We hope that your fall term has begun well! We are so excited to be underway with the new academic year.
The leadership of the College Student Services Administration Master’s Program changed this summer and is now under the leadership of Kim McAloney through the Office of the Dean of Student Life and Tom Scheuermann with University Housing and Dining Services. CSSA faculty had multiple planning meetings this summer and are excited for what the future holds for CSSA.
Two new pieces for this year that we are very excited about are WRITE Nights (Thursdays from 4-7pm in Furman 303) where CSSA students can have a designated study space each week and CSSA on Twitter @OSU_CSSA. We look forward to connecting via these opportunities!
Cohort of fall 2013
This fall, CSSA will be undergoing our 10-year graduate program review. All of our students, faculty and staff affiliated with the program will have an opportunity to participate. More information on how CSSA students can be involved will be sent via email soon.
Also, in addition to maintaining our on campus program, we are working on the development of a parallel ECampus program. We will write more about this in our blog near the end of this term.
That’s all our updates for now. Please let us know if you have questions.
Kim McAloney is Coordinator of Student Life Programs in the Office of the Dean of Student Life. Kim supports the College Student Services Administration masters program, the NASPA Undergraduate Fellows Program, and supervises interns.
Student Life is spicing it up for the OSU Food Pantry
by Debby Widony
The people who serve the University from the offices of Student Life believe that our lives are enriched by helping others. So, in addition to our daily work implementing strategic plans we are collecting an array of herbs and spices to stock the OSU Food Pantry shelves. We expect our collection will be as diverse as the people in our Student Life community. As the boxes fill with simple salt, exotic star anise, sweet basil, earthy cumin, warm cinnamon, and other aromatics and herbs, we think about how our work supporting student success is much like the spices that can influence the outcome of a meal.
We’ll be collecting seasonings for the Food Pantry for the entire academic year. Our hope is to also use this opportunity to expand our cultural knowledge as Student Lifers venture into local specialty markets or aisles of our favorite markets that support the cuisines of our colleagues and students who hail from outside the Pacific Northwest.
Debby Widony serves as the executive assistant to the Dean of Student Life but is better known in Student Life as the Wizard of Odds because of the process, procedure, and policy information bitz she acquires and shares with others.
I am the coordinator for Everyone Matters @ OSU, a campus-wide initiative encouraging inclusivity and non-judgment of others. At Oregon State University, we treat each other with civility, dignity and respect. Everyone Matters @ OSU emphasizes that we are a community full of individuals who all have value.
This initiative is primarily a social media campaign, creating an online community where OSU community members can express why they think Everyone Matters @ OSU. Throughout the year, students, faculty, staff, offices, departments, and student organizations post videos and photos that either individually or collectively voice support to prioritize inclusivity and non-judgment at OSU.
Everyone Matters @ OSU has partnered with many campus constituents including The Office of Equity and Inclusion, ASOSU, MUPC, SEAC, #bebeaverbold, and The Valley Library. Everyone Matters @ OSU illustrates the mission statement of Oregon State University by promoting social and cultural progress and demonstrates that a social media community can have an impact on the physical environment of our campus.
I think one of the most impactful Everyone Matters @ OSU events, was this past week at the Beaver Community Fair. Everyone Matters @ OSU hosted a photo booth where students and OSU community members answered the question, “Why is your friend awesome?” Here are a few examples of the great energy and positive work that came from that event.
Everyone Matters @ OSU challenges people to stop, think, and take action to demonstrate inclusivity and non-judgment. On a big campus where many people can feel marginalized, Everyone Matters @ OSU is an opportunity to take a small step to make a big difference.
Hannah Pynn is the Graduate Assistant for the Office of the Dean of Student Life and a masters student in the College Student Services Administration Program. She loves supporting students as they pursue their dreams to make our world awesome.
Although the weather hasn’t been the brightest lately, I can feel the summer approaching! My name is Jesseanne Pope. I came to OSU last year as a transfer student from a community college in my hometown. I am now in my third-year (well almost DONE with my third year!), and am majoring in Liberal Studies with a focus in Social Justice. I am also earning a minor in Leadership and working on the Peace Studies Certificate.
