Blog Posts – Page 38 – Northwestern Student Affairs Blog

Building on Progress: Queer and Trans* Empowerment Month

Posted 10/11/2015 by Taylor Hayden

Queer and Trans* Empowerment Month, celebrated each October, honors the triumphs that have been made in the LGBTQ+ movement. This year, Northwestern’s theme for the month is Building on Progress, to commemorate recent victories like the Supreme Court decision supporting marriage equality and focus on the work that still needs to be done.

To celebrate, Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) is hosting events that will focus on pride, liberation, diversity, and the wellness of LGBTQ+ communities. Above all, MSA will create more critical conversations about identity on campus during this month.

“It’s a month of programming to get everyone in the community talking,” said Jordan “JT” Turner, assistant director of MSA. “But it’s also just the beginning. We really want students to be more aware of the resources on campus for them and how there’s plenty of people they can talk to.”

The celebration of Queer and Trans* Empowerment Month also marks the beginning of new and improved goals for MSA. With the restructuring of Campus Inclusion and Community (CIC) and MSA, Turner, who joined Northwestern in July, said collaboration is happening more than ever. “The goal is to make departments more intersectional,” they said.

“A lot of the LGBTQ+ programs on campus now really work in a social fashion,” they said. “That is great and absolutely essential for an inclusive community, but we also want to create a space for more critical conversations outside of the classroom.”

Through partnerships with campus departments, such as Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) and Center for Awareness, Response, and Education (CARE), Turner feels there will be plenty of opportunities to engage with the entire university community, not only LGBTQ+ students.

More than a dozen events are being held this month, including keynote speaker Janet Mock, a transgender rights activist and author of The New York Times bestselling memoir Redefining Realness on October 13. This will be the second visit from a leading transgender rights activist; in April, actress and activist Laverne Cox spoke at Northwestern.

Later on in the month, the spoken word group DarkMatter will also visit for a student workshop on activism and performance show. Other events range from a workshop hosted by CARE on queer relationship norms to Cock, a production by the Jewish Theater Ensemble.

“There’s a lot of complexities to identity and understanding that comes from conversations,” said Michel Joy, an MSA graduate assistant. “We really want to shed more light on identities that we don’t talk about all day and give a better understanding.”

National Coming Out Day also lands this month. Although it is normally observed October 11, Northwestern is celebrating is on Monday, October 12. To celebrate, members from Rainbow Alliance, MSA, and other organizations will be at Norris Center with whiteboards for students to come out to as part of their identity – whether it be that they’re a latino, vegetarian, active in Greek life, or an introvert.

“It’s not necessarily about expecting people to choose this day to come out on, but really being visible and showing our presence,” Joy said. “We want people to remember that there’s a space for them if they do decide to do so later on and just have everyone see that our community cares.”

The full calendar of Queer and Trans* Empowerment Month events can be found on the MSA website.

No Comments

Categories: Community, Inclusion

Black House Listening Sessions Begin October 14

Posted 10/08/2015 by Taylor Hayden

A series of four Listening Sessions will begin Wednesday, October 14, for Northwestern students, staff, faculty, and alumni to give feedback on the proposal for Campus Inclusion & Community to move two of its offices into the Black House. A committee of Northwestern students, faculty, and alumni is charged with providing recommendations on the purpose and use of the Black House.

Members of the Northwestern community are welcome to attend any of the four sessions, and will have the opportunity to comment on the proposed changes to share their concerns and ideas before their peers and the Black House Facilities Review Committee. A brief presentation will be given by staff to provide overall context. Dr. Jamie Washington, president and founder of The Washington Consulting Group and a founding faculty member of the Social Justice Training Institute, will moderate the open dialogue.

Listening Session Schedule

Session 1: October 14, 12:00–1:30 p.m., Parkes Hall 122
Session 2: October 14, 6:00–7:30 p.m., Parkes Hall 122
Session 3: November 16, 12:00–1:30 p.m., Norris Center, Wildcat Room (101)
Session 4: November 20, 5:00–6:30 p.m., Scott Hall, Guild Lounge

These Listening Sessions will focus on the audience’s contributions, stories, and opinions, providing additional information to move forward with the space in the Black House.

The Black House Facilities Review Committee will use the information at all four sessions and the online form to present recommendations. The recommendations will not be the conclusion or final decision, but give a strong sense of how they might move forward.

In order to participate in all parts of the dialogue, attending at least one Listening Session is best. For community members who cannot attend the events in person or would like to share their feedback, an online form is available through the end of November. The listening sessions will also be streamed online, and a live viewing will take place at the Black House during all four Listening Sessions.

