Residence life

Getting involved in Residence Life

KATHRYN DOLAN Staff Reporter @kathryndolan97

The Residence Life, Housing and Dining Services department assists students both inside and outside the classroom.

According to the Missouri State website, Resident Life provides students with healthy dining, well-maintained facilities and approachable staff members.

Travis Schilla, the coordinator of leadership development and programming, has been working for Residence Life for six years. He said his favorite part of the job is getting to work with students who are excited about creating opportunities on campus. “(Students) want to be planning activities and planning programs,” Schilla said. “They want to find ways to engage the campus and advocate for their peers.” Each residence hall has a council, where a group of students work together to be a voice for their community. Students advocate for new equipment and new policies by speaking to administrators. “(Students) might put on a cooking class or they might help take students downtown to explore Springfield,” Schilla said. A student activity fee is collected from all students, which allows Hall Council to receive funding so Residence Life can plan engagement opportunities for students. “We really want to make sure (students) have a say in how

that money is spent,” Schilla said. “So if (students) feel like their (residence hall) doesn’t have the right cooking utensils, or they want to advocate for a new pool table, they have autonomy to be able to do that.” Schilla said this system gives students a chance to speak up and use their voice while learning more about community engagement. One impactful initiative, coinless laundry, was proposed by a student and passed by Hall Council. Students also helped advocate for movie rentals from the front desk. Schilla said most students probably don’t realize those decisions came directly from Hall Council but they’re still really impacted by them. Schilla said he believes becoming a resident assistant is one of the best opportunities a student can take on campus. “It is a lot of work,” Schilla said. “But the benefits and opportunities that it creates for you are unmatched.” File photo by Kate Brown/THE STANDARD Schilla said resident assistants are given a The Residence Life, Housing and Dining Services office is located lot of trust in order to help make an impact on the students living on their floors. He believes on the first floor of Hammons House. resident assistants get a lot of career development opportunities, the resident assistant position at Scholars House. regardless of what field they’re going into. “The community there is just fantastic,” Alexander said. “We Caleb Alexander, a junior computer science major, was a reshave really good attendance at events.” ident assistant in Scholars House his sophomore year at Missouri This year Alexander hosted the house’s first “TED Talk” and State. After the outbreak of the coronavirus, Alexander was able over 60 residents attended. to keep his job, but was moved to Hutchens House. Many residence assistants put extra time and effort into their “After quarantine I really didn’t do normal RA (tasks),” Alexhall decorations; Alexander said work ethic plays a big role in ander said. “There was no event planning or decoration making, getting residents to show up to an event. just rounds and making sure everything was in line.” “You’ve got to devote a lot of time to being an RA — it isn’t Alexander was very excited when Missouri State offered him for everyone,” Alexander said.

MSU offers clubs for the artistically-inclined

focuses on building a community of people who other Tuesday from 8:15-9:15 p.m. at Brick 1,

explains the organization promotes ceramics throughout town by hosting exhibitions, workshops and lectures. Clayworks has been involved in several arts events in Springfield such as Artsfest, MSU May Day and Springfield Sister City events. The organization also has Photo courtesy of professor Kevin Hughes of Clayworks. “Adaptation” measures approximately 48”x12”x2” organized bi-annual pottery sales on campus, where students can view and purchase and was made by senior Chelsey Klosterman, a dual student ceramic pieces. BFA in 3D Studies and BSED major. Klosterman made Clayworks advisor and art the piece, which is made of ceramic and barbed wire, and design associate professor for her senior show spring. Kevin Hughes said the club is for anybody with an interest in ceramics. DIANA DUDENHOEFFER “Working with clay can almost be a magical Digital Editor experience for some and frustrating for others,” @kisstein Hughes said. “Most people find it really amazing Sketchbooks and cameras and ceramics, oh that they can actually make something out of a my! Whether you hope to work professionally formless lump of earthen material that when subin visual arts or enjoy the arts as a hobby, jected to an appropriate amount of heat becomes Missouri State University’s clubs and organizaan object that can last thousands of years.” tions have you covered. Hughes said students on the fence about join American Institute of Graphic Arts out. According to the Campus Link webpage for “I would encourage anyone who is uncertain the American Institute of Graphic Arts, AIGA about joining the organization to come to one of was established in 1914 and is “a global commuour events and see how fun it is to work with nity of design advocates and practitioners,” which clay,” Hughes said. value creativity and design while teaching students Student Photographic Society about the professional design world. The goals of the Student Photographic Society,

Maria Gerasimchuk-Djordjevic, an art and according to the Campus Link webpage, involve design assistant professor and the faculty advisor education, sharing interests, and raising awareness for American Institute of Graphic Arts, explained of the creative potential of photography. that AIGA has members from different creative Students do not have to be photography majors areas including design, illustration, photography, in order to join the Student Photographic Society. as well as marketing and advertising, but students According to Campus Link, one of the benedon’t have to major in these areas to join the club. fits of joining the club, is allowing students to

The MSU chapter of AIGA has around 30 build experience, serve the community and netstudents on the roster, and meetings are every work with others in the field of photography. ing Clayworks should simply stop by and try it room 302. Students in Design

“We welcome all and always suggest students “Students in Design was created in order to come and hang out with us,” Gerasimchuk-Djordenhance the education of graphic design and iljevic said. lustration students, as well as instill values of

Students are able to attend workshops, conteamwork, community involvement and self-imferences, visit speaker events and get feedback provement in its members,” the Students in Design on their portfolios in coordination with other Campus Link said. chapters of AIGA in St. Louis and Kansas City. The goal for Students in Design is to raise

Gerasimchuk-Djordjevic encourages readers awareness by educating students through field to follow AIGA on social media: trips, visiting artists, exhibitions, workshops, de

Facebook: @sgfaiga partment-wide activities, volunteerism and

Instagram: @aiga_springfield fund-raisers, according to the Campus Link page. For more information about visual arts clubs Clayworks and organizations, visit https://art.missouristate.

