UW-La Crosse University Centers

2013-14 Annual Report

Director’s Message……

The University Centers staff and students accomplished many great things in 2013-14.

We welcomed two new full time staff members, Alex Brown, Fraternity & Sorority Life Adviser; and Andrea (Drea) Higgins, Campus Activities Board Adviser. Preparing for the transition to the new student center and the changes in staffing needs, it was time to move two graduate assistant positions into one additional full time position.

The final bid documents have been developed for the new student center. The Student Planning committee was active in making decisions this year, including the process of picking finishes for much of the facility.

The groundbreaking for the new student center will occur this fall. This will signal a new chapter for University Centers at UW-La Crosse. The events and programs will continue as we put the final touches on the new “living room” for the campus.

The year also included some new programs. A new emphasis on leadership is being developed. One of the first steps was to explore the LeaderShape program and to host our first UW-La Crosse LeaderShape Institute session, partnering with LeaderShape, Inc., from Champaign, Illinois. Sixty-two students met during spring break at Sugar Creek Camp in Ferryville, WI. Students explored being authentic leaders.

The Campus Activities Board (CAB) had a successful year. Approximately 10,250 people attended CAB events during 2013-14. Some significant programs included Soledad O’Brien (Distinguished Lecture Series), the University of Wisconsin-MadHatters, Winona LaDuke, and the Polynesian Paradise Dancers.

Our dining program continued to provide some challenges. A change of leadership occurred during spring semester. Participation averaged 71%.

Some other highlights of the year included:

• Emily O’Connor, Event Support, was named Student Employee of the Year • A total of 11,527 event reservations were made in Cartwright Center and 8,453 reservations in

academic facilities with a total of 33,709.97 hours of service by the Event Services staff. • The Pride Center reached over 7,000 people with programming, panels, and trainings. • A Sustainability Mission and Vision statement was created. • A Farmers Market was held weekly in the fall as an initiative by the Students for Sustainability. • A Green Fund allocation for LED lights in the new student center was approved. • 187 student organizations continued to be active on campus, with 11 organizations gaining official

university recognition throughout the year. • A Trafsys people counting/customer tracking system was installed on the north west doors of

Cartwright Center. 313,536 people entered Cartwright Center through this entrance throughout the year.

First Floor – Service Desk and Stairway Leading to Lower Level

Second Floor – Student Organizations Suite

Entertainment Café Second Floor – Student Senate Chambers

Students - 3942

Faculty/Staff - 2219Outside groups - 99

Non-AcademicDepartments -1203

UW-La Crosse Student Employee of the Year

Emily O’Connor

When I first applied for a job at University Centers as a freshman, I did not know what I was getting myself into. I expected to find a job similar to the ones that I have had in the past: I go in, do my work, and leave, nothing special, nothing extraordinary. However, working for University Event Support has been anything but that. After just a short time with Event Support, I have grown in ways that I never thought possible, learned things that I never thought I would, and met countless extraordinary people. Coming to college, I was fairly shy and reserved. I often kept to myself and was definitely not one to take charge, especially in new situations. Working with Event Support has changed this drastically. Each event that I work brings new challenges to face and problems to overcome. I’ve learned to communicate more effectively to those in charge, to customers, and to my coworkers.

Improving my public speaking and communication skills is invaluable both during college and life after college, and I can honestly say I would not be at the point that I am if it had not been for working with Event Support. One of my favorite things about working with Event Support is the amount of things that I get to learn each and every time that I come to work. Whether the event set-up is for a five-piece band or a single speaker with a PowerPoint, there is something that I learn with every event. My favorite thing about learning all of this knowledge, however, is the ability to share it with my coworkers. After I learn something new, it doesn’t help many people if I am the only person that knows it. By sharing what I know with the people that I work with, they then share what they know with me, ultimately creating a stronger staff team and better overall work on events. It is the people that make this job truly one-of-a-kind and I am honored to be a part of such an amazing aspect of the UW-L campus.