Doors will open 30 minutes prior to each session. Seating is limited.

For more information on the Listening Sessions, the Black House and more, follow their website or check out their social media sites:

Campus Inclusion & Community: Facebook, Twitter
Multicultural Student Affairs: Facebook, Twitter
Student Enrichment Services: Facebook
Student Affairs: Facebook, Twitter

No Comments

Categories: Community, Inclusion

Tags: Black House, Campus Inclusion and Community (CIC), Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA)

“Send Silence Packing” Program Coming to Northwestern

Posted 09/25/2015 by Taylor Hayden

Promoting mental health and suicide prevention is a top priority at Northwestern. At times, stigma may result in students feeling uncomfortable about reaching out to friends or family and seeking the help they need. However, no one should feel like they have to hide or be alone. Northwestern is actively addressing the topic of mental health and suicide prevention in a number of ways, including an upcoming highly acclaimed program:

Send Silence Packing

Monday, September 28, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Deering Meadow (rain location, Norris Center’s Louis Room)

“Send Silence Packing,” a national campaign by Active Minds Inc., is a program that sheds light on college student suicide. It involves the display of 1,100 backpacks, representing the number of college students who die by suicide each year. The initiative started in 2008 at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. and has transformed into a national campaign, growing to include over 320,000 people across 98 cities in the U.S. With the help of NU Active Minds, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Division of Student Affairs, Associated Student Government (ASG), the Dean of Students Office, and the Women’s Center, Northwestern is joining the movement. Sponsoring organizations will also provide information about resources available to students both during the program and online.

Active Minds Inc. stands to promote mental health, and by bringing this event to Northwestern, they promote the idea that “preventing suicide is not just about lowering statistics, but about saving lives.”

No Comments

Categories: Wellness

Tags: Associated Student Government (ASG), Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Dean of Students Office, Division of Student Affairs, NU Active Minds, Women's Center

Dispelling the Stigma, One Resource at a Time

Posted 09/18/2015 by Taylor Hayden

From surviving 2013–14’s “Polar Vortex” and Evanston’s regularly below-freezing weather, to lamenting expensive textbooks and extracurricular workloads, Northwestern students bond — and commiserate — over a variety of experiences during their four years.

For some students, however, there is an added reality — whether they can afford the gear that makes these winters bearable, the textbooks they need almost immediately in the quarter system, and dues for all the clubs and interests they want to explore like any other student.

Student Enrichment Services (SES) aims to make that reality easier to navigate for low-income and first-generation students at Northwestern. SES, which turns a year old this October, offers free winter gear and a laptop loan-out service through partnerships with Northwestern Athletics, Norris Bookstore, and Student Affairs IT, and serves as a connection point to financial resources and education.

“The conundrum at Northwestern is there are tons of resources but they’re hard to hear about,” SES Director Kourtney Cockrell said. “We want to educate students on how to ask the right questions to get what they need.”

Fourteen-percent of undergraduates at Northwestern are low-income students — determined by whether they qualify for a Pell Grant — and the University hopes to welcome 20% in 2020.

Before SES, the Northwestern Quest Scholars Network (QSN) was the only group — student or administrative — that focused on low-income and first-generation advocacy and support since its creation in 2010. After QSN students fought for administrative support, SES was created in 2014.

As SES introduces three new programs — Financial Wellness, the SES Common Application, and Peer Mentoring — this school year to help students advocate for themselves, awareness of SES as “a first-stop shop and a place for an open ear” is more important than ever.

Financial Wellness, launching late fall quarter, will teach students the essentials of understanding finances and financial aid through quarterly sessions, from the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans, to understanding options for financial aid over the summer, to the basics of investing. Financial worry is a major source of anxiety for low-income and first-generation students, and the workshops aim to equip students with tools to fight that stressor.

Cockrell talked about one work-study student last year who was panicking when she wouldn’t get her paycheck for two weeks, but needed to get her textbooks as soon as possible before she fell behind in class.

“She didn’t know she could get an emergency loan of $500, and if you know you have money coming through, then that’s a very viable solution that most students don’t know about,” Cockrell said, adding that the student was able to get her books.

The SES Common Application will connect students with “the tons of great funding opportunities for co-curricular involvement and experiences such as joining a fraternity or sorority, going on an Alternative Student Breaks (ASB) trip, or applying for funds for professional attire” through one application and launches late winter.

“Low-income and first-generation students have had to repeatedly write this essay, this narrative, about why they’re deserving of this money, over and over,” Cockrell said. “The Common Application will reduce that significantly.”

