OMSA Welcome Reception

Yesterday was the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs Annual Welcome Reception and it was a huge success!

According to the e-mail that Terri Jackson, the director of OMSA, sent out, the reception was, “an opportunity to meet new and returning students, as well as faculty, staff and administrators,” and “the goal of the reception is to introduce students to individuals within the campus and the larger Springfield community.”

And there was free food!! (What? I’m a poor college student! Don’t act like you don’t think the same things!)

The reception began at 4:30 with a social time. There were a lot of people there from the University (students, faculty, professors), the Sangamon Schools Credit Union, and the community. The students were quite the diverse mix. We had everybody from first year freshman to third year graduate students and everyone in between. Basically, the attendees were diverse in every sense of the word.

Which, of course, is OMSA’s goal. A diverse campus. Terri Jackson has done an EXCELLENT job of supporting all the minority and underrepresented groups on this campus. As a former employee of the OMSA and a member of SASSI (what QSA was before last year), I have personal experience with working with Ms. Jackson.

My first year here SASSI (Students Against Sexual Stereotypes and Inequality), put on its second annual Alternative Prom. The purpose of the Alternative Prom is to give people of all sexual orientations a safe space to enjoy themselves. With Terri’s help, it went off swimmingly as I know my friend Meeka Mason (the former president) can attest to.

She’s always available and she’s always ready to lend her support to whomever needs it. There are probably hundreds (if not thousands) of students, past and present, who have come to Ms. Jackson when they were in a bind and she found a way to bail them out. So big ups to Ms. Jackson and to her office! I want her to know that a lot of people truly appreciate all the things that she does and how willingly she supports the underrepresented communities on this campus. Unbeknownst to many, they wouldn’t be where they are if not for Ms. Jackson.

So, back to the event. I’m a foodie (as you can probably tell), so I like to describe menus. We had chicken wings (fried and buffalo), egg rolls, mozzarella sticks, little cakes, fruits, cheeses, and bacon-wrapped chestnuts. All provided by UIS’ Food Services!

There was a short program which included Ms. Jackson giving the welcome and Chancellor Ringeisen and Vice Chancellor For Student Affairs Miller giving hilarious (and short) speeches. And then more eating and socializing!

All in all, I can say that a great time was had by all attendees and I met a lot of new people and saw a lot of new faces! UIS is growing!

If you want more information on the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, you can visit their office in CPV 161, or their website at:

http://www.uis.edu/multiculturalstudentaffairs/

Or e-mail Ms. Jackson at:

Tjack1@uis.edu

She’d be happy to hear from you!

Till next time!