INSIDE THIS ISSUE
DRESS FOR SUCCESS PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES AND LGBTQ AWARENESS THE POWER OF POSITIVITY
Delaware • District of Columbia • Maryland • New jersey • Pennsylvania • West Virginia
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M A C mUagaz H inOe
WINTER ISSUE
Mid-Atlantic Association of College & University Housing Officers
TABLE OF CONTENTS
From the President
04
EVENTS Bridging Passion and Practice
05
Dress for Success
06
Stronger Bonds do Build Better Bridges!
08
Exellent Presentations at MACUHO Conference
10
Our Region’s Best Recipients
12
RA Appreciation Day
14
“Insta” Your Potential: A Recap of SSLI 2013
18
ARTICLE MACUHO SSLI 2013 at Salisbury University
20
And So It Begins...
24
MACUHO’S VIP’S
26
Puppies: A Gateway to Relieve Stress with a Positive Student-Staff Relationship
29
FEATURES Professional Athletes and LGBTQ Awareness
30
The Power of Positivity
32
THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS Crystal Lopez Anthony Florendo Jovin M. Fernandez Catherine Kellman Caitlin Lenker Andrew Mason Dan Munt Sonia Mantzouridou-Onasi David Stuebing, M. Ed Steven C. Stwear, M. Ed EDITORS Christina Moran Philadelphia University DESIGNER Ashley Murray Temple University
Natilie Listion Zachary Neil Emily Scharen Max Shirey Anthony Majer Danielle Corione Steve Porcelli Brandy Garlic Christopher Willis Brooke Zygmund
WI NTER IS SU E
January 2014
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Crystal Lopez - MACUHO President
As I reflect back on our time in Pittsburgh for the Annual Conference, I think about our ever present theme “stronger bonds build better bridges.� MACUHO continues to grow and emerge as a stronger and broader organization by connecting professionals all over our region who continue to challenge the status quo. It could not have been better than spending the annual conference in the city built on bridges. For me, it served as a constant reminder of the work necessary to create an everlasting foundation. In the past couple of months since our time together as an organization, I thought about how I can continue to build bonds. For me, it is started with the student. The simplest bond that at times gets lost. As I continue to take on new roles, my student interaction level often shifts. Today, now as a more conscious decision, I make an effort to make myself more present. When the daily functions of my job keep me bound administratively to my computer, it is the bonds formed with my students that inspire me and often renew me. I can say that this year I have built bonds with our VIP class of 2013. They built a bridge for me. During this spring semester, I challenge you to reflect on your conference experience and continue to build bonds in whatever way you can. The bonds alone connect you to endless resources that will enhance your professional and personal growth. As we transition from winter to spring, think about the ending of a chapter and the spring renewal of a new one. Perhaps you are job searching, taking on new initiatives in your current role, or working on your next degree during this semester. Whatever it may be, I encourage you to find ways to build bonds so obstacles become simple walks across bridges.
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M AC U H O
MACU H O MAGA ZI N E
BRIDGING PASSION
AND PRACTICE By: Christopher Willis and Brooke Zygmund, Host 2013 Co-Chairs
New bonds were certainly formed at the 2013 MACUHO
racial justice. Embracing the new initiative of Experts in
Annual Conference and Exposition in Pittsburgh,
Residence (EIRs), Dr. Shawn Brooks from the University
Pennsylvania. With almost 40% new delegates at this
of Pittsburgh – Johnstown, shared his personal journey
year’s conference, we were able to build on new ideas,
and expertise in helping all of us to create and examine
create new opportunities, and meet new members.
the reality of ourselves as leaders in Student Affairs.
To highlight some of the amazing options offered,
Whether it was during the New Delegate Recep-
attendees had the opportunity to mingle with the
tion, at the Link Mentor Program, throughout the
Exhibitors, get involved by attending the Committee
Regional Dinner, during the business meeting, in the
Expo, attend an excellent variety of programs, and
Common Ground Room, from the Poster Session,
mingle over good food and great fellowship. Attend-
or in the Programming rooms, bonds were formed
ees were seen laughing and networking even through
and the profession was bridged by passion.
the wee hours of the night courtesy of DJ Fiesto.
We want to personally thank everyone who made this
Kicking off a great conference, the Keynote Speaker,
year’s conference a truly amazing experience. Many
Dr. Robin DiAngelo, truly captivated, but more im-
thanks go to our delegates, our volunteers, the ex-
portantly, educated the delegation with a framework
hibitors, the DoubleTree Hotel and Conference Center,
and the common language for very real, very current
and our host committee. We couldn’t, and wouldn’t,
racial issues. Delegates gained a deepening cross-racial
do it without you! For those of you who missed it,
perspective on how race impacts and divides, but more
we hope you will join us at the 2014 Annual Confer-
notably, the resources to support the on-going work of
ence and Exposition in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
M AC U H O
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WI NTER IS SU E
EVENTS
DRESS FOR SUCCESS Pittsburgh is Dressed for Success!
unteers who made this a successful (and most of
all, fun) event. They represented MACUHO the best
On the morning of November 6, 2013, while
most schools were on their way to Pittsburgh or recover-
way possible by selflessly serving the great city
ing from their long trip to the conference site the night
of Pittsburgh. Talk about “Building Bridges!”
before, a group of our colleagues huddled together for the second annual MACUHO Service Learning Project. The
Ryan Baldwin, Montclair State University
Service Learning Project is a fairly new tradition coordi-
Lashelle Cross, Rutgers University – Newark
nated by the Diversity Committee, serving a charitable
Anthony DiPasqua, Gannon University
organization that is local to the host city and touches
Jovin Fernandez, Rider University
closely on diversity and social justice issues. This year,
Denise Golden, Gannon University
we had a total of twelve volunteers (we had nine our
Kenny Kolanko, Rutgers University – Newark
first year at Moveable Feast in Baltimore, Maryland).
