February 3 April 27
Spring 2016 Newsletter
Inside This Issue
Front
- Fall 2015 Snapshot
- “Why be Involved?”
- SpringOut! & 2016 LGBT+
College Conference
Back
- Letter from the President
- LGBT+ Lecture Series
- Safe Zone Training
- Spring 2016 Schedule
- MT Lambda Awards and
Scholarships
Fall Snapshot
Why Be Involved
Fall 2015 was a busy semester for MT Lambda.
In celebration of LGBT+ History Month, Lambda hosted
two educational tablings and three lectures covering
issues from the past, present, and addressing the future
of the LGBT+ community. Additional programming for
the semester included a Safer Sex presentation by
Nashville Cares, a panel exploring the various aspects of
the LGBT+ community, two additional tablings, and
Bystander Intervention Training. A group of members
and officers also attended the Transgender Day of
Remembrance event in Nashville in November. Each
event Lambda hosted was focused on a different aspect
of the LGBT+ community in hopes of bringing
awareness and understanding to the MTSU community.
We also co-sponsored the fourth annual MTSU Little
Raiders Program, which provides Christmas presents to
children of MTSU who are in need.
MT Lambda is the oldest LGBT+ student
organization at a public college or university in the
state. Each semester is loaded with events and activities
that focus on education of issues and areas within the
community, social interaction and community building,
and political and social activism to better the lives of
LGBT+ students in the campus community and beyond.
Being a part of MT Lambda connects students with the
diverse community of MTSU. Officers and members of
MT Lambda make an impact on the MTSU community
through programming aimed to educate and engage
students. Lambda holds weekly meetings and offers a
variety of options for members to log service hours. In
addition, Lambda provides several academic events—
which are often offered as extra credit opportunities in
select courses. Everyone is welcome in Lambda,
including our Straight Allies and we are always
welcome to new ideas for future programming.
Meetings
Wednesday Nights 7pm
CKNB N119
Membership Dues
$30
2015-2016 Officer Board
President: Elizabeth
Villasana
Vice Presidents: Timothy
Bodey & Amanda Haynes
Secretary: Morgan Hunlen
Treasurer: Rebekah Dawson
Public Relations: Alesha
Hicks
Presidential Advisor:
Joshua Rigsby
Faculty Advisor:
William Langston
Contact Us:
Facebook or Tumblr Above
Mail: mtlambda@mtsu.edu
facebook.com/mtlambda
mtlambda.tumblr.com
Find us on MyMT under Student Organizations
mtsu.edu/mymt
SpringOut! & 2016 LGBT+ College Conference
Since the Spring of 2003, MT Lambda has hosted a week-long event called SpringOut! which has since become our signature
event. Each year, SpringOut! aims to make an impact on campus in regards to LGBT+ issues and serves as a Pride week for
MTSU students. Traditionally, SpringOut! kicks off with Outapalooza, a day long pride festival for the students of MTSU. This
event will be held in the Student Union Commons. This year marks MT Lambda’s thirteenth SpringOut! and Outapalooza
event.
This year our SpringOut! event will end with our 2016 LGBT+ College Conference. The conference incorporates all of the
higher education LGBT+ student organizations from around the state. This year’s conference program will explore how key
facets of identity—gender, race, culture, ethnicity, age, social class, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity or
expression—play a significant role in how we experience the world. Moving beyond external markers to ideas, ideologies,
and environment, we will explore the impact and level of importance placed on one or multiple parts of our individual
identities. The conference will hear from students, professionals, practitioners, and leaders on how access and opportunity
intersect with identity to influence our interactions with education, commerce, community, government, and most
importantly, each other. All of these represent the Conference theme of All Identities. The conference will take place here at
MTSU April 7th-9th and is free and open to the public.
The College of Behavioral and Health Sciences is the academic partner for the conference. Corporate and community leaders
are also emphasizing the importance of the event with their support. Deloitte Services LLP and Nissan North America have
signed on to be Presenting Sponsors for the event and Conference Champions include Waller.
Office: STU 320G
Office Hours
Subject to Change
Monday: 11:30 – 2:00
Tuesday: 12:45 – 2:10
Wednesday: 11:30 – 3:30
Thursday: 12:00 - 2:10
4:30 - 7:00
Friday: 10:30 - 12:00
3:00 - 4:00
Programming will include: Research Poster Presentations, Share Your Story! Film Festival, Intersections of Identity with the
Broader Community, Yoruba Richen’s documentary The New Black, singer-songwriter Ryan Cassata, Safe Zone Trainings,
and the Conference Awards Dinner.
Register for the conference and find the full schedule at http://mtsu.edu/mtlambda/LGBT_College_Conference.php
Letter from the President
MT Lambda Scholarship & Awards
Looking back on last semester, I am so happy to see how
our members have come together to educate one another and the
wider campus community about the LGBT+ community. Our
members really came through for us, either by volunteering for
tabling events or attending panels and lectures. This semester
promises to be just as busy and just as exciting! Not only have we
got a panel planned during Women’s History Month, but we’ve also
got SpringOut! and the LGBT+ College Conference to look forward
to. I’m excited to share these amazing experiences with all of our
members. The conferences gives us an even greater opportunity to
impact the campus community and beyond. I think with our
members being as dedicated as they are, we can achieve positive
change not only for MTSU, but other higher education institutions
around Tennessee. It is because of the support and dedication of
MT Lambda members that MTSU is the diverse and accepting
community that it is. I can’t wait to experience everything this
semester has to offer and I hope you all will be here to experience it
with me.
