Alumnx HQ
Dear Alumnx, That is not a typo. I am happy to share a name change that we have thought long and hard about. Moving forward, our office assumes a clearer identity: CalArts Alumnx and Family Engagement. The inspiration to replace the traditional “Alumni and Parent” tag with this nontraditional title comes directly from the CalArtians we serve. As a diverse campus, the title didn’t quite line up for us, and moreover, it didn’t feel right. Most importantly, in our conversations with members of the community at events, via email, and over the phone, many of you have let us know “I don’t go by ‘he’” or “I don’t go by ‘she.’” This prompted us to ask, What is your preferred pronoun? Taking our cue from the gender-neutral “Latinx,” we’ve decided our nomenclature needed to reflect the values we felt in our hearts. The name change also underscores our commitment to connecting our wide community so we can encompass “Family” in its broadest sense. We’ve never restricted our programs to just mothers and fathers of CalArtians who come from traditionally structured families. “Family Engagement” more accurately reflects our mission: to support artists and those who love them, whether they be parents, grandparents, significant others, mentors, friends, or colleagues. Our core purpose remains unaltered: We are here to foster community. That might mean connecting you to your long-lost classmate or getting you involved in professional development programs, social or networking events, and annual gatherings like our homecoming CalArts Weekend. You constantly inspire us. We are proud of our community’s diverse identities, voices, artistic practices, and support networks. And, we don’t mind those confused looks we get when we meet folks from other colleges and universities: “Alum...what?” Let them be traditional, let us be CalArts. Share your thoughts with us at with CalArts Alumnx and Family Engagement team at alumni@calarts.edu—and also alumnx@calarts.edu. Rageshwar Kaur Goldberg Director of Alumnx and Family Engagement My gender pronouns: she/her/hers uwm.edu/lgbtrc/support/gender-pronouns
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CalArts Alumni Magazine