Managing for Diversity 2010

This is a presentation on Managing for Diversity as a Student Affairs Professional

TRANS-REMEMBRANCE DAY VIGIL 2009

The TRANS-REMEMBRANCE DAY VIGIL was sponsored by the URI Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Center, URI Gay Straight Alliance, SK High School Gay Straight Alliance. There was 71 people in attendance for this event

GLBT Center Symposium Planning Meeting Minutes February 10th 2010

This post contains the GLBT Center Symposium meeting minutes of February 10th 2010. In attendance: Marcus, Kevin, Kevin, Joe, Morgan, Riley, Andrew; Monday night will begin with Marriage Equality, not the Gender Project. Gender project is on Tuesday with Christa, and Jay from YPI. Also Brian Gilly (University of Vermont) will arrive and stay at Al Lot’s. Wednesday, first full day of programs, Brian Gilly is available to do multiple presentations including his featured address. At 11pm he will meet with Equity Council Commission. 12 pm is the women studies program and Brian will do another program on Aids and Native Americans. Riley will follow up on the Native American Student group, locate contacts and try to build a collaborative program. 1:30 pm Victor E. will do his presentation on transgendered research. 2:30pm is Ron’s “radical fairies and bears,” likely followed at 3:30pm by Darren Wells; Thursday Annemarie will present on interviews and narratives of six lgbt students of color. 1pm Brian A. plans to conduct a substance abuse panel. 2pm Pam G. to speak on creating LGBT communities of faith with a transgendered speaker. 3pm Jen M. , director of rainbow center at CC will speak on documenting queer history. 7:30pm in the MMC Jen is going to facilitate a panel with the director of the center at Yale, Kelly the director at Brown, and students from each campus on campus climate. Possibly a musician on Thursday night with a social gathering. Friday at 12pm is the women’s panel, followed at 3pm by Joe on Narratives. Friday night “Baby Doll” will be read, and after Matt Wixon will perform. 60’s party Saturday night in Hardge Forum. Promotion

GLBT Center Symposium Meeting February 2, 2010

This post contains the meeting notes for the GLBT Center Symposium Meeting February 2, 2010. Present: Al Lott, Andrew Winters, Annemarie Vaccaro, Mike Miele, Joseph Santiago, Morgan Cottrell; Meri and Christa programs are ago, but need rescheduling Documentary on the history of same-sex marriage, and panel discussion to be broadly advertised. Christa and Jay, Gender project film, and pane

Peck Hall GLBT Program 2009

This Peck Hall GLBT Program was delivered by Joseph Santiago and Morgan Cottrell to residence hall students and RAs. There were 63 people in attendance for this event. Peck Hall GLBT Training Program 2009; Joe santaigao and URI; Joseph Santiago and URI; Morgan Cottrell; -Name -Involvement with the Center -Quick program overview -What does GLBT stand for -Invitation to Celluloid Closet; Stand-Up/Sit-Down Game (5-10 minutes) Note to facilitator: Ask everyone to stand. When a statement is read that refers to them, ask them to sit and remain seated for the rest of the activity. Ask them to be honest. All items do not have to be read or read in this order. You can pick and choose statements to read based on the type of audience you are speaking to.; You are a man and sit with your legs crossed. You are a woman and have ever worn a baseball cap. You are a woman and you play sports aggressively. You are a man and you wear jewelry (rings, bracelets, necklaces, anklets…) You are a man and you have your ears pierced. You identify as a feminist. You are a woman and you do not shave your legs or under your arms. You are a man and you enjoy musicals. You are a woman and you are not wearing any makeup today. You are a man and you do not play sports. You are a woman with short hair (chin length or shorter). You are a man with long hair (chin length or longer). You have not dated anyone of the opposite sex in the past six months. You are friends with someone who is LGBT. You have a family member who is LGBT. You are a man and you have been told that you are sensitive. You are a woman with a low voice. Majority of your friends are the same gender as you. You are a romantic man. You are a man and you polish your toenails or fingernails. You are a man and you have received professional massages. You verbally support LGBT issues. You are a woman and you shop in the men’s section in stores. You are a man and you color or perm your hair. You are a woman and you stand up for yourself. You are a man and you have often been complemented on your sense of style. You are a woman and went to Lilith Fair. You are a man and enjoy female music groups. You are a man and you show affection to other men. You have another visible part of your body pierced besides your ears. You are a man and you have spoken out against sexist jokes and comments.; Why’d we do that? Everyone who is now sitting down could be a target for LGBT hate crimes. All the statements we have read off were actual items perpetrators used to target LGBT people. This exercise shows that hate crimes do not have rationales behind them. The reasons people have given to discriminate against the LGBT population are often very arbitrary. For those of you still standing, we have only named a few things people have given to target the LGBT population. It is possible that you may be sitting down if we read additional statements. It is also possible that you have recognized these as reasons people target the LGBT population and have either intentionally or unintentionally avoided behaving according to these statements. This is just some food for thought for you to consider.; Spheres of Influence Activity (10-15 minutes) -Break students up into three or four groups of about 4 or 5 people. -Pass out one Spheres of Influence worksheet to each group, and one pen. -Tell students to take 10-15 minutes to brainstorms ways they can use their spheres of influence to make this campus more affirming to people on campus who need extra support.; Closing (5-10 minutes) -Thank students for participating, and working towards a more positive campus community -Prompt participants to take a schedule, film series schedule, conversation group flier, and book mark -Tell them how to visit our website, join our listserv, and facebook group -Invite them to Celluloid Closet at 7:30 at the Center; Change Your World With Your Spheres of Influence; Directions: Each Individual has the power to influence the world in a positive way. Reflect on each sphere of influence you have, and write down ways to use that influence to make the URI Campus more inviting and affirming for GLBT students, or any other community that could use more support. Personal Sphere: (your behavior, your beliefs, your terminology, your education, etc); Interpersonal Sphere: (Your friends, your family, your interactions with others, etc) Community Sphere: (Your University, your student group, your department, etc); Personal: Don’t use derogatory terms, or statements like “that’s so gay” Be open and friendly to GLBT students Interpersonal Be supportive to your GLBT friends Reach out to GLBT family members If your friends or family make mean comments, or are homophobic engage them in conversation Tell your GLBT friends about the Center, and any other supportive places, and resources Community Attend; Community Attend rallies Speak at legislative hearings Volunteer to help GLBT organizations (GLBT Center, PFLAG, MERI) Participate in GLBT friendly programs Help support the formation of a GSA on campu