187 Recognized Student Organizations

332 events uploaded to MyOrgs

167 Fundraisers

285 efforts to promote Inclusivity

273 slides were displayed on the Whitney Digital signs

Student Learning in

Organizations Student Comments - Learned as a

result of being a leader in a student organization:

How to be a leader and to lead by example.

The power to delegate and motivate.

What it means to be a team player.

Gained deep understanding of racial/ethnic oppression.

Graduation

96 organizations had 1-5 students graduate.

26 organizations had 6-10 students graduate.

10 organizations had 11-15 students graduate.

For the first time in years, every senate and executive seat was contested and

filled during the election!

Resolutions

Senators

percent of Student Association Members believe that they have developed new leadership skills and abilities.

percent of Student Association Members believe that they have learned to look at a situation from many perspectives

percent of Student Association Members believe that they a better understanding for the differences in people.

percent of Student Association Members understand their part in the community because of Student Association. Student Association Fall 2013

Recreational Eagle Center Expansion:

87% Student Approval Student Association

Constitution Changes: 92% Student Approval

Responsible Action Policy: 95% Student Approval

Student Voting Participation

“I have learned that it is possible for more than one person to be right about something.” “I have learned that I need to put myself in other people’s shoes to be able to understand where they are coming from.” “Everyone has a different past and that affects how they see things and problem solve” “Too often we surround ourselves with people who are just like us, this does not allow us to grow. By communicating with others (even just in the Senate) I was able to start seeing issues from different perspectives, ones I had not considered before.” “Instead of vilifying those that I disagree with, I have learned to seek the ways in which we agree versus how we disagree.” “I have really tried to focus on how students affect the community and how the community affects us.”

Bonding: Senate Style Student Senators take an leap and try out the

sport Curling - some for the very first time! Led by former curling star, Senator Bennett, the

group had a great time learning, competing, laughing and having a great time!

Faculty & Staff Appreciation Day Organized by Student Association’s Public Relations Director, Samantha Finley, students spent a lunch hour this spring semester making Root Beer Floats for those professors who “Float our Boat!”

City Parking Engagement Student Senators encouraged students to turn out and give their opinion on the new parking changes

proposed by the city. Many Student Senators, Student Association members and students spoke

their opinion in front of City Council and community members and local media!

Finals Coffee Run Student Senate spent a lot of time reaching

out to constituents this year and one time even ran around coffee on the electric truck

during those long finals days!

Outreach Student Senators and

Directors stood out by the Clock tower on a wintry day

asking students what changes they would like to

see on campus! Senators took these ideas and are

working on turning those ideas into realities.

The Transition between incoming Student Association President Kaylee Otterbacher and outgoing President Nick Bezier.

2013-14 Leadership

(L to R): Adviser Tarra Bourgeois,

President Nick Bezier, Adviser

Larry Ringgenberg, Vice President Riley

Karlstrand and Adviser Alex Brown.

The Pride Center shall foster a safe environment for LGBTIQQAA students, faculty, and staff, educate the campus and community on issues and advocate for student success and inclusivity. (Draft Fall 2012)

The Pride Center works closely with Rainbow Unity and Transform. Together they worked with several other campus members. We partnered with the Campus Activities Board (CAB) in fall to bring the I <3 Female Orgasm Program to campus. Every December we partner with Black Student Unity (BSU) to provide the campus community with a World AIDS Program and free HIV/AIDS testing. In spring we worked with many campus members including: Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies, Office of Multicultural Student Services, English Department and Campus Climate & Diversity to bring author and activist Kate Bornstein to campus. Unfortunately, Ms. Bornstein’s cancer returned and she had to cancel.

Rainbow Unity & Transform

Campus Activities Board

WGS Dept., OMSS, English,

Campus Climate and Diversity

Pride Center Collaborations

Pride Center Mission

Highlights & Points of Pride 7,000 Students were reached

by the Pride Center in 2013-14 through programming, panels, trainings, one-on-one meetings and events.

26 LGBTQA+ panels that students spoke in during the fall semester.

27 LGBTQA+ panels that students spoke in during the spring semester.

The Pride Center collaborated with

Career Services and sent eight

students to the OUT for Work

Conference in Chicago again

this year.

