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Your Board is busy planning our Ninth Celebration Weekend for January 27-28 All faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends, please join us for this fabulous weekend and see for yourselves why IU is one of the "top 30" LGBT-friendly universities in the nation!
The weekend will start at the Neal-Marshall Center on Friday,January 27 with welcoming comments and the presentation of our 2017 Distinguished Alumni Award. The Grazie reception on Saturday, January 28 remains our main attraction, and the silent auction that evening provides an important fundraising activity. You will be able to donate for the purchase of "student" tickets to the Grazie reception on our online reservation site, which will be available soon.
Each year we have more alumni and friends from across the nation who join us for this special weekend in Bloomington. Come have a ton of fun, see old friends, make new ones, discuss the latest developments in the state and beyond and share in the joy of all the progress we've made. We look forward to greeting you and expressing our gratitude for your steadfast support to the IU GLBTAA, Indiana University and the LGBTQ community.
Mike Shumate, Past President
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1. Spectrum
Spectrum is a thematic residence hall community at Teter Quad on the Bloomington campus that provides a supportive and safe environment for students who identify across the gender and sexual orientation spectrum. In its second year, Spectrum is quickly becoming a key part of the Residential Programs and Services (RPS) offering. A sign of its success is the number of students returning to the floor including the current RA, who was a member of Spectrum in 2015-16. The diversity of residents is also a great opportunity for community and learning. Spectrum students identify a sense of "community" as fundamental and particularly supportive in their living arrangements. Whether it's watching movies, studying, or just talking about the day's events, students hang out with each other in the lounge throughout the day, and particularly in the evenings. The community is also establishing certain traditions like "Spootrum" and attending the Midewest Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, and Ally College Conference.
At present, Barry Magee, Associate Director for RPS, believes that there are quite a few housing options for those across the gender and sexuality spectrums. "Placement is based on the students' needs and the kind of community they are looking for. For some students the biggest concern is the availability of single-occupant restrooms. These are the standard in Teter but we now have similar facilities in several residence halls and more to come in the renovations of Forest and Wells Quad. Some students are looking for high activity and a generally supportive atmosphere where they can be open about their identities. I believe most students would say that both Spectrum and the Collins Living Learning Center are two of the most supportive communities. We just want to try to give students as many choices as possible so that they are not limited to one residence hall or floor."
Spectrum works closely with the GLBT Student Support Services Office, and its staff and volunteers are available to support and advise the students. Doug Bauder, Director of the GLBT Office, has said, "In conversation with students who lived on the Spectrum floor last year and those who are continuing or beginning their experience earlier this year, the overwhelming response has been very positive. Students spend down time together, learning from each other, listening to each other's stories, and setting an example for us all about living together as diverse individuals. I'm hopeful that Spectrum will become a model for other campuses as has our GLBT Alumni Association, the GLBT Anti-Harassment Team, and GLBT Student Support Services Office.
Here's a link to a video from 2015 about the opening of Spectrum. For more information, email [email protected]
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2. Member Profile
"Spending 12 years being an active part of both the IU and Bloomington communities enriched my life in so many ways," says Jeff Richardson, who got all three of his degrees from IU - BA in History, JD in Law and MPA in SPEA. Jeff was Student Body President (1972-73) and the first full-time student elected to the Bloomington City Council (1976-80). "I wanted to take full advantage of all that Bloomington had to offer - both on and off campus," Jeff said.
Jeff started at IU in the late 1960s where many students were focused on the Vietnam War, freedom of speech, civil, women and gay rights, the environment and a major tuition hike - very interesting times.
Jeff helped secure student's right to vote in Bloomington which helped elect a progressive Mayor and City Council in 1971, connecting students to local government for the first time. Four years later, Jeff was elected to the Council where he provided a strong student voice and focused on fair landlord-tenant laws, enhanced rental housing code enforcement, human rights, the environment, transparency and ethics. "Bloomington was - and remains - one of the nation's great college towns, and I wanted to do all I could to keep it that way and, where appropriate, make it even better," Jeff explained.
On campus, Jeff led efforts to incorporate student voices in the university's decision-making processes, spoke out on social justice issues, improved access for people with disabilities, closed off inner campus to most motorized car traffic, increased bike lanes, helped start Student Legal Services, and elevated soccer from club to varsity status (Jeff was a member of the IU Soccer Club). Jeff also had an IDS column for two years.