GLBT Center Meeting Minutes – August 6 2009

GLBT Center meeting notes, updates, and tasks

GLBT Center Symposium Meeting Minutes – August 30 2009

GLBT Center Symposium Meeting Minutes – August 30 2009; The following aesthetic changes will be made: Enlarging the Green Hall logo and positioning it where the Welcome Project Logo is Make the Welcome Project Logo smaller and position it where the Green Hall Logo is Adjusting Heading, “16th Annual…Questioning Issues” so that the new title can fit below it, “Narrating Equality: Coming Out, Looking In” Decreasing the font size of the blurb, “Presentations and Participation…to the Public

GLBT Center Internal Program Report 2010

This is the minutes from a GLBT Center Staff meeting assessing the programs and services of 2009/2010 academic year. GLBT Center Internal Report 2010; Programs: Conversation groups bi-weekly On-going film series bi-monthly Symposium with ? number of programs Symposium programs in collaboration with Hillel, and GSA Collaboration with South County PFLAG at RI Pride RA training session Orientation booth Welcome night booth Welcome week booth South County PFLAG monthly meetings Center Welcome party Halloween Celebration End of the year dinner Regular and varied social events Game Nights Trans vigil in collaboration with GSA Welcome Wednesday monthly meeting Marriage equality rally Proposition 8 rally Women’s LGBT Group formed in Collaboration with Women’s Center Rhode Island Community Learning Network (RICLN) Provincetown overnight trip Gay Bingo, monthly Networking with NE higher education settings that also offer GLBT services Contingency at March on Washington Student representatives at the Legislative hearing on a Marriage Equality bill Center open 24/7; Professional in service staff development for career services and community organizations Multiple residence hall programs in the form of trainings, and discussion groups Early and consistent contributions to the formation of the Stop the Hate Rally, and the Student Leadership Retreat Assisted in the formation of I Am U-URI GSA and Center participated in a student protest at the President’s inauguration as a statement against Pastor Boyd, the inaugural speaker; Successes: Networking with other NE Higher Education Institutions with GLBT Services A large presence at the Student Leadership Conference A large contingency of GLBT center affiliated student in the new student advisory committee to the president, I Am U-URI Unity in Difference. Wide spread support of LGBT concerns from student leaders in I Am U-Unity in Difference Tripled student attendance at programs Increased student staff positions Increased number of student volunteers Assisted in the creation of a new GSA Brought faculty and staff from the various areas of campus to be involved in Welcome Project Symposium which attracts URI faculty, staff, students, and community members regionally Expansion of programs offered Increased visibility Increased awareness of an appreciation for GLBT community and campus issues Issues:; Issues: Overwhelming consensus that the space and resources currently associated with the Center are inadequate. The Center should be relocated to a place more centralized on campus affording visibility, easy access, with some living accommodations for staff and students. This plan to relocate the center was included in the last and current five year plan for the university. Though there is improvement in visibility there is still considerable room for improvement in regard to campus climate. Incidents of name calling, and harassment are still shared at the center with regularity. Concerns about difficulty connected to being out, and/or making reports are also voiced frequently by students. There is a strong feeling of absence of LGBT staff, faculty, and administration on campus. All issues expressed in the I Am U-Unity in Difference report are still relevant. Current and projected funding for the GLBT Center is substantially inadequate relative to needs. Gender neutral housing available to all students, including freshman. Concerns exist that fraternities and sororities are not universally open to LGBT students. Students at the center often express concerns about heterosexual assumptions and intimidation in classroom and throughout campus in regard to sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.; While the leadership qualities of Center staff, and GSA officers have been quite noteworthy, and extremely helpful additional opportunities for LGBTIQQ leadership and community development should be supported by the university. It’s important to acknowledge that national discriminatory policies such as blood drive restrictions, workplace discrimination, marriage equality have a very real negative impact on LGBTIQQ students, faculty and staff

