GRAPEV NE DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
APRIL 2015
RSSP Listens, Kicks-Off Spring Semester E
FROM TH
Associate Vice Chancellor
It’s hard to believe how fast this school year is going! This time of year, I like to reflect on the successes of the fall semester LeNorman Strong and look at what’s ahead for Residential and Student Service Programs (RSSP). I love the energy that comes with the start of the new year. New faces, students, and staff members join us in our hallways; we get to work together on fresh ideas to better our organization and serve students. This time has been especially poignant for me in light of my decision to retire on April 24. My work with all of you during the past six years has been fulfilling. Now I am looking forward to completing the long-awaited dissertation for my Ph.D., and living closer to family. I’m delighted that Dr. Steve Sutton, Assistant Vice Chancellor for RSSP, will take over my role in the interim and lead the way as you continue the great work we’ve been doing all year. In late November, I embarked on what I have been referring to as a “Listening Tour,” as we launched my “In the Field” discussions and office hours with staff. Many of you shared ideas with me during these sessions. It was invigorating to visit where you work and connect with you in person. Your time and thoughtfulness in talking about what’s important to you helps the leadership team make sure you have what you need for your work. I’m looking forward to completing my visits with my conversations scheduled for this month, with staff on the Clark Kerr Campus. I will be leaving a summary of what I learned with Steve Sutton and the RSSP Cabinet so that they can incorporate your concerns and questions in further work on our “Culture of Care” initiatives. Your commitment is an inspiration. One idea that stayed with me comes from a comment stating that if we are truly a service organization, why not create service awards around those topics related to service work, such as the best recipes or cleanest units or the lowest expense per square feet, for example. This was such a simple, clear point, and I am excited to find ways to recognize staff more often for excellence in areas that support the heart of RSSP’s mission. I hope that you will hear more about this soon. During these meetings, I also heard that many of you are concerned about the Strategic Planning Initiative “Plan Big,” and the ongoing assessment of our programs and services. Through our strategic priority work, we, as a division, are committed to Plan Big and implementing initiatives that support our staff and students. Continued on Page 6
RSSP staff with UCPD show off Thanksgiving turkeys donated for traditional holiday feast
Gratitude For Our Community
It’s the beginning of a new year, but let’s take a moment to appreciate some of the activities that brought our colleagues together during the fall holidays. While the campus was quiet for a few days, Unit 4 hosted the annual Thanksgiving dinner for residents from all Units who stayed in Berkeley during the holiday break. Staff served 225 Thanksgiving dinner is served at Unit 4 students in a warm, festive environment in Stern Main Lounge. Cal Dining catered traditional Thanksgiving fare, and because more students RESIDENT FACULTY.............4 attended than ever before, local pizzerias also provided FOOD PANTRY.....................5 extra food at the last minute to make sure nobody left OFF-CAMPUS FIRE..............6 hungry. The residence hall CHILI COOK-OFF...................7 staff also prepared a few side
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STAFF SPOTLIGHT...............8 BOB FLAHARTY.....................8
Care, Gratitude, Community Spirit dishes, like mashed potatoes and salads, which made for a very familial atmosphere. Assistant Resident Director Michael Suey summed it up well, “During the Thanksgiving break, the halls can become an empty and isolating place for students who didn’t leave to visit friends or family. Events like this allow us to reflect on the principles of thankfulness, and also further strengthen the bonds of community at students’ home away from home.” Residence Hall staff weren’t only looking out for students in the Units this Thanksgiving, though. University Village collaborated with the UC Police Department to revive a former UCPD tradition of delivering turkeys to resident families in need. Cal Dining coordinated donations of the turkeys, stuffing, and produce from local vendors. Police officers and UVA staff paired up to deliver the meals, as well as numerous Trader Joe’s gift cards made possible by the $1,670 donations raised by the UCPD Police Officer’s Association. Half of the money collected was also donated to the Bear Pantry as well. It was truly a team effort as these campus partners went above and beyond to serve students and their families. In keeping with the spirit of community bonding, Conference Services volunteered for the Alameda County Food Bank after Thanksgiving. Lyudmila Martello said, “Every year I look forward to volunteering with my colleagues. Not only does this bring our team closer, it allows us to get involved in our community. It is overwhelming to learn how many people are in need of food, making volunteering a very humbling experience. I appreciate the opportunity to give back to those less fortunate, and ensure that all families, regardless of income, have a nutritious choice for every meal.” The team sorted food packages donated by local grocery stores into boxes of canned goods, dry goods, and expired food, and in the process also found some fun and strange items: crowns, spatulas, and toys. The food bank distributes two million pounds of food every month, mostly fresh fruit and vegetables. Jeffrey Church shared, “Working with the food bank was humbling, to say the least. Walking around Berkeley, you see homelessness and hunger. Volunteering opened my eyes to the fact that hunger exists not only here, but across the county of Alameda. I am inspired by the amount of work, dedication, and passion of all the volunteers, and look forward to returning next month!”