Rosemary Padilla, Rutgers University – Newark
Carolyn Pitcairn-Beers, Gannon University
Dress for Success Pittsburgh empowers unem-
ployed women to reach their full potential by giving them
Steven Sweat, Towson University
the tools (most especially interview/business attire) to
Yih Tsao, Gannon University
feel strong and confident in the competitive job market.
Wendy Walsh, Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania
Clients also receive career coaching, mentoring, and professional development support. Overall, we had a de-
An additional shout out goes out to all those who donated
lightful time not just sorting through hundreds of clothes,
clothing and items to Dress for Success. The volun-
but also connecting with one another. We talked about
teers thank Jodie Tabano, the Development Director
a range of topics from what we looked forward to at this
of Dress for Success, for hosting us that morning and
year’s conference to how we first started in residence life.
then visiting our conference to talk more about her
Later on that evening, the group met again to process our
organization. If you are interested in more informa-
experiences at Dress for Success and gained inspiration on
tion on a Dress for Success near your area, please visit:
coordinating creative clothes drives in the residence halls.
http://www.dressforsuccess.org/dfs_affiliates.aspx
I would like to acknowledge this year’s vol-
On a personal note, I would like to thank
MACUHO for having me serve as 2011-2013 Diver-
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M AC U H O
MACU H O MAGA ZI N E
-Anthony Florendo, 2011-2013 Diversity Co-Chair
sity Committee Co-Chair, which allowed me the opportunity to initiate the Service Learning Projects and my other “Zygmund Baby�, the Student Staff Commitment to Social Justice Award. Steven Sweat (ssweat@towson.edu) and David Stuebing (dstuebing2@washcollege.edu) will continue the growing success of the Diversity Committee as co-chairs, but we need more committed and passionate members of MACUHO to serve! Regardless of your affiliation with other committees, Diversity is for everyone! Anthony Florendo Assistant Director for Student Life University of the Sciences
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WI NTER IS SU E
EVENTS
Stronger bonds do build better bridges! Jovin M. Fernandez, Residence Director, Rider University
This year’s MACUHO conference gave me so much
is also very special to me. I can honestly say, being a
more than I could have imagined. Reflecting back on
part of the PPD committee has definitely contributed
last year’s conference, it was a bit scary and intimidat-
to my success and increased my passion for the field.
ing for me as a new delegate, but this time around
I joined the PPD committee at last year’s confer-
I felt right at home. Rather than being scared, I was
ence because I saw it as being a great place for me
excited and grateful to be in the presence of so many
to grow. I knew that it was the right committee for
wonderful people. It was such a great feeling to see
me; I just wasn’t sure how I could help because I was
people who I met a year ago for only a few days show
still very new to the field. But after having a few con-
me so much love and make me feel so welcomed.
versations with the other members I felt inspired.
MACUHO is more than just an association for me; it’s
PPD has made me want to do more and give back
a family. I often hear my friends outside of the field
to my field. If I had not joined the PPD committee, I
talk about their jobs and how they hate the compa-
would not be as active in the field as I am today.
nies they work for and the people they work with. For
I left Pittsburgh feeling so rejuvenated and ready to
them, it is nothing more than a paycheck. I couldn’t
tackle the rest of the semester with a heightened level
imagine living that way. I can honestly say that I love
of enthusiasm. Stronger bonds do build better bridges!
what I do, and that’s not something that many people
This year’s conference theme was a perfect fit for the
can say. It’s no secret that if money is what you’re
feelings I felt while being there. I met so many wonder-
after, you’re probably not going to find it in this field.
ful people and also had a chance to reconnect with
Sure, we all would love to receive big paychecks, but
the great people I met at last year’s conference. The
what we get out of this field exceeds a big salary.
bonds I have created extend to eight different regions
This year’s conference gave me an opportunity to reflect
and I look forward to maintaining those relationships
more than I ever have before. It reassured me that
and creating new ones at next year’s conference!
being a student affairs professional is without a doubt what I want to pursue a lifelong career in. Not only am I very grateful for MACUHO, but the PPD committee
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M AC U H O
MACU H O MAGA ZI N E
MACUHO FINANCIAL UPDATE By Olan Garrett, Treasurer As of January 27, 2014, we have a total of $154,421.21 in our checking and savings accounts. The breakdowns are as follows: Business Checking $81,108.03 Business Performance Savings
$53,950.22
Business Savings $19,362.96 Total $154,421.21 In December, the Executive Board met to set the Association’s operating budget for the 2014 fiscal year, which goes from January 1st to December 31st. A that meeting, the board approved an operating budget of $71,006.00, allocated amoungst the various committees and initiatives. The approved budget reflects several priorities, including continued sponsorship support to our conference host committees via the Coporate Partner Program, as well as the creation of a seprate budget line for MAPC now that it is its own freestanding program. The committee allocations are as follows: Committee/ Budget Area
FY 2013 Approved
FY 2014 Approved
Archivves
$-
$-
Corporate Sponsorships
$ 700.00
$ 700.00
Information Technology
$ 6,943.00
$ 7,448.00
Communications-Magazine
$-
$-
Communications-Social Media
$-
$-
Housing Operations
$ 850.00
$ 650.00
Diversity
$ 1,125.00
$ 530.00
Exhibits and Displays
$ 8,050.00
$ 9,100.00
PPD
$ 4,254.54
$ 1,460.00
Program
$ 14,350.00
$ 11,537.00
REC
$ 1,115.00
$ 1,910.00
R&R
$ 6,200.00
$ 6,221.00