The OSU campus holds a special place in my heart, as it has been my education, home, and work place for the past two years. I currently live on campus as a live-in staff member for University Housing and Dining Services. I work as a Community Relations Facilitator, which allows me to do programming around social justice and diversity topics in the residence halls, cooperatives houses, and cultural resource centers. I have held many other jobs on campus, all of which have been wonderful! For example, I worked last summer as START Orientation Leader with New Student Programs and Family Outreach.
As far as involvement goes, I keep myself pretty busy! I am President of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology, a member of Phi Kappa Phi, a collegiate honor society for all disciplines, an Every1 Peer Educator, and an intern with the Office of the Dean of Student Life (hence why you’re reading my story). As an intern here I work on developing and coordinating systems for future interns, for both undergraduate and graduate students. I have gained useful skills so far this term, including the use of Qualtrics (a university survey system), syllabus development, meeting facilitation, and blog writing!
After graduating from OSU I hope to continue on to earn my Masters degree in Student Affairs. I hope to end up working in a university setting. My dream is to work with students and social justice on a big campus. There are many focus areas within student affairs, so I haven’t chosen specifically yet. However, I think I would like to work in new student programs, housing and dining/residence education, admissions, or multicultural programs.
The picture below is from my time studying abroad in Europe. I am sitting on the ledge of a castle on the coast of the Mediterranean in Southeastern Spain. If you get the opportunity to study abroad, I wouldn’t pass it up! Enjoy your four day weekend everyone!
This blogpost series is called Holidays and Holy Days to inform our OSU community about significant religious and spiritual observances. If you know of a significant holiday or holy day coming up, please communicate the information to Hannah Pynn hannah.pynn@oregonstate.edu in the Dean of Student Life office.
May 23rd, 2013 is the Bahá’í holiday of Declaration of the Báb.
Historical Context
The Declaration of the Báb happened in May 1844 when a Shi’a Muslim, Mullá Husayn, was on a journey looking for the Promised One. The Promised One, also called Al-Qāʾim in the Shi’a tradition, is a messiah figure told about in holy scriptures.
Mullá Husayn traveled to Shiraz, Iran where he was approached by a young stranger who invited Mullá Husayn to his home. This young man’s name was Siyyid Ali Muhammad and was a direct descendent of the Prophet Muhammad through the lineage of both of his parents. Mullá Husayn told Siyyid Ali Muhammad that he was searching for the possible successor to Siyyid Kázim, the Promised One.
This young man who was only 24 years old, told Mullá Husayn that he was Siyyid Kázim’s successor and the bearer of divine knowledge. When Mullá Husayn described the prophesies of The Promised One, Ali Muhammad declared, “Behold, all of these signs are manifest in me.”
Ali Muhammad then proceeded to explain the meanings of difficult holy teachings to Mullá Husayn and convinced him that he was the Promised One that Mullá Husayn had been searching for. Ali Muhammad said, “O Thou who art the first to believe in Me! Verily, I say, I am the Báb, the Gate of God.” Siyyid Ali Muhammad took the title of “The Báb,” which in Arabic means “the Gate.” He was the first of two prophetic figures who founded the Baha’i Faith, the other being Baha’u’llah, which in Arabic means “The Glory of God.”
This is the room where the Declaration of the Bab happened.
Mood and Common Greetings
Mood – Festive, remembering the influence and significance of the Báb’s words
Common Greeting – Allah-u-Abha – an Arabic phrase that means “God is the Most Glorious”
Words of the Bab, handwritten by Mullá Husayn.
Modern Significance
The Bahá’í faith quickly spread from that small room in Shiraz to more than 200 countries and territories around the world, representing diversity from all over the world. The writings of the Báb quickly became the foundations for the new Bahá’í belief system which became an official religion later through the Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith, who was a follower of the Báb’s teachings.
Bahá’ís claim that the Báb was also the spiritual return of Elijah and John the Baptist, that he was the “Ushídar-Máh” referred to in the Zoroastrian scriptures, and that he was the forerunner of their own religion.
The declaration of the Báb is one of the nine holy days in the Bahá’í calendar.
Rituals/Traditions
Praying
Programs that tell the story of His declaration
No work or school
A special prayer read two hours and 11 minutes after sunset, which is the moment when the Báb informed Mulla Husayn of his mission
Reflect on the process of searching for spiritual answers
It is the policy of the Oregon University System and Oregon State University that no one shall be subject to discrimination based on age, disability, national origin, race, color, veteran status, marital status, religion, sex or sexual orientation.