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UC Police Department and RSSP bring holiday cheer to residence halls
The program serves one in five Alameda County residents, provides same-day food deliveries to residents calling the Emergency Food Helpline. After sorting food and stacking boxes, the team learned where the food they had just packed would be delivered and what else volunteers could do to support the food bank. Marianna Zbarskaya appreciated that, “Volunteers’ time in the food bank goes a long way in supporting the warehouse staff for pre-distribution tasks. However, it is the financial contributions that are the driving force in the organization. The resources available to the food bank allow the organization to utilize each $1 donation to purchase $6 worth of nutritious food from their network of suppliers.” Altogether, it was a fun and satisfying afternoon of team bonding in support of the community. This kindness and desire to serve others well is at the core of Residential and Student Service Programs. They way staff and students come together and support each Conference Services staff members, Jeffrey other and the community exemplifies what Church and Kelly Smith volunteer at the makes this department a unique part of the Alameda County Food Bank Berkeley campus.
Conference Services staff at the Alameda County Food Bank
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Resident Faculty Program Fosters Student Growth One of the unique opportunities offered to students living in the University’s residence halls is the chance to connect with faculty members outside the classroom. Since the launch of UC Berkeley’s Resident Faculty program in 2005, a number of tenure-track faculty have lived in the residence halls, providing encouragement to students on a daily basis. Resident Faculty support students’ intellectual growth and personal and academic achievement through inclusive, community-driven activities such as field trips and informal seminars. Faculty eat in the dining commons, participate in student-run events, and attend residence hall programs. “Our job and privilege is to introduce students to the intellectual life of the Berkeley campus. We want them—each and all—to feel comfortable with us as faculty members and individuals who can provide guidance in their academic development and in their personal lives,” says Professor Genaro Padilla, Resident Faculty member at Clark Kerr Campus. Resident Faculty also offer students insight into their research interests. Along with Professor Padilla (focused on Mexican-American and Chicano/a literature), current Resident Faculty include Professor Jason Corburn (Maximino Martinez Commons, focused on issues of urban health); Professor Malo André Hutson (Clark Kerr Campus, focused on the intersection of urban planning and health disparities); Professor Mahasin Mujahid (Unit 1, focused on social determinants of health); Professor Na’ilah Suad Nasir (Unit 1, focused on issues of race, culture and schooling); and Professor Kate O’Neill (Unit 2, focused on global environmental politics and governance). Resident Faculty events and activities are open to all students living in university-owned housing. “Last semester, we organized some events around study abroad, approaching faculty in office hours, a movie night, and a trip to the East Bay Vivarium. This semester, I’m looking forward to working on panels on applying to graduate school and choosing a major, as well as maybe tagging along on a trip to Monterey Bay Aquarium,” says Professor O’Neill. It’s comforting to be reminded that professors are people too, with their own hobbies, challenges, personal and academic goals, and life stories to share. Each professor writes a welcome letter to students. In hers, Professor Mujahid sets a friendly and approachable tone by saying that she looks forward to “sharing lessons learned and insights gained about the importance of maintaining a healthy balance of professional and personal life as I work towards tenure at UC Berkeley. In brief, I encourage each of you to invest in your physical and mental health, spirituality, and inner peace as you strive towards academic excellence.” Professor Corburn’s letter expresses that he has “a range of interests outside academics that I am eager to share with you, including basketball, hiking, Latin jazz, salsa dancing, independent films and exploring new restaurants.”