Membership Development
$ 2,510.00
$ 1,650.00
Strategic Initiatives
$ 300.00
$-
Scholarhips
$ 3,460.00
$ 2,760.00
Executive Officers
$18,070.00
$ 20,760.00
Host 2014 Corporate Sponsorship
$ 5,000.00
$ 5,000.00
MAPC
N/A
$ 1,697.00
Totals
$ 72,927.54
$ 71,006.00
Totals (w/o Host 2013/Scholarships)
$64,467.54
$ 63,246.00
(MACUHO 2014 Approved Budget). Please feel free to e-mail me at treasurer@macuho.org if you have any questions, concerns, or ideas about our finances. M AC U H O
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WI NTER IS SU E
EVENTS
We are proud to announce recognize excellence among the presentations at this year’s annual MACUHO conference. Our Top 10 programs were: • • • • • • • • • •
Dear Colleagues: What do We Do About Title XI? – Sondra Dennison and Jamie Piperato Are WE Abandoning the Accused in Sexual Assault Cases? They’re Student Too – Emily Forte and Nicholas Tumoio Come to the Dark Side Young Padaqan: Making the Transition from Residence Life to Housing Operations – Christian Barber and Joe Uter Excellence to Eminence: Pathways to Student-Faculty Engagement – Crystal Pugh Tackling the Tough Talk – Jennifer Thorpe and Sarah Doherty Being the Truss of Our Bridges: Supporting Students Through Mental Health Situations as Housing Professionals – Laura Egan and Shondrika Merritt Are You an Ally?: Creaking Safe Spaces at Your Institutions – Alexandra Iannucci and Laura Egan Building the Bridge to Your Next Job! – David Clurman Stretching Your Res Life Paycheck with Extreme Couponing – Joshua Belice Fair & Fearless Feedback – Elizabeth Ali
The Best 30-minute Presentation was by Joseph Peltzer from Drexel University who presented “Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse: Unique Approaches to Staff Development”. The Best Poster Presentation Award went to Debbie Scheibler from Rutgers University – Camden, who presented “Serving from the Sole: Service as a Foundation for Staff Training (incorporating the TOMS philosophy)”. The Best Presentation by a New Professional Award goes to Elizabeth Ali from the University of Scranton for “Fair & Fearless Feedback”. The Region’s Best Presentation was presented by Alexandra Iannucci and Laura Egan, both from St. Joseph’s University, for “Are You and Ally?” Creating Safe Spaces at Your Institution.” This presentation will be presented at next summer’s ACUHO-I conference in Washington, DC. Thank you to everyone who presented at the conference. We encourage you to consider presenting at next year’s conference in Valley Forge!
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M AC U H O
MACU H O MAGA ZI N E
Award Winners From Annual
MACUHO Conference Ann Webster Award: Steven Sweat & Christian Barber
Temple University’s Licinia Kaliher, Sean P. Killion, and Shondrika Merritt Sean was awarded the David G. Butler Distinguished Award
Excellence in Operations Award: Crystal Pugh Mid-level Professional Award: Jay Tifone James Hurd Outstanding Service Award: Brian Medina David G Butler Distinguished Award: Sean P. Killion Commitment to Social Justice Award: Daniel Bahner Vendor of the Year Award: Savoy & Sons
M AC U H O
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WI NTER IS SU E
2012 – 2013
Our Region’s Best RECIPIENTS
Recognition, Education & Connections Committee would like to congratulate
Daniel Boulos
of University of the Sciences
Kayla Donnelly of Towson University
Christina Lombardo of Seton Hall University
as they are the winners of this year’s ORB Awards. These winners will receive paid registration for this year’s SSLI 2013 Conference at Salisbury University. CONGRATULATION TO THE OTHER 2012-2013 NOMINEES: Ana Ayala - Fairleigh Dickinson University Hannah Charles - Saint Peter's University Chris Denunzio - Washington & Jefferson College Cassandra Desmonthenes - Saint Peters University Darrin Fant - Salisbury University Erin Hanley - Wilkes University Rebekah Hayes - Mount St. Mary's University Chelsie Hurley - York College of Pennsylvania Paul Jerry - University of Maryland Eastern Shore David Loeffler - Washington & Jefferson College Deirdre Mari - The College of New Jersey Daniel Munt - Stevens Institute of Technology Jessica Nickerson - Washington & Jefferson College Maxwell Schaar - Mansfield University of Pennsylvania Olivia Schultz - Stevens Institute of Technology Shelby Steward - Fairleigh Dickinson University Ancy Thomas - Temple University Melissa Vanderpool - East Stroudsburg University Krista Williams - Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Kyle Wilson - Marshall University
We look forward to seeing all of you at the 2013 Student Staff & Live-In Conference!
For more information about Our Region’s Best please visit the REC Committee Page at www.macuho.org. 12 |
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MACU H O MAGA ZI N E
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WI NTER IS SU E
RA Appreciation Day Wednesday, February 19th 2014
MAKE THEIR DAY!!!
Look for tips on what you can do to show appreciation and recognition for your RAs on the MACUHO website, MACUHO Facebook, and in this issue of the MACUHO Magazine.
1. Send an E-card 2. Written Personalized note 3. Post inspirational messages around your staff office 4. Post flyers around the buildings with sayings like “Have you thanked/high 1. Throw a dessert reception 2. Winter Theme: Make your RA’s a snow cone or have snowcaps candy! Decorate with snowflakes. 3. Invite the staff over for a home-cooked meal or host a staff potluck 4. Room Service- Surprise your staff with a small meal or snack delivered to their room by you. 5. Home baked goodies 6. Frame or scrapbook a favorite quote or motivational story 7. Create gifts that are encouraging or highlight your staff’s strengths: a. Packet of Seeds- Thanks for nurturing your community and helping residents grow! b. Gold chocolate coins - You are worth your weight in gold! c. Andes mints/peppermint patties - Your service is worth a mint to us! OR Thanks for your commitMINT! OR You are a breath of fresh air to our office! d. Smartie - To remind you of the expertise you share with others! e. Life Saver - Thanks for being a real life saver! 8.Starburst - You're a star! 9. RA Survival Kit 10. College Logo Gifts
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M AC U H O
1.