With regards to religion, this policy prohibits the University, and its employees while at work or representing OSU, from taking action that promotes religion or promotes one particular religion over another. The University may not create an atmosphere which in anyway suggests it favors one religion over another, or religion over non-religion. As a public university, it is equally important not to inhibit voluntary religious expression. The University’s obligation is to balance these two elements — to refrain from promoting and at the same time to refrain from inhibiting. This policy is premised on respect for each individual’s right to make personal choices regarding the nature, if any, of his or her religious beliefs and practices.
This policy does not preclude a faculty member or employee from being an advisor to a recognized student organization which may have a religious affiliation.
EFFECTIVE DATE: May 7, 1997
WHO TO CONTACT
Any student or employee who feels he or she is being treated inappropriately based on religion is encouraged to contact the Office of Equity and Inclusion, 526 Kerr Administration Building, (541-737-3556).
My name is Callie Forrest and I am a junior in the Human Development and Family Sciences program, with an option in Human Services here at OSU. I grew up in a rural coastal town in northern California called Fortuna. I graduated high school in 2010 and came here to OSU. I am often asked why I chose OSU. The answer is pretty simple. As a senior in high school I didn’t know what I wanted to study and I knew going to a large university would provide the most opportunities for when I did figure that out. I was fortunate enough to get the chance to visit a few schools the fall of my senior year. Seeing Corvallis and the campus in the fall was all I needed to know this was the school for me. I’ve had a wonderful 3 years here so far and I am looking forward to my final year and graduation next spring.
My first two years here I was not very involved on campus and this year I have tried to change that. This year I am an intern in the DOSL office and a Peer Advisor for the College of Public Health and Human Sciences. This summer I will work as a START orientation leader and in the fall I will be a U-Engage Peer Leader. I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to gain valuable leadership and teamwork skills from all these great positions.
After graduation I hope to be able to get a job with College Possible in Portland. College Possible is a non-profit organization that helps low-income, and usually first generation college students get into and succeed in university. I learned about College Possible at a career fair on campus and was intrigued. I researched it more on my own and became determined to gain a position there after graduation. After working for a year or two, I will go to graduate school and hopefully get into a career that provides me the opportunity to help high school and college students.
P.S. This picture of me is taken at Niagara Falls, which was a very beautiful place. If you ever get the chance to go, don’t pass it up! That’s all I’ve got for now. Have a great and productive Week 7 and good luck as we head into Week 8!
This blogpost series is called Holidays and Holy Days to inform our OSU community about significant religious and spiritual observances. If you know of a significant holiday or holy day coming up, please communicate the information to Hannah Pynn hannah.pynn@oregonstate.edu in the Dean of Student Life office.
May 14-16th, 2013 is the Jewish holiday of Shavuot.
Historical Context
Shavuot is the Jewish holiday that commemorates the day when God gave Moses the Torah, a summary of God’s laws, on Mount Sinai. The word “Shavuot” means weeks. The festival of Shavuot marks the completion of a 7-week period between Passover and Shavuot. The Torah commands that Jews count forty-nine days between Passover and Shavuot. The last day of Passover, a sacrifice containing an “omer”-measure of barley, was offered in the Temple in Jerusalem. The day before Shavuot, an offering of wheat is to be brought to the Temple. An “omer” is equal to about 3.64 litres. In antiquity, grain harvest lasted seven weeks. Barley was harvested during Passover and the harvesting of wheat began during Shavuot.
Shavuot is celebrated in Israel for one day, but is celebrated for disapora (Jews not living in Israel) for two days.
Mood and Common Greetings
Mood – Festive, merriment that celebrates the harvest and God’s provision
Common Greeting – “Chag Sameach!” which means Happy Holiday!
Modern Significance
Shavuot, unlike other Jewish holidays, does not have commandments in the Torah. The traditions of Shavuot highlight the importance of tradition for the preservation of Jewish religious observance. Shavuot remembers that is a connection between Judaism, agriculture, and healthy communities.