Each year MT Lambda awards a $500 scholarship as well as
four awards to outstanding members of the organization.
Scholarship applications will be open after spring break. For
more information on scholarship applications or award
nominations, see an officer.
Dedicated Member Award
Silent Member Award
Lambda Activist Award
SpringOut! StepUp! Award
Safe Zone Training
The Safe Zone program is a two hour program
created to develop confident, knowledgeable and effective
Safe Zone participants. The program was created to
develop, enhance and maintain environments that are
culturally and supportive to LGBT individuals, as well as
straight, cisgender people who care about diversity,
equality, and inclusion. As part of the 2016 LGBT+ College
Conference, Safe Zone training will be offered in
concurrent sessions to anyone wishing to be trained.
Participants will learn how to create a network of
community and campus staff, faculty, and students to
support people of all sexual orientations, gender
identities and/or gender expressions. You can sign up for
Safe Zone training on our "2016 LGBT+ College
Conference "Nuts and Bolts" page, located on MT
Lambda's webapge, mtsu.edu/mtlambda
LGBT+ Lecture Series
This Spring MT Lambda will be presenting a two-part
Spring Lecture Series to gear up for the 2015 LGBT+
College Conference in April. Each lecture will focus on a
different aspect of the LGBT+ Community.
LGBT+ at MTSU
March 23 BAS State Farm Room
Eight panelists representing a different area of the LGBT+
community will discuss life at MTSU as an LGBT+ person.
Panelists will include students and faculty.
Intersectionality
March 16 CKNB N119
A lecture discussing the nature of intersectionality.
Spring 2016 Calendar of Events
SpringOut!
Main Events
Date
Location
Event
Focus
Points
Time
Date Location
3-Feb
CKNB N119
Hot Cocoa Mixer
Soc
1
7-9pm
4-Apr
10- Feb
CKNB N119
TBA
TBA
5
7-9pm
17-Feb
CKNB N119
Game Night
Soc
2
7-9pm
24-Feb
TBA
Lambda Learns to Dance
Soc & Com
1
7-9pm
27-Feb
Vanderbilt
University
Out in Front 2016
Pol/Edu/
Com/Soc
10
7AM – 6
PM
2-Mar
STU Lobby
Forms of Attraction Tabling
Edu & Soc
2
10-2pm
7-Apr
JUB TN Room
Research Presentations
E, P, & C
2
2-Mar
CKNB N119
Short Film Workship
Soc & Com
7-9pm
7-Apr
KUC Theatre
Conference Film Festival
E, P, & C
5
16-Mar
CKNB N119
Lecture: Intersectionality
Edu
5
7-9pm
8-Apr
STU Ballroom
Panel Presentations
E, P, & C
5
23-Mar
STU Lobby
Edu
2
10-2pm
8-Apr
STU Ballroom
10
23-Mar
LGBT+ at MTSU
Edu
5
7-9pm
Keynote Presentation by
Yoruba Richen
E, P, & C
BAS State
Farm
Domestic Violence
Awareness Table
8-Apr
KUC Theatre
5
6pm
TBA
Self-Care Meditative Event
Soc & Com
1
7-9pm
Singer-Songwriter Ryan
Cassata
E, P, & C
30-Mar
2-Apr
Langston’s
SpringOut! BBQ &
Construction
Soc & Com
1
11-3pm
9-Apr
STU Ballroom
Strategy Sessions
E, P, & C
5
6-Apr
STU Lobby
Gender Identities Tabling
Edu
2
10-2pm
9-Apr
JUB Tennessee
Room
Conference Awards
Dinner
Com
10
9am5pm
7-9pm
6-Apr
CKNB N119
Conference Prep
Com & Soc
3
***
7-9 Apr
Various
SpringOut! & Conference
E, P, & C
“Focus” Column
P-Political
E-Educational
13-Apr
CKNB N119
Conference Debrief/Queer
Clip Show
Soc & Com
1
7-9pm
C-Community
20-Apr
CKNB N119
Officer Nominations
Soc & Com
1
7-9pm
27-Apr
CKNB N119
End of the Year Potluck &
Officer Elections
*Dates in bold are regular Wednesday Night Meetings*
Soc & Com
1
7-9pm
- Full details may be found on Lambda’s Webpage, mtsu.edu/mtlambda
- Membership dues are $30; Points needed to vote in the end of the year elections will be
posted on our webpage. Only members who have paid dues & earned the necessary points
may vote
Event
Focus
Points
Time
STU Knoll
Outapalooza!
E, S, & C
3phr
10-2pm
5-Apr
TBA
Trivia Game Night
E, S, & C
3
7pm
6-Apr
STU Lobby
E, S, & C
2ph
10-2pm
Gender Identites Tabling,
No H8 Photo Booth &
Fundraising Bake Sale
2015 LGBT+ College Conference
10-4:30
pm
7-9pm
9am5pm
11am1pm
S-Social