WGS 160: Campus-Community Connections(Spotlight on…________________)

With a partner of your choice, you must complete 1 blog entry in which you present on a campus or local Nashville community resource office, center, or event that address issues of sex and society, as we’ve discussed in class. For instance, you may want to attend an LGBTQIA-friendly event to explore how the function works to address concerns or cares particular or unique to the LGBTQIA community. Or perhaps you want to learn more about the new Project Safe office on campus and what programming they’re creating in an effort to address power-based violence on campus. The possibilities are open, and you’ll find a list of ideas below. If the resource is not a part of immediate campus life or located within the Nashville community, it does not fulfill this assignment.

The purpose of this assignment is two-fold. First, it is intended to encourage you (and via your posts, your peers) to get to know better your local resources; and second, the post offers you an opportunity to examine the ways in which communities actively address some of the issues of discrimination, violence, and inequality we’ve discussed in class. In this way, the assignment asks you to take your education and discussion off the page, out of the classroom, and into the streets. For this reason, I ask that you spotlight a resource that you aren’t already familiar with—for instance, if you volunteer at the Office of LGBTQI Life, I ask that you do not select the Office of LGBTQI Life as the resource you explore.

While the length of the post is open, you will most likely need at least 900 words to see out the parameters of the assignment to their fullest.

Your post must include the following components:

First, an introduction and explanation of the resource you’re spotlighting in your post. Your language should be your own—explain the resource center and its goals in your own word rather than quoting or “lifting” a definition from a website or mission statement, though you should feel free to quote from appropriate documents or websites. To get a full sense of the resource, you’ll most likely want to ask someone involved if you can interview them. For instance, if you are attending events for National Coming Out Day, you may want to follow up the event by asking administrative organizers (in this case, through the Office of LGBTQI Life) about what went into planning the events, whether or not the events were seen as successful, and what the goals of the specific events were (among other questions). Make sure also to ask permission if you want to quote someone in your post. Keep in mind that folks are busy, and you’ll want to schedule a time to visit the center or attend the event and talk with someone well in advance of the due date. Also make sure to examine any online information (an office’s website, for instance) before you interview, so that you can be an informed questioner. For each post, you can earn up to 25 points for the introduction and explanation portion.

Second, make connections between the resources available/issues addressed by your office or event and the concepts we’ve examined and articles and films we’ve discussed. How do they relate? Where are there disconnects? Making connections is all about analysis, the stuff you have to say that doesn’t echo class discussion. For each post, you can earn up to 10 points for your success in making connections.

Third, include examples (pics, images, news article, etc) that exemplify the resources you discuss. If you are attending an event, you may want to include images, flyers, or pics. One caveat: be mindful of inadvertent outing or exposing others. For example, if you attend an event through Office of LGBTQI Life and you want to include pics in your post, make sure the pic doesn’t include folks you don’t know who could inadvertently be outed because of your post. By all means, I encourage you to use pics, just be mindful of the rights of others whose image you might capture. If you are unsure about a pic you’d like to include in a post, talk with Dr. Chapman. You can earn up to 5 points for the example portion. *Please note that you should include media that makes it obvious you visited the center or attended the event. You needn’t include a pic of yourself if you don’t want to, though there are other ways of documenting your presence. For instance:

And finally, engage your readers. You might ask a question or set of questions regarding your reader’s take on the issues you address. Perhaps you include a poll, or perhaps you link to or attach resources that your reader might download for personal use. For each post, you can earn up to 5 points for audience engagement.

Now, pragmatic stuff. First, make sure your title begins with “Spotlight on…” and fill in the final word or phrase with the name of the resource office, center, or event. This will add continuity to posts, and help your peers to readily identify types of posts. Next, check the most appropriate categories for your post, and email Professor Chapman to add a category if needed. Also make sure to add the appropriate tags. If you need more information on the difference between categories and tags, click here. Last step, make sure your language is appropriate and professional. This final “polish” stuff can receive up to 5 points per post.

Resources to Consider:

Magaret Cuninggim Women’s CenterOffice of LGBTQI LifeBJJ Black Cultural CenterNashville Black PrideVandy FemsProject SafeVU PETSAWomen’s and Gender Studies ProgramNational Organization for Women (NOW), Nashville chapterNashville CABLEMagdalene/Thistle Farms

Women’s Economic Foundation of TennesseeVanderbilt Lambda AssociationVanderbilt Diversity Career Alliance (VDCA)Lesbian Film Night Nashville in Harmony OutCentral Cultural Center Out & About Nashville Unite MagazineOut CentralMiddle Tennessee Lambda AssociationQueer Dance Party (QDP)Tennessee Vals (TVals)

Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition   (TTPC) Music City Sisters (A Mission of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence)Delta Lambda PhiHuman Rights Campaign NashvilleR.A.D. Self-Defense Program

Vandy Sex EducatorsPFLAG NashvilleBrothers United NashvilleDrag Queen Bingo Tuesdays at Mad DonnasDrag Brunch SundaysSexual Assault Center

National Coming out Week at Vandy (any two events)

*Please propose a resource if you don’t find it on the list above; this list is not meant to be comprehensive but rather to give you ideas.

Due: all posts are due within one week of the event or visit to the resource center. Late posts will not be accepted. Regardless of the resource you spotlight, all posts must be uploaded to Dr. Chapman for publishing no later than 10:00pm on Sunday, November 2 nd .