Dairy foods are popular during Shavuot, which are symbolic for several reasons:
When they received the law of the Torah and had to follow kosher, Jews chose to eat dairy foods as they transitioned into the new laws
The Torah is compared to milk by King Solomon, “Like honey and milk, it lies under your tongue” (Song of Songs 4:11)
The Hebrew name of Mount Sinai is etymologically similar to the Hebrew word for cheese
Rituals/Traditions
Eating dairy foods – blintz, cheesecake, cheese-filled pancakes, basically any kind of amazing cheesy, dairy food you can think of
One night meal and day meal
Public readings of the book of Ruth – because the events of Ruth happen during harvest time
Greenery decorates homes and synagogues
All-night Torah study, called Tikkun Leil Shavuot (Hebrew: תקון ליל שבועות – this represents the night the Torah was given to Moses, Israelites overslept and Moses had to wake them because God was waiting on the mountaintop
Confirmation ceremonies for students aged 16-18 who are completing their religious studies
It is the policy of the Oregon University System and Oregon State University that no one shall be subject to discrimination based on age, disability, national origin, race, color, veteran status, marital status, religion, sex or sexual orientation.
With regards to religion, this policy prohibits the University, and its employees while at work or representing OSU, from taking action that promotes religion or promotes one particular religion over another. The University may not create an atmosphere which in anyway suggests it favors one religion over another, or religion over non-religion. As a public university, it is equally important not to inhibit voluntary religious expression. The University’s obligation is to balance these two elements — to refrain from promoting and at the same time to refrain from inhibiting. This policy is premised on respect for each individual’s right to make personal choices regarding the nature, if any, of his or her religious beliefs and practices.
This policy does not preclude a faculty member or employee from being an advisor to a recognized student organization which may have a religious affiliation.
EFFECTIVE DATE: May 7, 1997
WHO TO CONTACT
Any student or employee who feels he or she is being treated inappropriately based on religion is encouraged to contact the Office of Equity and Inclusion, 526 Kerr Administration Building, (541-737-3556).
My name is Evan Oglevie and I am a first-year graduate student in the College Student Services Administration (CSSA) program here at Oregon State University (OSU). I am originally from Colorado and lived in the state my entire life until moving out to Oregon this last August to attend graduate school. My childhood consisted of involvement in Boy Scouts, playing ice hockey, and being a Star Wars nerd (which I still own up to today….in fact just celebrated “May The 4th Be With You”). I attended Colorado State University and completed my degree in Communication Studies as of 2009. During my time at the university I started my life in Student Affairs as a resident assistant (RA), the typical path seen for a majority of professionals in the field. I was an RA for 3 years and loved every minute of it. I worked mostly with first-year students, but had the opportunity of working with transfer populations as well. I loved it so much that I continued my time in residence life for an additional three years post-graduation. I became a Resident Director (RD) at Western State Colorado University (WSCU), a small public liberal arts college located in Gunnison, CO. There I began my journey as a professional and learned the intricacies of work in the office, student conduct, crisis situations, supervision, and of course work-life balance among the many other hats I wore at a small institution. This was also my first small town experience…a place much smaller than Corvallis. I was always shocked when people in Corvallis told me that this was such a small town. If you want a small town experience, head to Gunnison… a town where five minutes or less of driving will get you out of town and into the valleys and forests in the area.
I have found Corvallis and OSU to be a great community to live in. The CSSA program has been a blast thus far. I love the courses I am taking for the CSSA program and am almost finished with my first year! I can’t believe how fast time flies while in this program. The picture in this post shows my “Corvallis family”, some of my CSSA cohort members helping me celebrate my Birthday this past weekend with a progressive dinner that took place at five different places across Corvallis. I am the person on the left with the hat and lei, part of the mandatory Birthday regalia provided for me by my loving peers! The cohort is a great support system for both in and out of class learning. The knowledge I am gaining from the CSSA program is extremely beneficial for me. I regularly find crossovers from my professional experience to the in-class competencies within CSSA. I am interning this spring term with the Office of the Dean of Student Life (DOSL). For the spring term I am specifically focusing on the development of the Transitions course for the incoming CSSA students this fall, including the planning and organization behind the class. I also work with a team of cohort members focused on the orientation, social media, and social justice areas related to the Transitions course. For the fall term I will be continuing my internship experience with the DOSL as a teaching assistant (TA) with fellow cohort members for the Transitions course. It will be great to see my planning in action! I look forward to continuing my work with the DOSL office and look forward to applying my experiences with this internship into my future career as a professional. Good luck on week #6 Beavers!!
My little family! Richard, myself, and our dog-child, Toby McGruff
Kayleen Salchenberg’s Bio:
I am from Salem, Oregon (born and raised) and traveled all the way to Corvallis, Oregon for my undergraduate degree in 2005. My path WAS going to be nursing and after a couple study abroad trips I decided to major in Spanish before my luxurious career as a nurse.
