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| | Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art |
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IU remains a leader among American colleges and universities for its policies, programs and practices for LGBTQ students, faculty, staff and alumni. Recently, in recognition of our leadership, IU Bloomington was named to Campus Pride's 2016 "Top 30 LGBTQ-friendly Colleges and Universities" in the nation. For more information, please see paragraph #1 below. All of you, along with many others, have helped to create a campus where all our students can strive for their aspirations and learn in a welcoming and safe environment.
A heartfelt THANK YOU to each of you! We look forward to continuing to work together in carrying out our important mission "to improve the quality of life for GLBT students, faculty, staff and alumni of Indiana University on all eight campuses."
Mike Shumate, Past President
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1. Top 30 LGBTQ-friendly University
IU Bloomington has recently been named to Campus Pride's 2016 "Top-30 LGBT-friendly Colleges and Universities in the nation." Campus Pride is the nation's leading non-profit organization for LGBTQ and ally college students and campus groups working together to build future leaders and safer, friendlier campuses. The Top-30 list is based on data from the Campus Pride Index, which includes detailed reports on the policies, programs and practices regarding LGBTQ students, faculty and staff at campuses across the nation.
To many, the GLBT Office on our Bloomington campus is one of the first things that comes to mind when we think of this wonderful recognition. For more than twenty years, it has been a home - a "home away from home" - for countless of our students. The GLBT Office, along with our supporting policies and programs, has radiated an important message that: (i) IU is committed to assuring equality for all; (ii) our LGBTQ students can learn and reach for their dreams, like any other student, on a level playing field; (iii) they will have friends at IU; (iv) they can be proud of exactly who they are; (v) they will have a strong support system at IU; and (vi) parents of LGBTQ students can have assurance their children will be safe at IU. The GLBT Office is described in greater detail in paragraph #2 below.
The review and Campus Pride selection process have caused us to monitor our policies and programs on an on-going process and constantly to seek ways to improve supporting our students. Additionally, as a result of this Top-30 list, along with our ground-breaking GLBTAA Student Scholarship Campaign (see paragraph #3 below), IU continues to receive national media attention. Beacons of light are shining on IU and our welcoming environment. For more information, please see IU's Release
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2. GLBT Office
We receive numerous requests for information about the IU GLBT Student Support Services Office ("GLBT Office") on the Bloomington campus. The Office has provided a "home away from home" and rendered critically important services to our students for 20 + years. We are only too pleased to pass along information about the GLBT Office and its countless good deeds. We intend to post this and related information in future Newsletters periodically.
The GLBT Office website is: www.glbt.indiana.edu As you move from its home page, you'll want to click on "About Us" to become acquainted with some of the amazing people, who work in the Office. Also click on "Resources" to review the various services and resources the Office and community provide on a daily basis. Next click on "Annual Reports" under "About Us", where you'll find a number of Annual Reports. Written in narrative style, you'll learn the stories of the various students, staff, faculty, alumni and parents, who have been associated with the Office over the years. The 2015 Annual Report will give you news of the latest interactions in the Office between students, faculty, staff and alumni. And, please feel free to sign up for the Office's QNews , [email protected] , an e-newsletter that will keep you abreast of the news and activities of our community.
It's an exciting, yet still challenging, time to be advocating for LGBT issues and supporting LGBT individuals. As you peruse these web pages, feel free to e-mail, [email protected] , call the Office (812-855-4252), or drop by and visit when you're in the neighborhood - and see first-hand the extraordinary work being performed by the GLBT Office! The coffee pot is usually on, and personnel will be delighted to share with you some of the positive energy experienced each and every day. Special thanks go to two of our heroes: Doug Bauder, Director, and Jamie Bartzel, Office Supervisor!
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3. GLBTAA Scholarship Campaign
Please continue to "spread the word" about our ground-breaking Campaign, which will help endow our GLBTAA Scholarship Program. We recently awarded five academic scholarship for the 2016 fall semester. Each recipient will be featured in one of our Newsletters. One of our recipients is featured in paragraph #4 below. After reviewing two more heart-breaking stories, we also recently awarded emergency funds to an IU East student and an IU Bloomington student. Since 2005, we have granted 74 scholarships (58 academic scholarships and 16 emergency scholarships) to IU students. Because of your generous support, we will be able to continue providing scholarships well into the future.
Shane L. Windmeyer, MS '97, Executive Director and founder of Campus Pride, has commented about our Scholarship Program, particularly about our emergency grants: "IU remains one of the best campuses for GLBT support in the country. Crisis assistance funding, for example, is now a new benchmark for the Campus Pride Index, and the GLBTAA emergency scholarship is a great example. IU has definitely raised the bar nationally. I'm proud that IU has been a leader in that. IU has always stood as an institution of higher learning that embraces diversity."
Contributions can be made online at Campaign Contributions If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact Mike Shumate at [email protected] or 858-922-6105; or IUAA Alumni Relations Officer Clarence Boone at 800-824-3044. Again, heartfelt gratitude to everyone for supporting our Campaign.
THANK YOU, IU alumni, faculty, staff, students, allies and our many friends!