30 students went to the Midwest BLGTA College Conference in St. Louis, MO. This is the largest delegation UW-L had sent thus far. This was a collaborative experience with the Office of Residence Life!

The 2014 Drag Show had more than 500 people in attendance. Student’s raised $1,300 in tips for the AIDS Resource Center Wisconsin

and $155.00 for Transform.

2014 was the first year the Sara Sullivan LGBTQ Study Abroad Scholarship was given out. This year’s recipient is

Jessica Furrer. Nic Johnson received the Eagle Pride Scholarship for a returning student and Kaitlyn Rago (not

pictured,) for incoming first year student.

Pride Center Highlights

FRATERNITY & SORORITY LIFE (FSL)

92% of students felt they developed and are more confident in their leadership abilities

89% shared that they have learned to look at things from multiple perspectives

93% of students recognize the importance of service to their communities

92% better understand and appreciate the differences between people

93% of students appreciate the importance of my education and lifelong learning

The FSL Strategic Planning committee was formed. Members includes Fraternity & Sorority Life students, unaffiliated students, faculty, staff, organization advisers, and alumni representatives.

Frater & Sorority Life hosted a series of focus groups on campus to gain a broader perspective, promoting heavily to residence hall councils to encourage students to participate.

Collaborations

Year-End Reviews Found…..

FSL Members at LeaderShape

The Panhellenic Council volunteering at Self Appreciation Week hosted by Broadening Horizons

FRATERNITY & SORORITY LIFE (FSL)

Members were recognized for their service at Delta Sigma Phi’s

founders’ Day Celebration

Members of Chi Phi at their Sara’s Softball philanthropic fundraiser.

• The “Meet the Greeks” ice cream social and information presentation brought in over 100 non-affiliated students.

• The Panhellenic sororities hosted an open house which brought in over 70 non-affiliated women to learn about how to join a sorority and what to expect when going through recruitment.

• Service and philanthropic giving continued to be a focus for the community, participating in over 3,000 hours of service and raising over $13,500 for various charities!

• The governing councils brought together roughly 20 new members from the community to participate in a 3-4 hour long low & high ropes course to build community and strengthen relationships with the participants.

• A new bylaw was created that requires organizations to host a minimum of one program on inclusive excellence, diversity, or social justice.

The Hoeschler Clock Tower at Alpha Xi Delta’s “Light it up Blue”

Our mission is to provide events and programs to students that will support qualities of volunteerism, leadership, and integrity. These efforts, in collaboration with UW-L and the La Crosse community, will encourage both diversity of experience and empowerment within the student body and each individual.

The Involvement Fest encourages everyone to find a place to belong at UW-La Crosse and the La Crosse community!

New Location this year!

82 registered users.

698 door swipes (number of times student(s) entered the pantry).

Resource for any and all students who are in need of food items-no questions asked!

Collaboration with the Hunger Task Force in La Crosse.

Co-hosted a program called “A Place at the Table,” a documentary addressing issues of hunger in the United States.

Food collection program with Residence Life May 2014 collected four vanloads of food. .

Quick Facts: Make a Difference Day is a nationally recognized event. UW-La Crosse students volunteered in the La Crosse community for the day in Collaboration with Friends and Family Weekend.

Hosted two Share-A-Meal programs with the UW-La Crosse Dining Services/Sodexo and generous UW-La Crosse students on meal plans

ONE SUCCESS STORY IN ACTION: Peter Molnar’s vision: “My vision is to

end the starvation and poor living standards of families in all European

Countries”

HOW I AM MAKING THIS A REALITY: “I realized that there is great potential and I could continue doing missions in this Romanian gypsy ghetto and in the long run I might be able to help more than just one or two families. This became my vision through LeaderShape and I know and I believe that potentially we might be able to change the lives of not just one or two families but the living standards could

rise up and the ghetto could transform into a normal European village. This summer I will to continue the mission in Szekelyhid, Romania. La Crosse Christian Church was able to raise enough funds again to provide the necessary money for building a full house. I will be travelling down to Romania with friends on July 20th to build another house. I look forward to serving the gypsy community of

Szekelyhid, Romania again.”

