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Student Organizations
Student Organizations
Diversity Project
Environmental Management Association (EMA)
Global & Comparative Affairs Group
Graduate Student Association (GSA)
Indiana Health Student Association (IHSA)
IU Graduate and Professional Student Organization (GPSO)
IU Student Association (IUSA)
Management Association
Nonprofit Management Association
Public Finance Association
Students Taking Active Roles Today (START)
Urban Wildlife Habitat Project
Diversity Project
The Rutledge
Diversity Project is an initiative that combines programming and social research to foster diversity within
the SPEA graduate community. SPEA graduate students and staff come from all over the world and bring a wealth of different
cultures and experiences. The Diversity Project will provide opportunities for students and staff to explore and share
their personal heritage and culture while learning about others. Social and informational events will be coordinated by
SPEA students, encouraging students to be open-minded, to interact and participate, and to voice their opinions in a
constructive environment. The Diversity Project is also dedicated to ongoing efforts to evaluate diversity at SPEA
and measure the progress of the project. The overall goal is to provide a supportive and welcoming environment as well
as a rich educational experience that will aid students as they prepare to live and work in a diverse world.
The Diversity Project is administered by the Diversity Committee: Juan Pedroza (coordinator), Bemmy Granados,
Carrie Albright, Tiffany Combs, Shalonda Guy, Tanvi Lal, Wendy Ho, Ben Carrollo, and Brian Scherschel.
For information about the Diversity Committee, contact Juan (
jepedroza@indiana.edu).
The Diversity Project hosts and co-sponsors a number of activities, including:
[A] The Brown Bag discussion series
These informal dialogue circles take place during the day (lunch hour) at SPEA and are designed to provide an open space
for stimulating and ongoing discussion. In the fall of 2005, the Diversity Committee facilitated the following Brown Bag
discussions:
- Legislating Marriage: Perspectives on Policy, Family & Religion
- International Aid & Development: When Good Intentions Go Wrong
- U.S. Social Welfare Research: Poor People Under a Microscope
- Non-Profit Work: What Difference Does Gender Make?
[B] Guest Speakers
The Diversity Committee assists the Neal-Marshall Public Policy Lecture Series. In the spring of 2005, IU hosted a
lecture by Eduardo Bonilla-Silva (an associate professor of sociology at Texas A&M): “Racism without Racists: Killing
Me Softly with Colorblindness.” In the fall of 2005, IU hosted Melvin Foote (founder and chief executive officer of the
Constituency for Africa): “Why Africa Matters to the US: Urgent Issues, Critical Policies, Practical Solutions.”
Other guest speakers included Charlotte O’Neal, a leader of the United African American Community Center (UAACC). O’Neal
visited SPEA in the spring of 2005 to speak about trans-national community organizing: “A Panther in Africa.” In the
fall of 2005, Carlos Zorrilla visited. A founding member of DECOIN, an Ecuadorian environmental organization, Zorrilla
spoke about “Eco-tourism and Resistance to Mining in Ecuador.”
[C] Diversity Workshops
The Diversity Committee hosts and facilitates workshops designed to promote understanding and critical thinking through
workshops and activities. During Orientation 2005, the Diversity Committee engaged incoming students to think about
the importance of place and identity through interactive exercises and discussions. As a follow-up, students were
invited to participate in another workshop—“Rocks, Papers, Scissors”—which employed experiential learning to examine
marginalization and privilege. The Diversity Coordinator also visited Bloomington High School South to explain the
Mexican holiday of the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) and to facilitate a discussion of cultural awareness.
The Diversity Committee hosts “Who Are We?” discussions where members of the SPEA community can ask candid, respectful,
and personal questions as a means of promoting understanding and open-mindedness.
If you are interested in learning more, contact Juan (
jepedroza@indiana.edu).
How can you get involved?
- Share ideas for future events: we are always looking for new program ideas. We also provide support in organizing
and co-sponsoring events.
- Join the Diversity Committee: all SPEA students are encouraged to apply.
- Attend any of our events or workshops: we provide a safe and challenging place for everyone to listen and speak out.
Environmental Management Association
The
Environmental Management Association (EMA) is a student chapter of the National Association of
Environmental Professionals on Indiana University's Bloomington campus. EMA's goal is to promote careers in
environmental management and assist in career development by sponsoring workshops, presentations, and activities
which provide students with information, skills, and networking opportunities relevant to environmental careers.
EMA also helps foster networking opportunities with environmental professionals.
EMA's membership includes primarily
graduate and undergraduate students from a variety of departments and schools on the IU campus, including the School
of Public and Environmental Affairs, the School of Law, and the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, and Geological
Sciences. Membership is open to any student, staff member, faculty member or alumnus of Indiana University who is
interested in environmental management. Please visit the
EMA Web site.
Global & Comparative Affairs Group
The
Global and Comparative Affairs Group (GCAG) at Indiana University exists to assist and educate students
interested in learning more about the field of public affairs in comparative perspective. The student group helps
those interested in international topics by creating opportunities for discussion. Generally, we hope to foster
greater understanding of international viewpoints, embolden opportunities for comparative study, and contribute
significantly to the preparation of public affairs students for an international environment in which “the world of
practice has gone global."
GCAG maintains the
Global SPEA Listserv.