Following four very social and fun years at Oregon State, I became a Certified Nursing Assistant at the Salem Hospital. I worked there for a year and realized the health field was not for me. Once I learned that Student Affairs was a career choice, I made drastic changes in order to work towards being a qualified CSSA applicant.
Beyond my experience as a student worker in the Office of Foreign Language and Literatures and teaching English to Spanish speakers in the Corvallis Community, I did not have a lot of experience in Student Affairs. I therefore became a Property Manager at a 95% college-aged populated apartment complex next to Western Oregon University and volunteered at the Service Learning Career Development Office. I got my big break as a teaching assistant/administrator for Chemeketa Community College working at an alternative high school, Winema West. These experiences continued to strengthen my passion for not only education, but for students and their goals. I continued to better my ability to serve them as a resource, and got a lot of joy from it.
I now work as a Graduate Assistant in the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships (OFAS). I assist students daily with a variety of Financial Aid issues. I maintain the Social Media for the office and I am able to be a part of many workgroups. Currently I am involved in the Assessment Council and I am able to not only learn how to assess, but I connect with professionals in an array of Student Affairs functional areas and share diverse perspectives from interdisciplinary areas on campus. In June, I will go to the NASPA Persistence and Assessment Conference and present a poster on my assessment. I have been to one other conference, the Northwest Returnee Conference for students that have returned home from studying abroad. These experiences are shaping my abilities to be a professional in this field.
My areas of interest in higher education are all over the map! I love teaching the topic of Academic Success, I adore my assistantship in the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, I like the topic of Transitions and helping students through that process, studying abroad, and I am open to explore what academic advising/counseling is like. With every new term, class, project, and internship, my career goal changes! The beauty of this program is having the support to explore the vast terrain of higher education.
Personally, I have transitioned from a “rolling stone” or a “free bird” to a more settled path. I have a peace and clarity in my life that was missing. I am engaged and very humbled to marry my partner in crime, Richard Steeves. Together, we are buying a home in West Salem and have recently celebrated our three years as a couple by purchasing a dog-child, Mister Tobias McGruff. I live near all of Richard’s immediate family and mine. I love to travel, but there is now home for me beyond a short car ride from my family and close friends. This page is a short version of a long biography, but I will spare you the rest!
My name is Miguel Arellano. I graduated from Oregon State University (OSU) in 2012. As an undergrad I was extremely involved in student led organizations. I held multiple student staff positions that introduced me to the great field of student affairs. I worked in Student Leadership and Involvement, advising and supporting OSU student organizations. I also worked as a Community Relations Facilitator within University Housing and Dining Services as a live-in peer educator, leading discussions to foster dialogue between residents on topics of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, ability, etc. and to promote an environment that celebrates all students through facilitated workshops and programs
I am currently in my first year of the College Student Services Administration program. My current assistantship is with the department of Diversity Development. Specifically with the Centro Cultural César Chávez, one of the six student-ran cultural and resource centers on campus. This assistantship allows me to advise and support ten great student staff that program about 30 events a year in hopes to celebrate difference and solidarity within OSU.
One event I would like to invite you to is “Queer, Undocumented and Unafraid”. This event is sponsored by the Centro Cultural Cesar Chávez, Community Relations Facilitator program, Pride center, and the Black Cultural center. A student from California who is writing a book on “undocuqueer” will be speaking. The event will focus on the intersecting of identities of being both undocumented and queer. And the obstacles the speaker had to overcome and how both communities can come together for social justice. The event is on May 8th in the International Living Learning Center (ILLC) from 7pm-9pm.
This is my first term interning with the DOSL team. I am very excited to be working on the 2013 CSSA Cohort orientation and social justice retreat. I will also be working on the NUFP pre conference and the 2013 CSSA cohort transitions course next fall.
I am very excited to finally see the sun come out. Spring term is always my favorite term. It is something about the spring flower aromas, sun, and blossoming trees that make me happy. Luckly, I will be spending this summer in the sunny state of California, interning with University of California Santa Cruz. I look forward to interning with DOSL. Stay Tuned for more blogging!!
At the same time we were planning for our collecting of culinary herbs and spices, we accepted the Center for Civic Engagement’s challenge to 