MISSION To transform the Leadership Culture at UW-La Crosse and the world by increasing the number of people who lead with integrity. This institute strives to create “a just, caring, thriving world” where all lead with integrity and a “healthy disregard for the impossible.”

MARCH 2014

This was our first UW-La Crosse LeaderShape Institute session, partnering with LeaderShape, Inc., from Champaign, Illinois. LeaderShape is a six day immersion program that inspires students to “live and lead with integrity and have a healthy disregard for the impossible.” 62 students participated in the session which took place at Sugar Creek Bible Camp in Ferryville, Wisconsin, during Spring Break from March 14-19, 2014. All 62 students created a vision for action along with action steps to start the process of accomplishing their vision.

A LIFE WORTH LEADING-COUNT YOURSELF IN! LEAD WITH PURPOSE…

YOU MAY BEGIN!

“Living a life of integrity presents a big reward. It allows you to pursue your dreams because integrity is essential

to what you are passionate about.”

“The meaning of integrity, doing what you say you will, and the great emphasis on this idea forced me to evaluate

myself, my values, and my passions.”

“Until this experience, I had the mindset that I would not make a big difference in the world….No one has ever pushed me so hard and asked me to dig deep to find out what my passions are. Even I have never been so hard on myself.”

“Vision planning…made me identify my core values and question my practice of those values, but this taught me the valuable lesson of monitoring my integrity and “walking my talk.”

“I was vulnerable in opening up my heart and telling people my vision. I was mentally stretched in a positive way and it made me confident in telling others my true passions in life.”

“LeaderShape…has given me a purpose and the fuel to cause positive change in the world and communities I reside in.”

“I am not the same person as I was when I started all of this; and with more knowledgeable and inspired people in this world, I believe we can make this a better place.”

“LeaderShape has given me a…vision that I have the capability of reaching, a possibility of making a change in this world, through challenging what is and looking to what could be.”

“I learned that we are not only capable, but responsible for making the world a better place.”

The University Centers Leadership and Involvement Center is proud to have collaborated with the campus organizations and departments listed below to

make the first UW-La Crosse LeaderShape Institute Session possible. Additionally, nine UW-La Crosse faculty and staff served as Family Cluster Facilitators or On-Site

Coordinators and four community members served as Guest Leaders. Office of Residence Life Campus Climate and Diversity Student Association Office of Multicultural Student Services Campus Activities Board The Colleges of Health and Science The College of Business The College of Liberal Studies The School of Education The Division of Student Affairs Athletics Rec Sports International Education Women’s Studies Career Services Students Advocating Potential Ability Veteran Student Association

LEAD WITH INTEGRITY. LIVE IN POSSIBILITY.

BEGIN-LEAD-REPEAT.

Cartwright Center Traffic Report

Northwest door equipped with a person counter. Installation , September 2013 (9/29/13 actual counting began) Average counts- over 12,000 per academic week. Fall semester- 135,718 Spring semester- 177,818 Primary traffic is Monday-Friday

Anderson, Rita Aleckson, Tricia Alt, Jamie Arentz, Sam Barton, Mark Borgen, Jon Bourgeois, Tarra Brown, Alex Curran, Cindy Daniel, Karen Dobson, Leeann Falch, Stephanie Goede, Tina

Hamann, Rob Hedge, Whitney Hetzel, Carmen Higgins, Drea Holm, Heather Jorstad, Brian Langteau, Dave Lee, Tev Marshall, Bill Miller, Ken Montilino, Gina Neitzel, Rebecah Novak, Karen

Richter, Jaralee Ringgenberg, Larry Schmitz, Jeff Slevin, Michael Spivey, Shaundel Swanson, Cindi Thorson, Libby Turonie, Jason Vahala, Mary Beth Van Roosenbeek, Will Wilson, Bob Yang, Tou

University Centers also employed approximately 100 student employees during 2013-14.