October 2013
Chronicle
One of the biggest concerns I have heard from staff since I was
elected to Staff Council in September 2012 centers on communication. I want to assure you that the entire Council has already begun
meeting with senior administration to increase clear communication
with staff. Your input on this issue in regard to what needs to be
communicated and in what form (eDigest, campus mail, email, etc.)
is appreciated.
If you haven’t done so already, I strongly encourage you to
find a Staff Council member who represents your department and
introduce yourself. We are making a concentrated effort to ensure
all voices are heard. If your department isn’t represented the way
you feel it should be, please let me know. I’m available through
either the Staff Council email address (staffcouncil@smith.edu) or
my own email address (hofner@smith.edu). I look forward to speaking with you soon at one of our Campus Center Café tabling days or
at a Between the Lines discussion!
Between the Lines Starts in January
Staff Council's Communications Committee has developed a revised visual
identity. The Committee is excited about the bold new look! Staff Council
members will host monthly information tables near the Campus Center
entrance and will be ready to answer questions as well as provide materials
about Staff Council. Stop by Thursday, October 17 from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15
p.m. and say hello!
Council Exhibit at Inauguration
The College is gearing up for the president’s inauguration
celebration on Saturday, October 19 at 3:00 p.m. in the Indoor Track
and Tennis Facility, when Kathleen McCartney will be installed as
Smith’s 11th president. There will be presentations, performances,
and, exhibitions celebrating Smith’s legacy of female leadership. As
part of the festivities, Staff Council will present an exhibit, called
20/20: The Past and Future of the Smith College Staff Council,
in the Campus Center, in the second floor hallway.
As Staff Council celebrates 20 years, the Smith community is invited to reflect on what the Council has accomplished and tell Council
members what they hope to see Staff Council achieve by sharing
comments on an interactive comment wall. The wall can be seen on
the website at www.smith.edu/inauguration/exhibitions.php.
Staff Council Encourages Input
Hello and Happy October, Smith
Staff! As your new Staff Council chair, I
wanted to take a moment to introduce
myself, along with the goals your Council
has set for 2013-14.
My name is Halley Ofner and I
have worked at Smith for almost three
years as Donor Relations Specialist in
Development. I’m originally from the
Adirondacks in upstate New York and
currently live in South Hadley with my partner and two cats, Han
and Chewy (yes, named after Star Wars characters; no, I didn’t
name them—they’re “second hand.”) Most importantly, I believe
that staff should have a voice on this campus.
While Staff Council is great for cider and doughnuts in the
fall, ice cream in the summer, and pizza somewhere in between, we
are more than that. We are here to listen to concerns you may have
and to collect any ideas on what we can do to be more supportive to
you. Our focus during the 2013-14 year is to increase our visibility.
You’ll notice a new graphic image on all our messaging from now
on, and we have members tabling once per month just outside the
Campus Center to hear your suggestions.
The Staff Council Diversity Committee is pleased to
announce that this year's “Between the Lines” reading program for
staff and faculty will feature the memoir My Beloved World written
by Sonia Sotomayor. With this program, the Diversity Committee
continues its commitment to promote awareness of topics relevant
to staff and faculty, deepen our understanding of one another here at
Smith, encourage thoughtful discussion, and have fun doing it! We
invite all Smith employees—staff and faculty—to read My Beloved
World during the fall and participate in a series of facilitated
discussions in January, and events around issues of class,
inclusivity, equity, and other relevant topics throughout the
academic year. To participate, please register for the program at
www.smith.edu/staffcouncil/betweenthelines.html (you'll have to
log in to the Smith portal.) Questions about “Between the
Lines” can be directed to Joanne Benkley (jbenkley@smith.edu).
My Beloved World is the story of American icon Sonia
Sotomayor, the first Hispanic and third woman appointed to the
United States Supreme Court. In this memoir, written with a candor
and intimacy never undertaken by a sitting Justice, Sotomayor
recounts her life from a Bronx housing project to the federal bench,
a journey that offers an inspiring testament to her own extraordinary
determination and the power of believing in oneself.
It is the hope of the Diversity Committee that Smith
employees from every department and program on campus will join
their colleagues in reading My Beloved World, and continue to
engage in thoughtful dialogue and storytelling with one another,
building the promise of transparency, trust, and a viable future for
the College. Discussions will be divided into two parts. The first
session will focus on the story itself, and the second session will
focus on discussing diversity issues present at Smith. Copies of the
book will be available for Smith community members to borrow.