The Peer Mentoring program will feature four upperclass mentors paired with four low-income and first-generation students each, who will meet on a weekly basis beginning this fall to go beyond the basics of understanding what financial resources are available, and will provide a comfortable, social space to learn they’re not alone in dealing with challenges at Northwestern.

“A lot of people feel like throwing money at this issue will change things but it’s about changing the culture and really engaging all faculty, staff, and students,” Cockrell said.

Students are furthering their voices this year through the SES Student Advocacy Committee, consisting of 45 low-income, first-generation, and allied students. Members will develop initiatives and craft partnerships with other student groups to organize events that bring attention to their student experience.

Amanda Walsh, president of QSN worked closely with Cockrell on planning for the creation of the Advocacy Committee. “I pushed for the Advocacy Committee because I felt like there were students on campus that were hurting and needed a place to express those fears, that sadness about their experiences, without retribution,” said Walsh. “The committee will allow us to facilitate that conversation with administration, devote 100% of our energy to advocacy, and strengthen those voices.”

Cockrell also said that the SES Faculty & Staff Council, a forum of 18 staff and faculty members across schools and departments, will continue meeting to share best practices and reduce common scenarios like “professors not posting the syllabus till days before class and students finding out there’s $300-$400 required course material” and other non-inclusive practices.

“We’re really trying to remove shame and reframe what it means to be low-income and first-generation,” Cockrell said. “Some people have said, ‘Oh my gosh, 20% low-income students, are we going to be lowering our requirements?’ No! I would argue these students work harder — they are balancing work, home, and school, while still competing at the highest levels to get into a university like Northwestern.”

As part of Wildcat Welcome, SES is having its inaugural Resources to Receipts workshop Friday, September 18 from 1–2:30 p.m. in Room LR5 in Tech (2145 Sheridan Road), to introduce a class of students of any background to smart ways to spend and save in preparation for a new school year and opportunities.

“Education is that one factor that can affect your life trajectory and allow folks to move to the next socioeconomic class. It’s really a life changing factor for not only students, but their entire families as well,” Cockrell said.

Making Northwestern more accessible to low-income and first-generation students is “just one thing we can do to affect huge societal change.”

——-

Check out the “We Are First” video from SES, giving a glimpse into first-generation and low-income experiences at Northwestern.

No Comments

Categories: Community, Inclusion, Learning

Tags: Quest Scholars Network (QSN), Student Enrichment Services (SES)

Heading in the Right Direction

Posted 07/31/2015 by Taylor Hayden

This Sunday marked the 25th anniversary since the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a federal civil rights law that protects against employment discrimination and mandates accessible public spaces, transportation, government facilities, and telecommunication systems.

One-fifth of the U.S. population, or 56.7 million Americans, have physical or mental disabilities, and have historically fought a number of civil rights battles from recognition as a very present and important population to challenging negative medical labels and ideas of disability.

While ADA changed many Americans lives for the better, and though the law didn’t specifically address public and higher education beyond physical accessibility, the generation of individuals who will truly see its justice are those you may share a class with this fall.

No Comments

Categories: Community, Inclusion, Learning

Tags: Accessible NU

Heading in the Right Direction

Posted 07/31/2015 by Taylor Hayden

This Sunday marked the 25th anniversary since the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a federal civil rights law that protects against employment discrimination and mandates accessible public spaces, transportation, government facilities, and telecommunication systems.

One-fifth of the U.S. population, or 56.7 million Americans, have physical or mental disabilities, and have historically fought a number of civil rights battles – from recognition as a very present and important population to challenging negative medical labels and ideas of “disability.”

While ADA changed many Americans’ lives for the better, and though the law didn’t specifically address public and higher education beyond physical accessibility, the generation of individuals who will truly see its justice are those you may share a class with this fall.

“When a law is passed, we know it takes a few years for states to implement it, so who’s the first to benefit from [ADA]?” AccessibleNU Director Dr. Alison May said. “The ones born in the mid-90s, the college-aged ones today.”

AccessibleNU was founded in 1997 as Disability Services, “pretty late to the game” compared to other universities, according to May. The office now serves 827 students between the Evanston and Chicago campuses, with 600 on the Evanston campus alone. The total number of students has increased around 17 percent every year – a long shot from its 20 registered students in 1997 – and May said it’s “not because we changed our documentation guidelines.”

“I think it’s several things – decreased stigma about registering, increased awareness,” May said. “Six to seven years ago, counseling services didn’t realize prolonged anxiety might need redirection to AccessibleNU.”