Gift each RA their favorite candy or
snack 2. Make a bulletin board- in your office or near the dining hall or entrance to a building where everyone can see it- of your RA’s. Put up a picture and some fun facts, or reasons you appreciate them, and let the whole campus know about RA Appreciation Day! 3. ad in your school newspaper 4. Make RA mailboxes (like grade-school Valentine mailboxes) for each staff member and leave those, paper, and pens out for residents to write appreciations or shout-outs. Put some candy in with them and give them to the RAs on appreciation day. 5. Door decorations 6. Thank you Scrapbook: have people from other departments write thank yous and make mini scrapbooks 7. Talk to your Food Services about doing something special in the Caf for that day 8. Treat during staff meeting 9. Gifts from provided by other offices 10. Game & Raffle Event
fived/hugged/said hi/etc to your RA today?” 5. Make a Facebook Event 6. Write an individual Facebook wall post for each staff member 7. Write a Facebook note that you tag everyone in (25 things I love about working…) 8. Put a Facebook album together of staff memories and include captions/inside jokes 9. Email residents letting them know it is RA Appreciation Day 10. Ask them to make a poster, a sign, or a card for the RA and put it on the RAs door 11. Put a poster board with a staff picture in the lobby and let students write notes; share these at staff meeting 12. Video Thank Yous: where students and staff can show their appreciation of RAs 13. Write a poem about your staff, or story, or song, to share 14. Singing Telegram (phone message) to all RA's from the professional staff 15. Webpage 16. Letter from the President , VP, or Dean 17. Launch a Residence Life Meet the Staff Page featuring RAs and pictures 18. Dinner with the Department Head 19. Free Food from local vendors 20. Face in Hole figures for photo opportunities 21. Homemade Dept. Game/ Trivia 22. Decorate your RA’s doors overnight
MACU H O MAGA ZI N E
Resident Assistants Resident assistants are the ones that take care of the business. They are the Judge Judys, Dr. Phils, Oprahs and Jerry Springers of the residence halls. They have to deal with the Young and Restless residents all the days of their lives. From overflowing toilets, to mice, to even the occasional blackout. They are always there to give a hand. They are the Batman's and Wonder Women of residence halls. They may not be super heroes but, to their residents they are. Resident assistants are the ones that take care of the business. They are the ones that make the lives of the residents easier.
Resident Assistant, if you are not one you want to be one.
By Catherine Kellman M AC U H O
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WI NTER IS SU E
EVENTS
“Insta” Your Potential: A Recap of SSLI 2013 Caitlin Lenker, Residence Hall Director, DeSales University On Saturday, November 23, 2013, resident advisors (or resident assistants, depending upon the institution) and residence life professional staff members gathered together at Salisbury University, in Salisbury, Maryland, for the Student-Staff Live-In Conference (SSLI). This year’s theme was “Insta Your Potential.” DeSales University sent five resident advisors and two professional staff members (including myself) to the conference. Because DeSales is located in Pennsylvania, my fellow residence hall director, Megan Borascius, and I booked hotel rooms for ourselves and our RAs for Friday night and drove to Salisbury on Friday. Despite the fact that all five of our RAs had a busy week that all five of them spent Friday in class, they were all very excited about SSLI. Megan and I listened to them talking and bonding during our drive, and their enthusiasm was contagious. I became increasingly excited about the conference just by hearing them talk about it. The RAs also appreciated the fact that the long car ride gave them the opportunity to better get to know each other. “The bonding experience that my fellow RAs created during the experience was remarkable. From the car ride up, to the car ride back, we were all learning so much about each other,” said Phillip Vitale, a first-year RA and Assistant Resident Director (ARD) at DeSales. There were a wide variety of sessions offered at the conference for the RAs, and our student staff members took full advantage of them. Their favorite sessions were “How to be the Leonardo of Your Ninja Turtles,” and “A Day in the Life of an Effective Community Builder: Let’s Talk Strategy.” James Herrighty, a first-year RA at De-
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Sales, particularly enjoyed the “How to be the Leonardo of Your Ninja Turtles” presentation, because it “was so informative, yet not overwhelming, and easily relatable.” Sarah Brodt, a second-year RA and ARD at DeSales, and also a presenter at the conference, especially appreciated the “A Day in the Life of an Effective Community Builder: Let’s Talk Strategy” session, because she “live[s] in an interesting community… and it is often hard to find things to incorporate and interest everyone.” There was one session in particular that stood out to Megan and me. Both of us attended the “Insta-Potential of Online RA Training” seminar, which inspired us as we prepare to make some changes to RA training at DeSales. “I was really happy I attended the session about online RA training,” said Borascius. “Because we are interested in revamping some of our fall training for next year, it was really helpful to learn about how online training benefited their staff and where they plan to take online training in the future.” In addition to the professional development seminars, Borascius also enjoyed the opportunities to network with other professionals and to strengthen her relationships with the DeSales RAs. “I really enjoyed being able to discuss some new and innovative ideas with professionals from other schools,” said Borascius. In addition, she also “appreciate[d] having had the opportunity to attend SSLI with a diverse group of RAs. We do not always have the opportunity to spend time with the students who are not part of the buildings we directly supervise, and SSLI gave me that opportunity.” The DeSales RAs learned so much from
MACU H O MAGA ZI N E
the SSLI conference that they did not want to leave it. Several RAs indicated that their least favorite part about the conference was the fact that it was a day-long event. “My least favorite part of SSLI was the length of the conference,” said Brodt. “I wish it was longer and that there were less options for what presentation to go to during one time slot. It was really hard making a decision on which ones I had to miss.” Karl Holl, a second-year RA and ARD at DeSales, agreed with Brodt, specifically because the length of the conference inhibited his ability to network with a large number of RAs. “My least favorite part was that the conference was so short, [I was] not … able to connect with more people,” said Holl. However, when it did come time to depart for home, all of our RAs, and Megan and I, agreed that we definitely would like to attend SSLI again, or at least encourage others to attend the conference. “I would recommend the conference to other RAs. Not just students who are interested in Residence Life as a future career, but those who want to strengthen their commitment to serving Residence Life,” said Jessica Watson, a second-year RA and ARD at DeSales. Borascius echoed Watson’s sentiments: “I would recommend the conference to other RHDs in the future. It is a great way to get to know some of your RA staff members better, as well as participate in valuable discussions while at the conference with other professionals.” As for me? I am thankful to have
had the opportunity to attend SSLI this year. I appreciate the fact that I was able to meet and speak to other residence life professionals about topics that are relevant to the job we do on a daily basis. I enjoyed getting to better know the RAs that work for our Office of Residence Life. And I will definitely recommend SSLI to any residence life personnel, student or professional staff member, in the future.