Information about the book, the “Between the Lines” program, and
other events sponsored by the Diversity Committee are available on
the Staff Council website.
Smith Employee in the Spotlight
Center for Work and Life Program
Coordinator Ally Einbinder ‘10 is part
of the all female band, Potty Mouth. The
band’s album, “Hell Bent,” debuted in the
U.S. and the U.K. last month to great
reviews. Ally, who plays bass and writes
songs for the group is joined by two
Smithies, Phoebe Harris ‘11 and Victoria
Mandanas ‘13. The fourth band member is
Abby Weems. Ally and Phoebe got the idea
to start the band while students at Smith.
“Good People” Talks about Class
Staff Enjoy All-Employee Picnic
The all-employee picnic, which took place on July 9, was a
great way for faculty and staff to relax, eat, and connect with
colleagues. This year we were happy to welcome Kathy McCartney
to campus. In her address to attendees, President-elect McCartney
expressed her appreciation for the warm reception she has received
from everyone on campus. She noted that she looks forward to
meeting faculty and staff, as well as working with everyone in
the coming year. There was a great turnout as people congregated
both on the steps and inside of the Campus Center, enjoying the
food, music, and the ability to mingle with peers from different
departments.
This year, due to the possibility of rain, the food was set up
in the Campus Center, including the ever-popular Mapleline Ice
Cream folks who offered a variety of flavors. President-elect
McCartney made her way around to as many groups as possible to
say hello and introduce herself. She encouraged faculty and staff to
introduce themselves if they encounter her on campus, recognizing
the challenge of learning over “a thousand names.” She encouraged
everyone to drop in during office hours with any issues they would
like to discuss. Her husband, Bill Hagen, who also attended the
picnic, will be teaching a first-year writing class in the fall.
Thank you to Dining Services and everyone who
volunteered to make this event such a success.
Staff Council collaborated with New Century Theatre this
summer to offer employees the chance to enjoy three performances
of the provocative play, “Good People,” at a discounted rate. New
Century Theatre’s production of “Good People” was a telling
commentary on the lives of ordinary people. Set in South Boston
and written by playwright David Lindsay-Abaire, the story weaves a
dramatic tale about the life circumstances of Margaret (Maggie)
who finds herself fired from a menial job and searching for work
through an old flame. Bubbling to the surface are class, race,
gender, and morality issues that reveal character flaws and defects
that good people have. Who is good and how it operates in people’s
lives are some implicit questions the audience considers.
Margaret, preoccupied with her overwhelming need to pay
her rent and take care of her developmentally disabled daughter,
reveals deeply personal secrets and defining childhood moments.
Peppered with eccentric characters, a well-written script, and great
staging, it was easy to see why the play “is currently the most
produced play in America.” Sam Rush, Production and Publicity
Manager in the Theatre Department, served as the producing
director. Following one of the performances the Staff Council
Diversity Committee hosted a potluck and discussion to reflect on
underlying themes.
Upcoming Events and Activities
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The annual Cider and Doughnuts event will
be held on Tuesday, October 15 in front
of Pierce Hall from 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Staff Council will host monthly information
tables in the Campus Center. Upcoming times
are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
on: Thursday, October 17; Tuesday,
November 12; and Thursday, December 12.
The New York City Bus Trip is scheduled for
Saturday, December 7. Tickets are $40.00. The
trip is open to Smith employees and their
guests. Contact staffactivities@smith.edu for
more information.
Please deliver to:
The Chronicle is funded by the Staff Council of Smith
College and is published by and for Smith College staff.
Staff Council encourages submission of photos,
announcements, and event listings for publication in this
newsletter and/or online. Staff Council and the editorial
staff reserve the right to edit submitted material for
purposes of clarity or length. All rights reserved.
Managing Editor: Kim Alston, kalston@smith.edu, extension 2753
Creative Advisor: Chris Gentes; Production: Ellen Lord
Proofreaders: Carla Cooke, Marti Hobbes, Danielle Brown
Contributing Writers: Joanne Benkley, Halley Ofner, Heather Zottoli
Photo Credits:Judi Roberge, Halley Ofner
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