From a temporary option to a PROUD ALUMNA By Kylie Campbell
It was never the plan to stay, but Katelyn Firestein, BA ’20 Communication Studies, took her time at IU South Bend to become a leader. She had the opportunity to achieve success. While attending IU South Bend had never been in Firestein’s plans, she had applied at universities across the country, which is quite the opposite of attending a regional campus right here in town. However, after graduating high school, she realized she was not quite ready to leave home, so she decided to take a gap year and work in town before leaving for school. Firestein was not sure exactly what she wanted to do with her college career and that scared her.
She was so inspired by the introduction to Women's and Genders Studies class, taught by Christina Gerken, that she decided she needed to make this a bigger part of her college career. Firestein was unwavering in her determination to declare Women’s and Gender Studies as either a second major or a minor. Along with her major in Communication Studies with a concentration in Health Communication, Firestein declared a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies, to keep her on track for her set graduation date of May 2020. Firestein insists she loves her minor and major equally. Firestein discovered The Preface, IU South Bend’s official student newspaper, shortly into her time at the university. She joined The Preface as a staff writer in the spring semester of her sophomore year as well.
That gap year never happened, thanks to the encouragement and a little bit of persuasion from family, particularly According to Firestein, “What her sister, who was in the really altered my experience Communication Studies What really altered my at IU South Bend, is when Program at Saint Mary’s I started working for The College. Firestein’s experience at IU South Bend, Preface as a staff writer. That family, a steady support is when I first realized I was system, convinced her is when I started working for capable of doing more than to enroll part-time The Preface as a staff writer. just taking classes.” at IU South Bend to avoid falling behind “IU South Bend was enough and pushing back her of a commuter campus that graduation date. people went about their own business, but enough of a typical university that there were student organizations, Firestein explains, “At first, I wasn’t thrilled, and I thought I coffee shops, and things to get involved with on campus. I would eventually transfer. Going to high school in the area, didn’t take full advantage of all of this right away, but once I IU South Bend is always stigmatized as just another regional did, I began to realize how much I would thrive at this place.” campus.”
“
”
To Firestein’s surprise, IU South Bend had other plans for her. Firestein grew to love IU South Bend, more than she had ever expected. The university dazzled her with this beautiful landscape and convenient location, but what really blew her away was the welcoming atmosphere in the Communication Studies Department. Firestein loved her professors and classmates, and she built many meaningful relationships and friendships. She truly found her niche in Communication Studies. While taking classes that fulfilled her Gen Ed curriculum requirements in the fall of her sophomore year, Firestein stumbled into and fell deeply in love with Women’s and Gender Studies (WGS). 34
arts.iusb.edu
Firestein had been inspired by her time at The Preface and Gerken’s teachings of her intro class to WGS, but she had no idea that April Lidinsky, director of the Master of Liberal Studies and associate professor of Women’s and Gender Studies, was right around the corner, just waiting to add fuel to her spark of inspiration. Lidinsky lives and breathes activism. Lidinsky had approached Firestein and disclosed that the Queer Straight Alliance needed new leadership to continue as an active club on campus. Firestein, ready to take on any challenge given to her, agreed to become the president of QSA. Firestein truly acted as a leader of this sanctuary, initiating thoughtful weekly themes such as Coming Out Stories,