“The bonding experience that my fellow RAs created during the experience was remarkable. From the car ride up, to the car ride back, we were all learning so much about each other,”
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WI NTER IS SU E
ARTICLE
MACUHO SSLI 2013 By Andrew Mason Stevens Institute of Technology Resident Assistant
The MACUHO-SSLI Conference was a tremendous experience full of values and memories that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I was fortunate enough to join eleven other RAs from Stevens Institute of Technology for the 5 hour trip from Hoboken, NJ to Fruitland, MD. I was very impressed by the welcoming staff, accommodating facilities, and astute organization provided by Salisbury University. On the morning of the conference, we were immediately greeted by Salisbury RAs and directed to the gorgeous Holloway Auditorium for the Welcome and Keynote Address. After a regional role call from all the attending states, a rhythmic opening dance captivated the audience and set the stage for keynote speaker Matthew Shupp. After his intriguing stories and words of encouragement, Shupp ended with the quote, “the only time you should be looking down on someone is when you are helping them up.” With the theme of the conference set, and the audience inspired, it was time for the workshop sessions to begin. “Gender Bender,” a presentation designed to take a deeper look into the constructs of gender in contemporary society, was the first session I attended. The speaker opened the discussion by having attendees attempt to guess various aspects of her background, including social class, sexual orientation, heritage, and many more. After the list was exhausted, the speaker then revealed answers to all of the posed questions. The exercise demonstrated that physical appearance alone is not enough make assumptions about an individual’s background. The floor was then opened up for discussion where many offered to reveal their own backgrounds and some of the resulting stereotypes and obstacles. Not only was the presentation insightful, but it also created an atmosphere of understanding and learning. Between the first and second sessions, conference attendees were treated to a delicious lunch in the Salisbury Commons Dining Hall. The food was expertly prepared and the staff was exceptionally kind. The break allowed Stevens’ RAs to reconvene and share their experiences of the morning sessions.
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Immediately after lunch I rushed to Session II, “P’interesting Programming!,” a presentation put on by my fellow Stevens RAs. The session began with a discussion on various programming models and illustrated ways in which RAs could make their programs appeal to the majority of their floor. Members of the audience were encouraged to share their stories of programming success and the reasons for that success. The second part of the session entailed a group exercise that split the room into four teams. Each team was given a different scenario and then a 10-minute timeframe to design a program tailored to that scenario. Learning how to provide input and listen among a group consisting solely of leaders was a fantastic experience. The collaboration from every team member resulted in high levels of creativity and ingenuity and was inspiring to me as both a leader and a follower. I joined many fellow Stevens RAs at the Session III presentation, “Making Passions into Actions,” which was designed to lend tips and provide motivation to those striving to stand out in their respective careers. Members of the crowd each shared personal moments of success and their methods of achieving that success. The speaker then provided many valuable steps designed to make personal, professional, and career goals a reality. Overall the MACUHO SSLI Conference met and exceeded all of my greatest expectations. The amazing staff, facilities, and organization made Salisbury University the ideal place for a leadership conference. Not only did I learn valuable life lessons, but over the course of the weekend I became a lot closer with many of my fellow Stevens RAs. I am definitely returning next year!
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at Salisbury University By Dan Munt Stevens Institute of Technology Resident Assistant
The theme of the SSLI conference was “Insta Your Potential,” which referred to the popular social media site Instagram. Users of Instagram can instantly broadcast photos or images that capture the ideology of the user at that moment in time. The conference theme could have taken on different meanings for different individuals, but it was mainly focused on how one can recognize one’s own potential and how to broadcast it. The conference kicked off with an enthusiastic keynote speaker who carefully spelled out the following phrase “the only time you should look down on someone is to help them up.”, which I believe really resonated with everyone at the conference. We have all either looked down on someone or been looked down on. Right away, I met people from all backgrounds and majors; however, I did not meet many other engineers. As engineering major, we can have a certain belief that engineers are more than the average person (there is this belief in every major, I’m sure, but this one I know for certain). It can be very easy to look down on someone just because they do not have to take upper level calculus or thermodynamics, but one has to remember that a curriculum does not determine a person’s worth. There is quite a bit of psychology and engineering that goes into making 2nd graders interested in history, for example, that many people do not appreciate or notice. After the speaker finished, we all reflected on how we view our fellow classmates and started to think about what conference programs would help us better “Insta” our potential. The first program I attended showcased the use of hall decorations to increase a sense of community and hall pride in residence halls. At Stevens, motivating certain residents to leave their rooms and join hall events can be difficult. I was eager to learn new ways to improve a sense of community and hall
morale. I immediately started thinking of ways to incorporate the great ideas presented in the program in my hall at Stevens. I cannot wait to get feedback from my residents. The next program I attended was actually one I had helped plan. We ran a program on how to gauge the interest of each hall member to optimize programing potential. We presented different ideas on how to gauge success in outreach and then designed a breakout session in which students were split into four groups and given different hall environments. After each group had time to plan a hall event in which every resident might be interested in going, they shared the event with the other groups. We also asked for constructive criticism for each group’s program. When we received our evaluations, everyone said they enjoyed the group breakout session, and one girl even claimed it changed her whole residence life career. The final program I attended was titled “Putting your Passions into Action.” This program helped me realize that one’s hobbies and interests (passions) may be more than meets the eye. I will provide two examples. First, I love music, and one of my favorite things in life is giving someone a CD that speaks to their life or what they may be going through during a season of their life. Second, a more concrete example, involves my love for teaching people how to swim—especially people who cannot swim or have had a drowning experience. I realized this passion directly translates into a future career path I have been considering—becoming a professor. The love I have for teaching people how to swim can be directly translated into teaching students how to think. This program helped all students realize that the decision of what do to after college becomes more focused once you figure out your passions and especially your “unpassions”. Overall, the MACUHO conference was a great learning experience, and I highly recommend it to all RAs. I had a great time bonding with my fellow RAs and learning how to become a better program planner and RA in general. We also enjoyed sharing our experiences from Stevens and our insight in how to gauge the interests of one’s residents. I am a firm believer that the best way to learn something is to teach it, and I think we all learned from the program we presented, especially during the breakout session. We enjoyed networking with fellow RAs from different colleges, and I am excited for the experiences next year’s staff will have.