There are events with Resident Faculty all year, but an ideal chance for students to meet and talk to these professors happens every March at the “Major Madness” dinners. Students were able to attend casual dinners with Resident Faculty and campus colleagues, including academic and career advisers, to discuss things like choosing a major and academic and cocurricular opportunities. For students nervous about meeting professors or wondering how to get to know them better, the answer can be as simple as knocking on a neighbor’s door. As Professor Nasir encourages, “Feel free to say hello to myself and my family in the hallways, or come and sit with us at the dining commons. We really enjoy being a part of the residence hall community, and look forward to meeting you!”
Professor Na’ilah Suad Nasir welcomes students to the residence halls
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Food Pantry Feeds Fellow Students
Strategic Planning Initiative, Plan Big Team Roster (Oh, How You Want To Be In This Number) 5
Every holiday season, Berkeley students donate unused portions of their meal plan points to Cal Dining. In the spirit of togetherness, the department takes the revenue from donated meal plan points to fill grocery bags for the UC Berkeley Food Pantry program. This December, students donated a total value of $3,940 worth of food to the program. The Food Pantry’s goal is to provide nutrition to students while they attempt to secure other food resources on campus. The donated meal plan points provided 197 grocery bags of emergency food for fellow students, which were 100 bags more than previously expected. The Food Pantry’s Jocelyn Hsu says, “We look forward to our continued partnership with Cal Dining, and we hope that it inspires other departments to partner with UC Berkeley Food Pantry.” Hsu continues, “We see healing malnourishment at UC Berkeley as a community effort, so we are very happy that we can work with Cal Dining and our students to achieve our goals.” “Cal Dining believes that breaking bread with students, faculty, and staff is a unique aspect of campus life,” says Cal Dining Executive Director, Shawn LaPean. According to a 2013 survey of all UC campuses, many of the 23% of students who skip meals, skip because they have to choose between food, housing, or books. A student-run organization, the Food Pantry survives because of donations, volunteers, and supporters from the UC Berkeley community. Hsu explains, “We would love to expand our current non-perishable model to provide fresh produce for more nutritional and nourishing emergency support.” Hsu has high hopes for the Food Pantry’s future success, encouraged by the generous support of other students and departments, like Cal Dining.
RSSP’s “Culture of Care” is more than just a snappy catchphrase. It is essential to the organizational culture we display for our students every day, and we want to ensure that we are bringing this value to our staff as well. We are part of the Strategic Planning Initiative “Plan Big” to increase efforts in creating a supportive and cohesive workplace culture. RSSP staff members engaged in the project include Chana Bailey, Mark Kinnard, Don MacGregor, Jeffrey Church, Monica Reynoso,
Denise DiBetta, Candi Lee, and Krysta Rudnick. Your input on developing a supportive and cohesive workplace culture is important so we want your suggestions! Reach out to any of our partipants, Erin Wixson, or Lance Page.
Off-Campus Fire Victims Receive Urgent Response, Support Three UC Berkeley graduate students were displaced from their off-campus home, on the 1800 block of Bonita Ave, when a twoalarm fire gutted the large Victorian house. According to officials, fire crews needed about 55 minutes to knock down the blaze, which was first reported around 5:06 a.m. on Monday, November 17, 2014. The Red Cross promptly showed up to the scene to help the residents, who were suddenly in need of housing. RSSP demonstrated its “culture of care” when employees sprang into action to provide additional resources to assist the students, who also lost most of their food and many of their belongings to the blaze. Cal Dining granted immediate access to free meals at Crossroads. Cal Housing offered temporary housing, but all three students were able to make other arrangements. RSSP staff were pleased with the timeliness of their response to the students’ needs.