The aim is to facilitate interaction among students from around the world and American students of public affairs
in an effort to expand opportunities for international communication and comparative study. The Global SPEA Listserv
is open to all members of the global community.
GCAG considers itself a member-driven organization, and the initiatives stated above are accomplished only by the
collective efforts of the membership. Membership is open to any student, staff member, faculty member or alumnus of
Indiana University who is interested in international issues and public affairs.
Graduate Student Association
The School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Graduate Student Association (GSA) was created to perform four functions:
- Coordinate communication among the school's masters students.
- Coordinate communication between the student body and administration and faculty.
- Work to improve experiences for all of the school's masters students.
- Offer opportunities for leadership and involvement to the school's masters students.
Elected officers attend regular meetings with faculty and staff to discuss programs, policies and other
aspects of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs experience. Active members attend committee meetings and
coordinate projects, trips, activities and parties. Every person in the professional masters programs at SPEA-IUB is a
member of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs Graduate Student Association (GSA).
Indiana Health Student Association (IHSA)
IHSA is an organization for public health majors or anyone interested
in the current trends of the health care industry. We welcome anyone! The objectives of IHSA are: to stimulate
professional career development and leadership of its members; to provide the opportunity to assemble with students
and faculty whose professional interests are in public and environmental health; to keep members informed of recent
trends in health related areas; and to encourage students to enter the many facets within the health field.
We generally have meetings once a month with informational guest speakers; it is a relaxed setting that encourages comments and
questions by our members. The executive council plans the meetings and we are always open to suggestions to better the
organization. Please visit the
IHSA Web site.
Management Association
The School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Management Association provides students interested in careers in management an opportunity to participate in educational presentations and tours, and to take part in service and social activities that complement their academic work and prepare them for professional careers. Contact the Placement and Internship Office at
speainfo@indiana.edu for more information.
Nonprofit Management Association
The
Nonprofit Management Association (NMA) at Indiana University exists to assist and educate students interested
in learning more about the dynamic nonprofit sector. The student association helps those interested in nonprofit management
careers, as well as others who will deal with this sector professionally or personally. It is the NMA mission to help
everyone understand and appreciate the rich diversity of the nonprofit sector and the limitless opportunities the sector
offers each of us. Please visit our Web site at
mypage.iu.edu/~speanma or contact us at
speanma@indiana.edu.
Public Finance Association
The
Public Finance Association at Indiana University's School of
Public and Environmental Affairs was formed at the end of the 1994/1995 school year. The graduate students in public finance
created PFA for a number of purposes:
- Assist in the professional, educational, and social development of college students interested in all aspects of
municipal finance, both in the public and private sector.
- Promote the public finance program at SPEA within Indiana University, as well as nationally and internationally.
- Provide a structure for interaction between public finance students and the municipal finance community, business
executives, and government finance officials.
PFA considers itself a member-driven organization, and the initiatives stated above are accomplished only
by the collective efforts of the membership. The officer positions at PFA are President, Vice President,
and Secretary/Treasurer. Please visit the
Public Finance Association Web site.
Students Taking Active Roles Today (START)
The purpose of the
START (Students Taking Active Roles Today) Volunteer Program is to facilitate student, faculty and staff involvement in the community through volunteer activities. START's belief is that "you learn best by giving something of yourself" and seeks to link school capabilities with community needs.
A START core committee plans group projects and matches individual interests with volunteer opportunities. Core committee representatives recruit, place and follow up with students and volunteer positions in the community. Individual volunteers have been placed with a variety of organizations such as Public Health Nursing, Middle Way House shelter for battered women, Head Start, and the National Forest Service. START also sponsors one large group project each month that focuses on different needs of the community.
Urban Wildlife Habitat Project
The Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) student service group, Students Taking Active Roles Today (START), created an urban wildlife habitat in three planters and an adjacent greenspace around the SPEA building during the spring semester of 2002. The SPEA
Urban Wildlife Habitat Project was directed by START with the cooperation and assistance of the Wild City Initiative, SPEA professors and administration, the Biology Department, Hilltop Garden and Nature Center, the University Architect's Office, and the University Campus Division. The project was inspired by the Wild City Initiative's endeavor to certify Bloomington, Indiana as a wildlife habitat community under the direction of the National Wildlife Federation's backyard wildlife habitat program.
The SPEA wildlife habitat areas contain attractive low-growing native plants, which will primarily attract butterfly and bird species, a heated birdbath and two wren/chickadee birdhouses. The grounds now contain the four basic elements for wildlife, which include food, water, shelter and places to raise young. This example of an urban wildlife habitat not only provides local wildlife a refuge and place to feed but also provides students the opportunity to observe and monitor wildlife on the school grounds, without having to travel off-campus.
An additional urban wildlife habitat project was established during the spring of 2002 at Jordan Hall. This project was a coperative effort among the Biology Department, the University Architect's Office, the Council for Environmental Stewardship, the Student Environmental Action Coalition, Hilltop Garden and Nature Center, and the Wild City Initiative. Both the Jordan Hall project and the SPEA project were established as examples of "green landscaping" with native plants and organic gardening methods that can be used as educational tools for the university, SPEA students, and the Bloomington community. Through establishing wildlife habitats with native plants on the Indiana University campus, each project hopes to add to the local beauty and diversity.
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