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MACUHO SSLI 2013 at Salisbury University By Sonia Mantzouridou-Onasi Stevens Institute of Technology Resident Assistant
The MACUHO SSLI 2013 conference at Salisbury University was an unforgettable experience. I need to say that it was not the first RA conference that I have ever attended, but it was by far the best and most fun conference. We started off our day by having breakfast at the hotel where we had stayed overnight and soon after we drove over to Salisbury. The opening and keynote at SSLI was very interesting and engaging and the performances by the students were awesome! The best part was the very inspirational speaker, Matthew Shupp. I won’t forget the phrase that he mentioned: “The only time you should look down to someone, is to help them up”. It is a line that I don’t think anyone will forget. The first session that I attended at the conference was called “Getting More out of Icebreakers: Leadership Tools from Icebreakers.” The speaker’s presentation skills were excellent, and I really got a lot out of this session. One of the most basic things that I got from this presentation was how important it is to pay attention to someone’s name when you meet them. Furthermore, a very interesting activity that he showed us was throwing a stuffed animal back and forth to each other. Each person has to remember who he or she got it from and who he or she passes it to. In the end, he started passing more stuffed animals and we each had to repeat more names. The game ended when somebody forgot who they passed it to last. It was a really fun activity and helped us meet an entire group of people pretty easily. After the first session, we had the opportunity 2 2 |
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to watch a performance that RAs at Salisbury University perform every year for the incoming class. It was a great presentation and performance, and was something that my fellow RAs and I want to try and bring back to our college. The presentation was a great way to showcase what new students might expect from college and their first year away from home. At the end of the day, three of my fellow RAs and I gave our own presentation called “P’interesting Programing.” Presenting our session at SSLI to other RAs from our region was a great opportunity for us to share our ideas and advice with RAs from different universities. Our presentation focused on the process of creating events that engage different personalities and students to maximize attendance and get all your residents interacting and engaged on their floor. Before we ended our presentation, we had everyone break out into groups. We gave each group a different scenario and they had to plan, coordinate, and come up with a program/event and a flyer to help advertise the program. Our group discussion at the end of the presentation provided additional program ideas that RAs could take back to their own respective campuses. Overall it was a great conference and I can’t wait for next year! It was also really nice to see my fellow Stevens RAs Olivia Schultz and Dan Munt, as well as other RAs, being recognized as ORB (Our Region’s Best) award nominees and winners.
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And So It Begins... When thinking about our first article as the new cochairs for the MACUHO Diversity Committee, we wanted to answer this question for ourselves and for you: What are we most excited about as incoming co-chairs of the Diversity Committee? Steven:
For me, I am excited about another opportunity to give back to the MACUHO family. It is a pleasure being able to use my passion for diversity with the development of the MACUHO membership. It is like doing what you love every day and never working a day in your life. I recall my start with MACUHO when I first began my position as a Residence Life Coordinator at Towson University. As part of our onboarding experience, my fellow colleagues and I were invited to sit in on the first planning committee meeting for the MACUHO 2012 Annual Conference, co-hosted by Towson University and UMBC. I know many folks would advise to use that first year to learn the job before stacking more onto your
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plate. However, I was a bit hungrier than most. I became the co-chair for Entertainment and Transportation for the 2012 conference. From then on, my love for MACUHO soared. As I begin this new challenge of leading the MACUHO Diversity Committee with David Stuebing, I look to see what lies ahead. From continuing and further promoting the blog posts to expanding diversity conversations on our college campuses, I believe our focus on education, awareness, and personal development continues to spring us forward. Each day I meet with the realization that “this is it.” I am a part of THE Leadership Council. At times, I have thought about pinching myself to see if I am dreaming. This leadership opportunity will only help me in my life-long journey to becoming a diversity educator, a proponent of “allyship,” and an advocate for positive change. When you think about it, everything reverts back to diversity when it comes to community-building within
MACU H O MAGA ZI N E
David Stuebing, M.Ed., Washington College
Steven C. Sweat, M.Ed., Towson University
the residence halls. When it comes to learning about one’s roommate, residents should ask about their background, which holds their history and experiences within their various identities. Some roommate conflicts are rooted in personality differences or not being able to see the perspectives of another. Then, there are those overt or covert examples of bias incidents and ignorance that call upon us as professionals to assist residents in learning about diverse others and rebuilding the community. David:
I would say that any opportunity to build appreciation for the magnificent variation of the human race will intrigue me. Having grown up seeing people who looked, sounded and thought differently than I did, my life experience has stretched me and it is something I wish for others to experience. Lest I sound like I think I have it all figured out, coming (back) to the US after growing up in Zambia has been an adventure all its own as I have encountered new perspectives and experiences. I resonate with the saying, “the more you know, the
more you know you don’t know. I hope to always remain in a position of learning and humility when it comes to the experiences of each person I meet. Because of my life experience, the blog and opportunities for people to teach and share their experiences, their questions, and their knowledge drive me. The thought of organizing a drive-in scares me, but I’m excited about the prospect of people having the opportunity to rub shoulders, sit and chat, listen and share, challenge and grow. We just want to thank MACUHO for offering us this opportunity to further serve the membership and entrusting us with their development. If anyone would like to learn more or join the Diversity Committee, feel free to contact either of us: David Stuebing, Washington College (dstuebing2@washcoll.edu); Steven C. Sweat, M.Ed., Towson University (ssweat@towson.edu). Let the fun begin!