RSSP Listening Tour Plus Spring Kick-Off Continued from Page 1
While we haven’t found the perfect approach to engage as many staff as there are who want to give input and work on projects, we’re trying our best. A number of employees are members of the team. See page 5 to learn who they are. Feel free to share your ideas and concerns with them. Back in August, I shared that our priorities for the year were focused on these topics: • • • • •
Student success and satisfaction Financial stability and new net revenue Communications and messaging RSSP organizational health and development Common good initiatives within RSSP and Student Affairs
We have made progress with each of these and continued to keep financial stability at the forefront of our work. This spring, I want to highlight some themes that are paramount for us. First, let’s maintain the spirit of creativity and success by continuing to celebrate what we do well, from big projects down through the daily tasks that are necessary for supporting students. Thank you for your dedication to your projects, and taking pride in serving students as best as we can. Second, organizational health and development should guide our work. The management team is working to help make sure staff have everything necessary to do well at work and as individuals. For instance, did you know that you can take a variety of classes at Berkeley Extension, or that you can gain access to resources for learning about taking care of your whole family? Dr. Sutton will continue to coordinate with key staff to help RSSP engage in organizational health and development as an important piece of our team’s work. Third, service excellence is one of the most significant aspects of our work. I want us to remember that our service to one another is as important as our service to students and other customers. Our commitment to high levels of service excellence is what provides many of us with satisfaction in our work, and should stay at the forefront of our interactions and discussions.
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Associate Vice Chancellor LeNorman Strong with the staff of Foothill Dining Hall
I know that we have heard about the assessment of RSSP’s operations, and the analysis being done by Deloitte consultants regarding our work and processes. As we prepare for the next stages of development at RSSP, I want to thank all of you for creating a world-class operation and for everything you’ve put into serving students. I know that I am leaving you in the capable hands of Dr. Sutton. In closing, thank you for keeping up this forward momentum that I hope you relish as much as I do. You always put students first, and you make this organization great. My time in RSSP has meant a lot to me. It was a privilege to lead this organization, and grow personally and professionally alongside all of you. It has been a pleasure to work with you to make UC Berkeley a better place for students. Keep smiling, and Go Bears! — LeNorman Strong, Associate Vice Chancellor, RSSP
Above, Andrea Aramburú with Glenn DeGuzman, and right, Judy Juarez with Matt Griffith
Chili 'n' Cornbread Camaraderie For the second year in a row, RSSP staff members were invited to enter their recipes in a “Chili and Cornbread Cook-off.” What started as a team-building effort for the Residential & Housing Services department has become a showcase for culinary talent throughout RSSP and within the entire building (RSSB). The competition organizers, JeNell Padilla and Stacy Holguin, remember the origins of the event, “Stacy and I did it five years ago, and when we decided to bring it back, Steve [Assistant Vice Chancellor Sutton] suggested that we open it up to all RSSB staff,” says Padilla. Assessment and Operations Director, Glenn DeGuzman, saw the cook-off as an opportunity to share his sense of humor as well as his cooking prowess. He entered the competition under the name “Glenn Boyardee,” and his chili entry was called “Suburban Funk.” He says, “I live in the suburbs, and Filipinos got funk.” Glenn adds that his complete vision would have involved playing “Uptown Funk” by Bruno Mars while he served his chili. The contestants were judged on five categories of chili competency: color, taste, aroma, aftertaste, and consistency. Student Affairs IT Chief Information Officer, Paul Robles, won First Place. His exemplary dish was simply called, “Gluten Free and Damn Good Chili.” The Second Place winner was Senior Custodian
Eric Cokes. His entry, “Contestants’ Savory Chili,” was widely reported to have quite a bit of heat in its flavor profile. Project Analyst, Andrea Aramburu, won third-place honors for her “Texas Frito Pie.” She says, “Apparently, crazy spicy is what the judges were looking for.” She goes on to express her intentions to enter the contest next year. All the winners were awarded kitchenware storage containers, and First Place also received a Safeway gift card. Five cornbread competitors joined in the fun. They were judged on three categories: taste, texture, and appearance. Excitement mounted, as there was a tie for First Place. Compliance Education Manager Maria Lucero Padilla, with her “New Mexico Honey Green Chili Cornbread,” and Assistant Director of Residential Programs, James Carroll, who entered his “Cheddar Jalapeno Cornbread with Lime Honey Butter.” Carroll says, “To share the moment next to Maria is a true win!” Judges, contestants, and chili lovers alike enjoyed the opportunity to connect and engage with fellow RSSP staff members outside of their regular day-to-day work environments. The cook-off organizers say there is talk of a cookie baking competition in the works for next year. Below, Sunit Mody with Jessica Snider, and left, Paul Robles holds his award for First Prize
