book signing

8p Athletics Men's Basketball

9 12p Safe Space Lunch and Learn: Listening and Referral Skills 3:30p Artist Survival Skills

16

10 11:30a International Coffee Hour

11 9:45a Athletics - Softball

6p Athletics Women's Basketball 8p Athletics Men's Basketball

11:45a Athletics Softball

17 2p Athletics Men's Tennis

18 3p Athletics Baseball

3p Athletics Baseball

28

22 10a Storytime for all ages 12p Queer Connections: Queer Eats and Queeries 2p Athletics Baseball

23 8p What's New in Poetry?

29 10a Storytime for all ages 2p Athletics Baseball

1

24 2p Athletics Baseball

25 9:45a Athletics - Softball 11:45a Athletics Softball 2p Athletics Baseball

2 2p Athletics Baseball

3 10a Athletics Softball 12p Athletics Baseball 12p Athletics Softball 7p Emory 20th Annual Pride Awards

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