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ARTICLE
MACUHO’S VIP’S The Lisa A. Pierce Volunteer Incentive Program for Students (VIP program) is always a highlight at the annual conference. This year the VIP program was no different. MACUHO’s Recruitment and Retention committee selected twelve undergraduate individuals from twelve different institutions who received the opportunity to network and learn more about the field they may be headed into soon as graduate students. Recruitment and Retention (R&R) has been hard at work to reframe and solidify the VIP experience to secure its future with MACUHO. We have been doing this through the entire program from selection to follow-up assessment. R&R moved to a more standard method of selection based on the value the experience has given past VIPs. Being a VIP means more than words can express, and I understand this as I was once a VIP member myself. The entire experience is life-changing, and you meet and bond with people that MACUHO brought together. Students get the chance to network, not only with each other, but with professionals currently in the field. Students also get the chance to attend professional programming opportunities as well as to follow a curriculum built just for their needs concerning graduate school and jobs. Most of all, learning about Lisa and the work she did through Tom Pierce is inspiring. Each year Pierce comes to talk about Lisa to the VIPs. It is the most inspirational, heartwarming, and connecting moment of the entire conference for the VIPs. But I just don’t want you to hear it from me; here are what some of this year’s VIPs have to say:
“To me the VIP program has solidified my future in housing by experiencing the passion and dedication professionals have for their campuses. Listening to Mr. Pierce was life changing, and every day I’m inspired to work harder because of his story. Thanks to my mentors and the other VIPS I have the confidence to pursue graduate studies and to chase my dreams.”
-Zachary Neil, UMBC
“It was inspiring to be surrounded by people in the career who are just as passionate as you are, and you can truly tell how much they love working in Res Life. Being in the program allowed all the VIPs to form such close bonds with one another, not only during the conference but afterwards as well. This was such an amazing experience, and I would highly recommend it to any student who is considering working in higher education as a career!
~ Emily Scharen, Rowan University
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MACUH HO O MAGA MAGAZI ZIN NEE MACU
NATILIE LISTON
“The VIP program gave me the opportunity to network with professionals and the other VIP undergraduate students. I most value the connections made with the other VIPs because they helped me narrow down my list of graduate schools and reaffirmed why I am passionate about the field of student affairs. I am beyond grateful to be a part of such a talented group of individuals and hope to cross paths with my new friends (the VIPs, of course) in the future. The VIP program has helped prepare me for my graduate education, and I hope to be attending the MACUHO conference next year as a student affairs professional member and VIP alumni!”
~Anthony Majer, Ramapo “The VIP program on the surface is an amazing opportunity for undergraduate students interested in pursuing a career in student affairs/higher education. As one of the participants, I was able to network with professionals in the field and make connections at many of the institutions that I applied to continue my education as a graduate student. The VIP program, however, was so much more than networking and attending professional development sessions; it was finding a family. MACUHO is an amazing family, and I am fortunate to say that this family welcomed me, and all of the VIPs, with open arms. This family helped confirm that I am making the right choice in pursuing a graduate degree in student affairs/higher education and made me so much more excited to enter the field.”
~Max Shirey, Millersville University
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MACU H O MAGA ZI N E
PUPPIES:
A Gateway to Relieve Stress with a Positive Student-Staff Relationship By Danielle Corcione Resident Assistant at the Ramapo College of New Jersey
What is something that everyone could use more of to reduce office stress? Puppies. Earlier this semester, my supervisor expressed slight interest in adopting a small pet for his on-campus apartment. Fortunately, I decided to take this subtle suggestion to the next level. Puppies soon became a creative way to not only reduce stress, but also, foster a beneficial professional-student staff relationship. Every Friday, I would e-mail updates to my supervisor with articles on the benefits of raising a dog, followed by links to adorable GIFs and YouTube videos. I would even occasionally post pictures of puppies around the office, including faces taped onto human bodies. Needless to say, reducing stress in the workplace always helps. As a working student, I was able to creatively reduce stress through a student-staff relationship. Statistically, employed students exhibit higher levels of stress than students are not. A recent study, “Working and Non-Working University Students: Anxiety, Depression and Grade Point Average,” examines the mental health of working and non-working students in relation to academic achievement. The conclusions revealed there were no significant difference on grade point average or employment status, but there was with regards to stress levels.