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STAFF SPOTLIGHT
RSSP Employee Reflects on Anita Hill Discussion
Fare Thee Well, Bob Flaharty On Wednesday, February 25, Brandeis Professor Anita Hill spoke to a Berkeley audience as part of the National Conference on Campus Sexual Assault and Violence, hosted by UC Berkeley. RSSP offered complimentary tickets to interested employees, and Don MacGregor, of RSSP Central Grounds, attended the event. Here is his review. I’ve been interested in the experience of Anita Hill since October 1991. That month, Hill testified before the US Senate committee tasked with the Supreme Court confirmation of then federal circuit judge Clarence Thomas. That same month, I was taking a class on public speaking, and for our assignment of a three-minute talk, I chose Hill’s testimony. I talked about how as a young woman of color, Hill was in the national media as a historic picture of “speaking truth to power” (as she later titled the book about her experience). I talked about how Hill testified to a tribunal of graying white men, senators of the Judiciary committee, about specific behaviors of the nominee, behaviors that created a workplace filled with sexual harassment. I talked about how she presented civil rights and sexual harassment issues as legal issues, to a disbelieving (or clueless) body of lawmakers. Over two decades later, sitting in Wheeler Hall Auditorium, I got the chance to listen to Anita Hill, the legend, as she spoke about her experience. Joining her on the panel was one of her legal advisors at the time, current UC President Janet Napolitano. Chancellor Dirks moderated the evening’s conversation. Even twenty years later, I was moved by Professor Hill’s scholarly and personal knowledge of sexual harassment in the workplace, and the complexities of Title IX compliance and the law. Hill spoke of how “the Academy” perceives and pursues Title IX compliance; she spoke of her personal experience of harassment; and of her experience as a witness to a hostile US Senate committee. She wondered if then Senator Strom Thurmond would have questioned a Southern white woman the way he questioned her. She decried those who today dismiss the necessity of Title IX compliance as having a “lynch mob” mentality. She praised the legal apparatus of Title IX, which enables a search for truth. Associate Vice Chancellor LeNorman Strong’s offer of complimentary tickets to twelve RSSP staff was an excellent opportunity for me. Thanks to Strong’s dedication to including RSSP staff in the academic life of the University, I got to hear and see up close a civil rights legend and arguably the top legal scholar of issues of sexual harassment in the workplace. During the discussion, Napolitano pointed out that following Clarence Thomas’s confirmation, the Civil Rights Bill of 1991 was passed. This law entitled monetary awards to victims of sexual harassment. The next year, the 1992 elections brought us the Year of the Woman, during which many women were elected to congress, including California’s Senators Feinstein and Boxer. So although Anita Hill’s experience was bruising, important progress was made. I would like to recommend Hill’s book, Speaking Truth To Power, and the film, Anita, for anyone who wants to learn more about this remarkable woman. 8
According to Bob Flaharty, in his fraternity days, you might have mistaken him for a character in the movie Animal House. “I’ll let you guess what character,” he says. With plans to retire in June, Flaharty has served as the Executive Director of Enterprise Operations for RSSP for the last five years. He joined RSSP in February 2010 as Interim Chief Financial Officer. Flaharty graduated from UC Berkeley with the Class of 1970. He remembers protesting the war, tear gas in Sproul Hall, and the National Guard in People’s Park. “I was in Army ROTC, headed for Vietnam after graduation, but I could still wear my black armband and protest with the best,” he recalls. He is going to miss the familial culture at RSSP, and the enthusiastic student staff most of all. “I’ve been fortunate to connect with one or two [students] every semester. It is a joy to watch them grow, and listen to their stories and goals,” says Flaharty. He looks forward to travelling, some volunteer work, and spending time on his horse ranch.
GRAPEV NE Grapevine is published for employees of the Division of Student Affairs at the University of California, Berkeley. Please send all correspondence to: Adam Ratliff, at adam.ratliff@berkeley.edu Writing, editing, and design contributors: Marissa Toffoli, Darryl Collins, Don MacGregor, Jill Schlessinger Damty, and Ryan Cano “Off-Campus Fire” photograph courtesy of L.A. Wood (Inside Bay Area) You can also find Grapevine on the “O” drive. Just go to the “All RSSP” folder and look for the Grapevine folder.