Interview questions for student program coordinator positions at the GLBT Center 2010

These are the interview questions used to interview prospective staff members for the GLBT Center in 2010. Why are you applying for this position?; What do you hope to accomplish as a program coordinator at the GLBT Center?; What qualifications, skills, or strengths do you have that will be most useful in this position with the GLBT Center?; If I ask your friends and family what your biggest weakness is, what would they say?; What do you do to increase your awareness of diverse perspectives and cultures in the GLBTIQQ community?; How would you approach an interpersonal conflict with a coworker or a student who regularly attends Center programs?; How would you go about increasing participation from students in Center programming?; Do you have any questions?; What do you think are important issues impacting GLBT students at the University of Rhode Island

URI GLBT Center Job and Occupancy Expectations

URI GLBT Center Job and Occupancy Expectations. URI GLBT Center Job and Occupancy Expectations; Joe Santiago; Joseph Santiago; Andrew Winters; Morgan E Cottrell; As a staff member of the GLBT Center, I, ______________________________ agree to the terms and conditions provided below. I also understand that continuation as a GLBT Center live-in staff member is subject to approval by the Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs for GLBT Programs and Services.; Mission: As a staff member of the GLBT Center at the University of Rhode Island I agree to promote a welcoming and safe environment for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. I understand that the work of the Center includes education, advocacy, and support.; Staff members at the GLBT Center agree to live and work at the Center in order to foster the Center’s programs and promote a healthy, active, and positive Center atmosphere. Such participation depends upon the following:; Attendance at weekly staff meetings; Center staff are expected to participate in the planning, delivery, and evaluation of GLBT Center programs and activities. Completion of a minimum of 15 hours per week Active participation in Center maintenance so that the Center is clean, visibly presentable, professional, and welcoming to all who may visit. Continuous contribution of positive and creative energy as well as consistent acceptance of all who enter the Center. Completion of other duties as assigned by the Assistant to the Vice President of Student Affairs for GLBT Programs and Services, or other sanctioned senior staff members. Serving as a community liaison for the diverse Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer, Questioning (LGBTIQQ) community. Working to create an open, safe, inclusive space and community that promotes learning, discovery, and scholarship about gender and sexual identities. Working collaboratively with other community centers (MCC, Women’s, TD, etc). Serving as liaison to students, student organizations, faculty, administrators, and staff to maintain communication and flow of information. Serving as a representative to promote the mission and goals of the GLBT Center. Providing outreach to campus and community groups through advertising, planning programs, conducting training, etc. Addressing, educating about, and advocating for the issues and needs of underrepresented; Implementing and delivering programs, trainings, in-service, and annual LGBTIQQ Symposium offerings on various community issues and topics that support the mission and goals of the GLBT Center and promote retention of LGBTIQQ students for the university. Assisting with reports on programs, activities, goals, evaluations, and strategic plans and submit them to the university archive. Working with the staff, students, and volunteers in planning, implementation, publicity, and evaluation of GLBT Center programs such as Welcome Wednesday, the Welcome Project, the Symposium, and Conversation Group. Attending national, regional, and state-wide conferences/meetings when opportunities exist.; The GLBT Center and URI Campus is an alcohol and substance free space. Any use of alcohol and/or illegal substances in the above-mentioned spaces is inconsistent with expectations of Center staff. o All overnight guests at the GLBT Center are expected to cooperate with, and uphold, the rules and standards of the Center. Only Center staff are permitted to reside at the Center. Residence at the Center requires prior approval by the Assistant to the Vice President of Student Affairs for GLBT Programs and Services. o The GLBT Center is devoted to safety of all. Center staff members, guests, and visitors to the Center are expected to comply with fire safety and other codes designed to preserve a safe and comfortable atmosphere for all. o Center staff are expected to uphold and maintain academic standards and compliance with URI codes of conduct. o The living accommodation and space allotment is subject to change and to be amended based on the needs of the GLBT Center as determined by the Assistant to the Vice President of student Affairs for GLBT Programs and Services. o Center staff will be expected to vacate their Center residence upon resignation or; All URI Housing Terms and Conditions are in the Housing Contract: http://housing.uri.edu/contract.html All Student Rights and Responsibilities are provided within the Student Handbook: http://www.uri.edu/judicial/studenthandbook.pdf; Applicants for employment at the URI GLBT Center may be required to undergo a review of student conduct records.; I agree to abide by all of the expectations stated above. I understand and agree that I will immediately surrender my room and Center keys within one week of discontinuation for any reason of my status as a staff member at the GLBT Cente