The office advocates for students on many fronts, including the fight to ensure physical accommodations – like ramps, elevators, and push-to-open buttons for doors – across campus.

Northwestern’s beautiful, but sometimes roughly 150-year-old buildings weren’t built with disabled community members in mind, and even in 1990 students in wheelchairs couldn’t take classes in Annie May Swift, Locy, Harris, or University halls.

The office itself was only relocated from the basement of Scott Hall – where May said students oftentimes didn’t have a seat or couldn’t access it – to a fully-customized space “that is probably the most accessible first floor on campus” at 2122 Sheridan in 2014.

Despite ADA and early 90s Northwestern student handbooks mainly addressing physical disabilities, May said 90 percent of the students AccessibleNU serves have “invisible disabilities” such as learning and sensory disabilities, psychological conditions, and autism spectrum disorders.

May said she feels as though the general campus climate is “accepting…the issue most of campus faces is not knowing,” referring to students with invisible disabilities, and a highly academic culture on campus where students “don’t want to be perceived as weak or struggling.”

AccessibleNU also offers test proctoring – utilizing its new one-way mirrors and cameras to monitor students if they have questions – and a number of guidelines for faculty and staff on how to students feel comfortable asking for accommodations or alternative assignments. The office also works heavily with Student Affairs Information Technology (SAIT) to ensure University websites are accessible to students as well.

May said that though the office sometimes receives “pushback and ableist comments,” if anything faculty tend to “over-accommodate” even as the number of students registered with the office has increased.

Even though there are still improvements to be made across campus – and the office’s 2014 name change to AccessibleNU emphasizes it is a campus wide responsibility – May said it’s clear Northwestern is listening.

“The office renovation, hiring more full-time staff, especially in this economy…the shift in this last year makes us feel like we’re a priority to this university, and that the university is going in the right direction,” May said.

As for ADA’s impact on the country 25 years later, May pointed out that unemployment for Americans with disabilities has not improved, and that the society stills lacks the mindset that disability is a domain of diversity, rather than a detriment.

“It’s about re-envisioning disability,” May said. “That these accommodations are essential, a civil right, and disability is something we may all have experience with one day.”

No Comments

Categories: Inclusion

Tags: AccessibleNU, Americans with Disabilities Act, Student Affairs Information Technology

NCA Awards Record Number of Students Grants

Posted 06/22/2015 by Taylor Hayden

More than 250 Northwestern students who received grants of at least $3,000 are beginning unpaid summer internships this month as part of Northwestern Career Advancement’s Summer Internship Grant Program. This is the highest number of grants and funding awarded in the program’s nine year history.

The Summer Internship Grant Program (SIGP) will support student internships at the Chicago Field Museum, National Institute of Health, U.S. Department of Education, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Mount Sinai Roosevelt Hospital, and many more organizations across the U.S. and internationally. The program, which began in 2007 and provides funding to undergraduate students pursuing unpaid internships, serves to open doors for students to participate in valuable learning opportunities related to their career field.

“This year’s SIGP grants represent an important expansion of the program,” said Mark Presnell, Northwestern Career Advancement (NCA) executive director. “We truly recognize that if we want students from a variety of backgrounds to join a variety of fields, we need to ensure that they have access to these opportunities and experiences even if these internships are unpaid.”

SIGP numbers have soared since the program’s first year, with grants of $2,000 awarded to 10 students from 90 applicants to this year’s group of 277 selected from a pool of 411 applicants. Last year, NCA received a total of 287 applications and awarded 70 students grants of $2,500.

Additional funding from the president and provost offices, as well as more alumni donations, brought the stipend to $3,000 for 2015, with three grants of $6,000 given to students participating in unpaid international internships. These international internship grants are in partnership with The Buffett Institute as a result of a recent gift from Roberta Buffett Elliott (WCAS ’54).

“SIGP’s key to success has been the ability to support students as they gain professional experience,” Presnell said. “This year’s larger stipend is our recognition that costs increase and SIGP has the responsibility to meet that demand.”

To be considered for a grant, students must submit an application that includes a copy of their resume and responses to multiple essay prompts that ask about career goals, internship role, and financial situation. These essays are then evaluated based on the quality of the application and the need of the student.

In the past, a restriction limited the number of times undergraduate students could apply for the grant. Now, students are welcome to apply more than once starting in their first year through their junior year.

“We had students waiting to apply until the summer before their senior year because of the restriction,” Presnell said. “We opened it up to ensure that the opportunity is open to everyone every year.”

