No images? Click here Campus FYIJune 6, 2022 June is Pride MonthOn June 28, 1969, LGBTQ+ Pride Month began as an uprising primarily led by Black and Brown transgender and gender-variant champions who acted after law enforcement raided the Stonewall Inn in New York City. A culmination of decades of discrimination and unjust treatment of the LGBTQ+ community, including preceding incidents at Compton’s Cafeteria and Black Cat Tavern in California, the Stonewall Uprising is the moment often cited as the major shift forward for LGBTQ+ rights. WSU Vancouver is committed to building a community of equity and dismantling systemic inequities, including "isms" and phobias. WSU Vancouver recognizes and celebrates LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Visit the LGBTQ+ Pride Month webpage to find strategies, opportunities and resources to build a community of equity, belonging and love throughout Pride Month and beyond. WSU Vancouver recognizes JuneteenthJuneteenth originated on June 19, 1865 in Galveston, Texas when union soldiers arrived with news of the Emancipation Proclamation two-and-a-half years after the proclamation was ratified on Jan. 1, 1863. Since its inaugural celebration in 1866, Juneteenth uplifts Black liberation, education, family, innovation, beauty, community, empowerment, brilliance, joy, self- and collective care to name a few. Juneteenth became a federal holiday on June 17, 2021 and is the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which was signed into law in November 1983 and observed for the first time on Jan. 20, 1986. As Juneteenth takes on a more national and global perspective, the sheer terror, brutality, injustice and hatred infused in the institution of enslavement of peoples from across the African diaspora must not be minimized or forgotten, including the lasting impact of generational trauma and systemic racism. These roots run deep and tie back to fertile soils from which this national day of recognition is growing. WSU Vancouver promotes an ethical and socially just society through an intentional commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging. Getting involved and supporting Juneteenth creates space to build community, engage in reflection, expand awareness and disrupt systemic inequities, including racism, and actualize justice, equity, belonging and love. This is the spirit of Juneteenth. Find related campus resources and events on the Juneteenth webpage. Washington State EAP offers resources for coping with fear of violenceThe Washington State EAP recognizes that you may be experiencing mental health impacts due to the mass shooting event at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas. The EAP offers Coping with Fear of Violence: School Shootings. If you are struggling to cope, or concerned about family members or your staff, request EAP services to support you. These services are confidential and provided at no cost to you.
The EAP also recognizes that mass violence takes a toll on individual and community well-being. This month, Connect Space is being offered as a time to connect, get support and support others as we continue to navigate challenging times. WSU updated its mental health services webpageWSU faculty, staff and community members have access to a variety of mental health services, regardless of income level or location. The very latest information is published on the updated WSU HRS Mental Health Services webpage. Volunteer to support La Bienvenida June 24 and 25La Bienvenida is a special family program for the parents and families of incoming WSU Vancouver students. This event is conducted entirely in Spanish and introduces families and students to the life-changing experience at WSU Vancouver. Students and their families get familiar with WSU Vancouver’s commitment to student success, learn about available resources and meet some of the people who will support them on their higher education journey. Volunteers are needed to help June 24 and 25 with a variety of tasks, including setup, greeting families, offering directions, and distributing program materials and WSU swag. You do not need to speak Spanish to volunteer. If you speak fluent Spanish and would be willing to help with a presentation during the program, please indicate that when you volunteer. Life-saving Narcan available on campusOverdose deaths in Washington surpassed 2,000 last year—a more than 66% increase since 2019, according to data recently released by the state Department of Health. More than half of all overdose deaths are fentanyl overdose deaths, which is up tenfold since 2016. Student Health Services and Public Safety have Narcan nasal spray kits on site to treat a person who has overdosed. Signs of an overdose include:
If you suspect someone on campus has overdosed, call 911, then Public Safety/Student Health Services to request Narcan. Minutes matter. Administering Narcan on campus may be faster than waiting for paramedics to arrive and could potentially save a life. To administer Narcan nasal spray, peel back the package and place and hold the tip of the nozzle in either of the victim’s nostrils. Press the plunger firmly to release the dose into nose. Reminders