The Campus Link webpage for Clayworks edu/student-organizations.htm.

LGBTQ+ resources to use at Missouri State

M. TODD DEARING Lifestyle Editor @mtodddearing

There are numerous LGBTQ+ organizations at MSU.

The LGBTQ Resource Center, meant for LGBTQ+ identifying students, is in the Multicultural Resource Center Annex in the basement of Freudenberger House. It offers multiple resources to students, including a place for LGBTQ+ students to lounge and an extensive library of books and movies.

Overseeing the LGBTQ Resource Center is the director of multicultural programs, Kimberly Martin. With 20 years of experience in student affairs and five years in diversity and inclusion, Martin aims to serve the student community by making MSU inclusive.

“I have been an assistant director of D&I in a medical school, and director of a cultural center,” Martin said. “The MSU faculty and staff have been very helpful, ready to assist in any way, and I have been very pleased. I’m loving it here.”

For other resources and help, look no further than Transitions Closet.

Transitions Closet is an open resource for all students to access as a free and anonymous way to get clothes for any purpose regarding transition. This includes transgender students in need of clothes for the gender they identify as, international students and students leaving MSU to enter the workforce.

Melaqueer is a student organization meant to create a community for LGBTQ+ students of color. They meet every other Tuesday in the MRC Annex to discuss issues that affect their lives.

“I would say that for my freshman year, I wanted to find this type of community early so that I could find people with shared experience with being a black queer person like myself,” 2019-2020 Melaqueer Community Engagement Chair and junior art/painting major Naysa Adams said. “If you want to be able to find an organization with other queer people of color, fun conversation and overall a safe space to be comfortable in your identity, this would be the organization for you.”

Spectrum is a social student organization that means to create a safe environment for LGBTQ+ students with weekly meetings located in the MRC Annex Lounge every Wednesday at 7 p.m. Spectrum also aims to create positive visibility for the LGBTQ+ community through advocacy and activism.

Similar to Spectrum, Advocates is another student organization that serves as a professional forum for positive social change for MSU’s LGBTQ+ community. However, Advocates focuses on providing resources for students wanting to enact positive change in their communities.

Safe Zone is an MSU program meant to identify students, staff, faculty and community members who are supportive of the LGBTQ+ community with a two-hour training course. The course takes participants through self reflection activities, as well as teaching basic vocabulary and general issues facing the LGBTQ+ community as a whole.

An expansion of Safe Zone, Gender Zone, is a similar program for transgender and intersex identity. Set to be piloted this fall, the training will delve more deeply into gender as a social construct to help participants understand issues within the community.

In the LGBTQ+ Student Services section on missouristate.edu, there is a tab labeled TRANS* @MSU, which offers easy access to resources, such as a map of all gender-neutral bathrooms on campus. The tab also displays official campus policies regarding the chosen name policy, non-discrimination policy and the on-campus housing policy.

Organizations can be found at the MSU Belong-B-Q for new students at the Foster Recreation Center at 5 p.m. on Aug. 16.

MOLLY ROEDER Staff Reporter @molly_r8r

Missouri State University has no shortage of science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM organizations for students to get involved in on campus.

From clubs like the Society of Science Educators to the economics club, there is an organization for everyone interested in STEM at Missouri State.

Ashley Schunzel, president of the Society of Science Educators (SoSE), has been a member of the club since it was founded in 2017.

Photo submitted by Ashley Schunzel Club members pose at a National Science Teachers Association Conference.

The club aims to “increase awareness of teaching as a profession in formal and non-formal settings, while developing effective science teaching practices as well as leadership skills,” Schunzel said.

Students interested in the club can attend monthly meetings and professional development events hosted by SoSE and volunteer at science-related activities, such as the science olympiad and the science and engineering fair.

A club on campus that deals with technology is the Computer Science club, which aims to take advantage of the capabilities of technology to make the lives of others easier.

Siming Liu, assistant professor of computer science and the club’s chapter advisor, said the Computer Science club helps students get ready for job interviews, learn how to program in python— a coding language — while also teaching members to problem solve.

Liu said his favorite part about being in the club is the chance to meet “enthusiastic students who are excited about a variety of interesting topics in computer science.”

The club also teaches students how to use widely-used software development programs, such as GitHub,

which puts members a step ahead of other job candidates.

The club even created an extension which helps MSU students organize their four year plan.

Along with science and technology-based clubs at MSU, there are also several clubs available to engineering majors.

Engineering clubs available for students include the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, which both provide unique and professional opportunities for future engineers.

Students who are interested in math-related fields, such as economics, should consider joining the Economics club.

This club focuses on how economics affects everyday life, keeps up with the job market and furthers educational opportunities for students interested in economics, which you can find more about on their Campus Link page.

While there is not a specific math club at MSU, there is a process students can go through if they are interested in creating one.

According to the Missouri State website, students must attend a meeting to discuss student funding, find

Photo submitted by Ashley Schunzel, Society of Science Educators club members learn how to make light bulbs last longer.

an advisor and students to support the organization, get it approved by the Student Government Association and go through training.

The process could take a couple weeks or months, but if a student is passionate enough, nothing will get in the way of starting a club.

The amount of opportunities for STEM majors at MSU are endless, and the clubs are not just for STEM majors. Anyone interested in the subject is encouraged to get involved.