The lift on this restriction made it possible for Liam Feroli, a School of Communication rising junior, to receive a second SIGP grant to pursue internships in the entertainment industry. As part of last year’s SIGP program, Feroli interned at New Chapter Entertainment, a Chicago-based production company founded by former Oprah Show producers.

“That experience was absolutely incredible, especially as a freshman, because I got to work with some seriously experienced entertainment industry professionals,” Feroli said in an e-mail.

Building on his experience from last summer, Feroli is spending this summer with three production companies in Los Angeles, where he will read scripts, weigh in on the development of feature film screenplays and television pilots, and assist film directors.

Feroli credits SIGP with providing him the financial support to pursue opportunities in his career field of interest.

“SIGP has changed my life. I’m in Los Angeles for the first time doing what I love. I would have never had this chance without the support of this grant, NCA, and the SIGP donors,” Feroli said. “Career development is one of the most important things for undergraduates entering a tough job market. SIGP gives Northwestern students advantages and options.”

No Comments

Categories: Learning

Tags: Northwestern Career Advancement, Summer Internship Grant Program (SIGP), The Buffett Institiute

Class of 2014 Finding Success After Graduation

Posted 06/17/2015 by Taylor Hayden

More than 90 percent of Northwestern University’s Class of 2014 graduates were engaged in professional pursuits six months after graduation, according to a University study.

As members of the Class of 2015 prepare for commencement, they can be encouraged that more than 60 percent of last year’s graduates were employed full time with an average starting salary of more than $52,000.

Many of the remaining members of the Class of 2014 were in graduate school, professional school or participating in some other educational activity, the study found. Only 2 percent were actively searching for a job.

Norris Work-Study Students Turned Norris Staff

Posted 06/15/2015 by Taylor Hayden

This post is part of a series focusing on Student Affairs work-study students who became full-time Student Affairs employees. Norris Center Operations Coordinator Justin Clarke and Norris Center Operations Manager Jackie Grinvalds are featured in this post.

When it comes to his job at the Norris University Center, Justin Clarke considers himself the “jack of all trades.”

Clarke, the operations coordinator at Norris, works on the center’s technology, facilities, event management, and business operations — just to name a few.

“My role in Norris is to make sure that everyone has the best possible experience when they enter the door,” Clarke said. “Whether it’s customer service or logistical issues at an event, I’m here for that.”

While it has been almost two years since Clarke began his full-time job at Norris, his history with the university center extends years before that. Clarke, a class of 2013 graduate, worked his entire undergraduate years at Norris.

Clarke is one of multiple work-study students that returned to Northwestern as a full-time staff after graduation.

During his undergraduate career, Clarke served as a center manager from his sophomore year on. As center manager, he was responsible for “being the eyes and ears of Norris.” That meant dealing with anything from event catering to game room operations if necessary.

“Being a CM [center manager] carries a lot of responsibility as you become a go-to person in times of crisis,” Clarke said. “I learned how to think faster on my feet and deal with emergencies when needed.”

Like Clarke, Jackie Grinvalds got her start as work-study student at Norris. Grinvalds, now operations manager, worked as an undergrad as a center manager and student staff development manager.

As student staff development manager, her role was to help in unifying staff in different departments within Norris and help in their growth and progress. Grinvalds says her full-time job as operations manager allows her to use similar skills.

“My job is to be a voice between students and professional staff,” said Grinvalds, a class of 2010 graduate. “Different students have different needs, so I’m here to help voice that.”

Both Clarke and Grinvalds now work closely with current work-study students. They also share an office on the first floor of Norris near the Starbucks Lounge. This allows them to track the current student experience and compare it to their own.

“It’s interesting because I’m not that far removed from these current students, so I understand the challenges of being a student,” Grinvalds said. “I think that really informs me for my job.”

As for their transition from student to staff, both Clarke and Grinvalds feel that they have received unconditional support from the Norris staff. Both of them say they appreciate having the familiar faces on staff that have now become their friends and colleagues.

“To sum it up, my interview for the job ended with hugs, not handshakes,” Clarke said. “It’s really a family environment here, and that is reflected in the work that we all do here.”

No Comments

Categories: Community

Tags: Norris Center, Work-Study

Division of Student Affairs Recognizes Spring 2015 Campus Life Awards Recipients

Posted 06/10/2015 by Taylor Hayden

This quarter we recognized seven students, who have significantly contributed to the improvement of the quality of student life at Northwestern during the Spring quarter. These students have impacted our community through program development and implementation, bridging cultural differences, or have taken responsibility for and worked collectively with others to create a more engaged and inclusive campus community.

We would like to take a moment to recognize the accomplishments of our Spring 2015 Campus Life Award recipients.