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4. Academic Scholarship Recipient
Congratulations are extended to Brandon B. Million, one of our 2016 Fall Academic Scholarship recipients! Upon graduating from Ivy Tech Community College, Brandon enrolled at Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus and will soon be completing his BA in Sociology. At IUPUC, Brandon was the "2015 Outstanding Student in Sociology," President of the Gay Straight Alliance and currently serves as a coordinator and mentor of the campus Bridge Program, an in-depth orientation program for new students. Brandon has devoted particular attention to at-risk students. Brandon is also extensively involved with the Columbus community, where he is a member of AmeriCorps and serves as the LGBTQI Community Outreach person for the Turning Point Domestic Violence Services, which, among other things, trains people about domestic and dating violence within the LGBTQI population. He also serves as Secretary and Board member of the Columbus Pride Alliance. Additionally, he was a founding Board member and Secretary of the Columbus PFLAG. He has just completed a summer research project, "Social Rejection and Ostracism within the Gay and Bisexual Community," at IUPUI. Brandon aspires to work towards a doctorate in sociology "to help to try to expand the rights and work towards the acceptance of the LGBTQI population in the United States and around the world." We're proud of you, Brandon!
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5. Facebook
The GLBTAA has had a Facebook page for some time now, but some of you may not be aware of it. If you haven't already done so, check out our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/iuglbtaa. "Like" our page and follow our Facebook posts regarding news, updates and information about our events.
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6. Distinguished Alumni Award
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| | Dean Singell (l) and Michael McRaith at '16 Neal-Marshall Reception. |
We are seeking nominations for our 2017 GLBTAA Distinguished Alumni Award. The Award is available to members of the LGBTQ community and individual allies or supporters of the LGBTQ community, regardless of sexual orientation. Only living alumni of Indiana University are eligible. Nominees shall have made significant contributions benefiting Indiana University or his or her community, state or nation. Nominations must be submitted by September 30, 2016. For more information, please contact Clarence Boone at [email protected] or 812-856-1050.
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7. IUPUI Harvey Milk Dinner
IUPUI's seventh annual Harvey Milk Dinner will take place on Saturday, October 22 at the Downtown Marriott in Indianapolis. The reception will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a cash bar followed by dinner.
IUPUI is pleased to host Ms. Precious Davis as this year's keynote speaker. Precious Davis is an award winning diversity professional, social justice facilitator, and keynote speaker. Davis finds deep meaning in engaging individuals in conversation surrounding bias, bigotry, and prejudice in their communities on the basis and belief that humans can coexist with one another positively through the embracing of each other's differences and the celebrating of human diversity. Davis recently was awarded the prestigious "30 under 30" award from the Windy City Times and was invited to The White House LGBT Pride reception where she had the honor of meeting President Obama. Davis is also the first transgender bride to be featured on TLC's "Say Yes to the Dress" and is currently the Assistant Director of Diversity Recruitment Initiatives at Columbia College Chicago.
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| | Precious Davis |
Registration will be available shortly online. Alumni, faculty/staff, and community tickets are $55 each. Student tickets are available at $25 each. Table and corporate sponsorships are available for campus and community groups. The annual Harvey Milk Dinner is hosted in collaboration with the IUPUI LGBTQ Student Alliance, the LGBT Faculty Staff Council, the IUPUI LGBTQ+ Center, and Social Justice Education. Presently, for additional information, please
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8. Bloomington Summerfest
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| | Volunteers at our Booth - Board Members, Byron Craig, Sara Julian and Cindy Stone |
We were proud to be a sponsor at the third annual PRIDE Summerfest and to have a booth during the festivities on Saturday, August 27. We reached people from many different age groups, but particularly young people as IU commenced its fall semester. We signed up 51 new members! The greatest success perhaps was that we provided support to LGBTQ+ young people as they celebrated "exactly who they are." And we reminded them that they have a "home away from home" at IU Bloomington - one of the "top 30" LGBT-friendly universities in the nation!
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9. GLBTAA Scholarships
GLBTAA Academic Scholarships Academic Scholarships are awarded to IU students enrolled at any IU campus, who are academically strong, as well as active in promoting diversity, tolerance and social justice. Scholarships are awarded to students based upon academic achievement, career goals, financial need, leadership experience, community service and extracurricular activities. Involvement in activities promoting diversity and raising awareness of GLBT and related issues on the student's campus or in his or her community is carefully reviewed by the Board. The maximum award for an Academic Scholarship is $1,000 per semester. An individual student may not receive more than $2,000. The deadline for the Spring 2017 semester is November 15, 2016.
IU GLBTAA Emergency Scholarships
Emergency Scholarships are awarded to those students who experience the loss of financial support when they make the courageous decision to disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity to their families. Emergency Scholarships help to ensure that students need not choose between their education at IU and living life openly and honestly. Emergency Scholarships are awarded to students attending any IU campus. The maximum award for an Emergency Scholarship is $1,500 per semester, and a student may not receive more than $3,000.
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10. Membership
Encourage your friends to join the GLBTAA. They can visit our website here and join. There are no membership dues, and you do not have to be a member of the IUAA, or an IU degree-holder. We are approaching 1,600 members nation-wide, and we're growing! We appreciate your continued commitment! It is because of you that the GLBTAA is in existence, continues to grow and continues to serve our important mission on all eight of IU's campuses. If you are a member and wish to continue receiving our e-Newsletters, please make sure we have a current e-mail address for you. You can visit https://alumni.indiana.edu/my-iu/index.html to see if your official record, including your e-mail address, is current. Thank you for your support through your membership. We look forward to serving you now and in the years to come. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Clarence Boone, Alumni Relations Officer, at: [email protected] or Mike Shumate at [email protected]
If not already a member, please consider joining the IUAA by visiting https://alumni.indiana.edu/membership/index.html, by [email protected] or calling (800) 824-3044. By joining the IUAA, among many other things, you help fund the various GLBTAA programs, along with gaining access to IUAA member-only events.
If you would like to unsubscribe and terminate future communications from the GLBTAA, please respond to: [email protected].
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