EventsThe NEW SmartHealth Experience SmartHealth was upgraded in April. If you use SmartHealth, this training will help you take advantage of new features:
Book Talk, “Pioneering Death: The Violence of Boyhood in Turn-of-the-Century Oregon” In “Pioneering Death: The Violence of Boyhood in Turn-of-the-Century Oregon,” Peter Boag, professor and Columbia Chair in the History of the American West, examines the Brownsville murder as an illustration of the destabilizing transitions within the rural United States at the end of the 19th century. While pioneer families celebrated and memorialized founders of western white settler society, their children faced a present and future in frightening decline. The evening’s program will feature a short reading of “Pioneering Death,” followed by Boag in conversation with historian Ryan Dearinger and an audience Q&A. Copies of the book will be available for purchase. To learn more, visit the Oregon Historical Society’s website. BaCE, We Love Reading with Obie and Renny! We Love Reading Group is a welcoming, supportive and brave space that features books with themes on equity, antiracism, justice, healing, belonging, joy and love. The summer 2022 book selection is “The Chiffon Trenches: A Memoir,” by André Leon Talley (Ballantine Books). Talley was the indomitable creative director at Vogue during the magazine’s rising dominance as the world’s fashion bible. Over the course of five decades, his byline also appeared in Vanity Fair, HG, Interview and Women’s Wear Daily. “The Chiffon Trenches” offers a candid look at the who’s who of the last 50 years of fashion. At once ruthless and empathetic, this engaging memoir tells with raw honesty the story of how Talley not only survived the brutal style landscape but thrived—despite racism, illicit rumors and all the other challenges of this notoriously cutthroat industry—to become one of the most renowned voices and faces in fashion. Juneteenth Freedom Celebration A free event to celebrate Juneteenth. Stop by—WSU Vancouver will have a booth at this event. Learn more about the Juneteenth Freedom Celebration online. Re-Imagined Radio, “William Conrad Tribute” Re-Imagined Radio pays tribute to William Conrad's iconic radio voice which was heard in thousands of supporting roles and literally defined two radio drama series, “Escape” and “Gunsmoke.” Visit Re-Imagined Radio's website to learn more. Event accessibility WSU Vancouver In The NewsTrapped in a Sauna With No Exit In a particularly alarming trend, climate change is causing average nighttime temperatures to warm even faster than average daytime temperatures, said Deepti Singh, a climate scientist at Washington State University who studies extreme weather events. This is especially dangerous because it limits the body’s ability to cool down, significantly increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses. New
grant helps WSU students gain access to food, housing Student Development Director Eric Scott said student navigators will be experts in their local community, helping establish relationships and teach students about local organizations. Smart Pacifier Can Monitor Infant Health in the Hospital “We know that premature babies have a better chance of survival if they get a high quality of care in the first month of birth,” said Jong-Hoon Kim, associate professor at Washington State University and a co-corresponding author on the study. Other sources Way to Go!Jong-Hoon Kim, associate professor in the School of Engineering and Computer Science, co-authored “Smart bioelectronic pacifier for real-time continuous monitoring of salivary electrolytes” published in the journal Biosensor and Bioelectronics. “We know that premature babies have a better chance of survival if they get a high quality of care in the first month of birth,” said Kim. “Normally, in a hospital environment, they draw blood from the baby twice a day, so they just get two data points. This device is a non-invasive way to provide real-time monitoring of the electrolyte concentration of babies.” The blood-draw method can be potentially painful for the infant, and it leaves big gaps in information since they are usually done once in the morning and once in the evening. Science professor Cheryl Schultz has been invited by Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley to be a science panelist at the June 22 – 23 Monarch Butterfly Summit at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, D.C. This event will bring key stakeholders across science and policy together to identify solutions for the western monarch butterfly. Accounting for the state of the science, participants will develop specific recommendations and short-term actions to benefit the western monarch butterfly. |