Jeff's first job after school was at Eli Lilly and then he took a position with a major communications firm in NYC. During that time, he worked as a volunteer of GMHC, the nation's largest AIDS service organization, to help educate people about how to reduce the spread of AIDS. Ten years later, he became GMHC's Executive Director. Jeff also worked for then-Governor Evan Bayh where he ran two state agencies for four years and later became a Managing Director of Burson-Marsteller's Global Health Care Practice in New York City and Washington, DC.
In 2000, the Abbott Fund hired Jeff to oversee its first international giving program - the Global HIV/AIDS Initiative. Since 2001, more than 10 million children and families impacted byHIV/AIDS in countries like Kenya (IU-AMPATH program), Tanzania, Malawi and others have been supported through more than $325 million in grants. Other programs supported are in areas of neglected diseases, cancer, nutrition and maternal child health. Jeff recently retired from the AbbVie Foundation, where the Abbott Fund HIV/AIDS programs transferred when Abbott's pharmaceutical division became its own company in 2013 (AbbVie).
"One of the greatest experiences in my life, while oftentimes challenging, was to lead HIV programs related to prevention, care and treatment. I felt I was making a positive difference but was also always reminded there is so much more that needs to be done. What I learned - both inside and outside of the classroom - prepared me well for this work and so many other enriching experiences", Jeff said. "If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing about those remarkable Bloomington years," Jeff added.
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3. Maurer OUTLaw
OUTLaw is a LGBTQIA student organization at Indiana University Maurer School of Law that focuses on queer social justice issues and community. Our members are diverse in sexual identities and orientation, and include allies. We seek to promote diversity at the law school, to help our members in their professional development, and to provide networking opportunities within the queer community.
So far this semester, OUTLaw has participated in a number of activities. We have held multiple board and general body meetings, and have been planning events for the upcoming school year. For social events, we have partnered with IU's Grad Queers for events like trivia nights, homework nights, community service events, and occasional Back Door outings. By working with Grad Queers, OUTLaw members have been able to branch out and meet non-law, graduate students who have new perspectives on what it means to be queer in different fields and professions.
A group of OUTLaw members attended the seventh annual IUPUI Harvey Milk Dinner in Indianapolis (see paragraph # 7 below). At this event, we met other students from IU and beyond and were inspired by student speakers who reminded us that, though the gay rights movement has seen improvements over the past year, there is still much work to be done. We were very moved by keynote speaker Precious Davis, who spoke about her life as a trans woman and what it means to be our authentic selves.
OUTLaw will be hosting a November meet-and-greet with Judge Judith Levy, Michigan's first openly-gay federal judge. OUTLaw members will have the opportunity to listen to and discuss with Judge Levy about what it means to be out and successful in the legal profession.
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| | Some OUTLaws at Harvey Milk Dinner |
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4. 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 #5 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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5. Academic Scholarship Recipient
Congratulations are extended to Julie Hodges, one of our 2016 Fall Academic Scholarship recipients! Julie is a sophomore at IU Southeast pursuing a degree in Business, with a minor in Psychology. While not legally emancipated from her parents, Julie has been independent and has supported herself from a young age. She is considering a profession related to healthcare or the treatment of physical and mental handicaps. In her spare time, she enjoys learning DIY (do it yourself) crafts. We're proud of you, Julie!
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6. 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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7. IUPUI Harvey Milk Dinner
The GLBTAA was proud once again to be a sponsor at this year's seventh annual IUPUI Harvey Milk Dinner, which took place on October 22 at the Downtown Marriott in Indianapolis. There was a reception followed by dinner and the program.
Ms. Precious Davis was the main 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.
The evening was hosted by the IUPUI LGBTQ Student Alliance, along with the LGBT Faculty Staff Council, the IUPUI LGBTQ+ Center, and Social Justice Education. Following the event, an IU Bloomington graduate student observed, "The dinner was a wonderful experience that allowed me the opportunity to fellowship with members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies. I was moved by the testimonies of the speakers and I felt charged to do more within the community and to use my sphere of influence in higher education to become an agent of change."
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| | Precious Davis surrounded by students and others |
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8. 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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9. 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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