However, a positive relationship with a supervisor may alleviate stressful tension amongst working students. Useful ways to foster a positive relationship include availability for open communication, an inclusive environment with a safe place to address concerns privately, critical feedback that includes strengths on both ends, and acting as a resourceful mentor. The puppy committee served as a healthy medium to enhance these four examples. The both of us shared open communication through e-mail correspondence and opportunities for in-person meeting to discuss the benefits of pets. The inclusive environment of professional support behind a mission also helps embrace the creative energy. My supervisor was able to identity which tactics were convincing (or not) through critical feedback—all inspired by puppies. By the end of the semester, my supervisor ended up getting a feline friend rather than a canine. Despite the small difference, the mission of the puppy committee – to convince him to adopt a pet, regardless of species – was successfully achieved. The puppy committee became the gateway to a better professional relationship through better communication and enhanced atmosphere. Sometimes, it turns out that silly or ridiculous is exactly what an office atmosphere needs.
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FEATURE
Professional Athletes Posted by Steve Porcelli on the MACUHO Diversity Committee Blog
Personally, I have the tendency to argue about sports. When I say “argue,” I mean argue. I probably argue about sports with more vigor than anything else. Once, someone told me that it was silly (I don’t think the word silly was actually used) and that I should be arguing about things that matter (politics, the economy, and other things like that, I guess). My immediate response was “Why?” The best part about arguing in sports is that in the long run sports don’t really matter. They are a form of entertainment, and you can’t really offend anyone’s views by arguing about them. You can’t always say that about religious or political topics. One popular debate is whether or not professional athletes are role models. NBA player Charles Barkley infamously once said “I am not paid to be a role model”. Fellow NBA player Karl Malone responded, “We don’t choose to be role models, we are chosen.” I agree with Malone. Whether it is fair or not, professional athletes are looked up to by youth (and even adults) all around the world. This is partly why every performance-enhancing drug violation in Major League Baseball leads to disappointment.
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LGBTQ awareness in professional sports has come a long way in even the last ten to fifteen years. There were some really unfortunate events regarding the LGBTQ community in the ‘80s and ‘90s. There are two major ones I can think of right now: Billie Jean King being forced to out herself in 1981 and the rumors surrounding Magic Johnson in 1991 and 1992. I don’t know a lot about King. The short history is that her then-girlfriend filed a lawsuit, and it became public, which forced King to out herself. As a result, she lost all of her endorsements in 24 hours. For Billie Jean King, publically announcing that she was lesbian cost her $2 million. That is insane in itself. When Magic Johnson announced that he had aquired the HIV virus in December 1991, the rumors swirled that he was gay. At the time, HIV/ AIDS was still considered a “gay thing.” The first journalist to write about AIDS was Lawrence Mass, who wrote about it in the New York Native, which was considered a gay newspaper. There are plenty of other quotes throughout the 1980s that connect “the homosexual lifestyle” and AIDS. Disappoint-
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and LGBTQ Awareness Britney Griner
ingly, Magic’s focus was on proving that he was not in fact gay. Bill Simmons wrote in “The Book of Basketball” that Magic’s clear claim that he was not gay on “The Arsenio Hall Show” and his book about his “very hereto” trysts brought forth a disappointing homophobic attitude. Magic also stated that part of the reason he didn’t give more support to Isiah Thomas in regards to his 1992 Dream Team exclusion was because Isiah questioned his sexuality. Now, professional athletes (especially NBA players) are among the most famous people in the world and, fair or not, hold a crazy amount of influence. So, I throw in this “what if.” What if Magic Johnson was gay and publically came out back in 1991? How different would the LGBTQ community look? How different would LGBTQ acceptance be? Recently NBA player Jason Collins received tons of recognition for coming out. What if it was Kobe Bryant or LeBron James who had done so? When that superstar professional comes out, it will be a great day. WNBA player Britney Griner’s coming out was a tremendous step in LGBTQ acceptance. The bigger the star, the better for LGBTQ acceptance it will be. Somehow, arguing about sports has gotten more serious.
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FEATURE
THE POWER OF
POSITIVITY Brandy Garlic, Resident Director, University Village Apartments, Delaware University
Let’s be honest. Working in housing and residential education is a lot of work! There is so much emphasis on customer service, office hours, on call, late nights, policies and procedures that sometimes we forget the bare essentials that we need to get the meat of the job done. I am a firm believer (and I preach this to my students and staff) that, “your attitude determines the outcome.” If you approach the Resident Assistant position and a career in general with a negative attitude, then you will have negative results. If you approach an irate student with negativity, you had better believe that you will get negative results. There truly is power in positivity. This may seem like mere words to you, but it has become a movement on Delaware State University’s campus specifically in the Department of Housing and Residential Education. While planning for fall training this year, I brainstormed a great deal trying to find a theme. Just like most of my “great ideas,” it came to me at 2 a.m. while trying to fall asleep. Positivity! During my welcome and expectations session, I told the RAs, “I do not do well with negativity because I am a positive person. So, if you are having a bad day, and I encounter you, I will sprinkle you with positivity. Smiles are contagious and so is a positive attitude and aura.” To support my thinking and my way of living I
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showed a TED Talk, “The Happy Secret to Better Work” by Shawn Achor. Shawn’s talk is about positive psychology. He challenges listeners to not allow their external world to determine their happiness. “If you raise someone’s level of positivity in the present then their brain experiences what we call a happiness advantage,” says Achor. He does a fantastic job of exuding the positivity and energy he discusses in his talk. The feedback from the RAs after hearing this was filled with positivity. Because of this new way of approaching training, this positive movement, you could see the difference in the way the RAs bonded with their staffs, the way they learned new policies and procedures, and the way they accepted the challenges of training. This may sound like something small, not anything new to professionals or even Chief Housing Officers, but it is something that we as humans sometimes take for granted. Reintroducing positivity to the RAs during training produced powerful results and provided an amazing atmosphere. Anytime they are faced with adversity in life or in the job I challenge them to “sprinkle it with positivity”. I tell them that I don’t care if it’s a salt shaker filled with positivity or a bucket. Sprinkle it with positivity because your attitude in just about any situation can determine the outcome.
KEEP CALM AND
SPRINKLE POSITIVITY
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