LEARNING THROUGH SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP
By Stefano Rubini, Hixson-Lied Success Scholar
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The importance of participating in service work for students is immeasurable and can be the difference between being wait-listed for an interview and being selected for a job, scholarship, internship, or graduate program. There are numerous ways students can contribute to social justice and advocate for important societal issues that can greatly impact communities and help steer them in the right direction. Although UNLV provides many opportunities for students to get involved, one program in particular gives students, faculty, and staff a chance to travel, learn, and serve meaningfully during weekends and academic breaks. This program, known as Alternative Breaks, offers numerous opportunities for students to experience and engage with a variety of topics in real life, such as sustainable food systems, immigration concerns at the US-Mexico border, mass incarceration, and other various issues regarding social justice. Through the numerous trips offered by Alternative Breaks, students are given the opportunity to leave campus and experience the world from a different perspective that is both eye-opening and educational.
As breaks approach, there are multiple pieces of information to keep in mind if participating in Alternative Breaks sounds like something you would like to do. From March 15th to March 21st, there will be multiple trips hosted in a variety of locations across the nation. Each one of the locations will focus on a single topic throughout the duration of the trip, which can be two to six days long. The cost of these road trips can range from $100 - $125, which is an affordable option for students. Destinations include, but are not limited to, Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, and Chicago. There will be even more trips to participate in the near future if the dates previously listed do not align well with your current schedule. For example, from May 17th to May 23rd, two trips will be hosted in Catalina Island and Los Angeles. The focus of conservation, restoration and recreation will encapsulate the Catalina Island destination, meanwhile the focus of mass incarceration and reintegration will be the center of attention for the Los Angeles destination. There are a variety of topics a student can decide to focus on by participating in future destinations that they find meaningful.
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The primary focus of these trips are to teach students the five core values that surround the purpose of Alternative Breaks: “Simplicity, Solidarity, Justice, Community, and Continuation.” As students, it can be easy to forget what it means to be a member of our community and forget what truly matters in this world. Alternative Breaks can help students to see the world from a different perspective and to experience the world outside of the university life, which is often taken for granted. The focus of these trips is on learning and service for a community and are described as “80% service and learning and 20% recreation.” Students will be given the opportunity to enjoy themselves while on these trips; however, the true purpose for these trips is to educate students on issues that affect modern day society. These trips are structured around group learning, meaning students will participate with their group and develop personal relationships with fellow students and faculty.
In addition, participating in any trip provided by Alternative Breaks requires commitment from the student. Once a student applies and pays for a trip, they must commit to attending three pre-trip meetings, engage fully in the trip of their choice, interact with their peers in an insightful manner, keep an open mind to new topics, and attend post-trip reunion events. During pre-trip meetings, students will be given all of the necessary information they need regarding their trip, and they will have the opportunity to meet their site leaders and fellow students who will be joining. Upon conclusion of each trip, students will be expected to attend a post-trip reunion, where they will be given the opportunity to discuss what they have learned and the impact the trip has made on them, while sharing a meal, taking photos in a fun photo booth, and getting a t-shirt!
Overall, Alternative Breaks are a fantastic opportunity for students who desire to learn about the world outside of their community and advocate for issues they are passionate about. If financial concerns are holding you back from participating, there is no need to worry; travel subsidies are available for students to apply, via the trip application, which can reduce the cost of the trip. Combined with the low cost of attendance and the knowledge and experience gained, these trips are invaluable experiences that can give participants a new perspective on the world. The only thing stopping you now from creating meaningful experiences is yourself. For more information regarding Alternative Breaks, please visit the UNLV Alternative Break Trips website, email them at
altbreaks@unlv.edu
, or come by their office located on the third floor in the Student Union in room 316.
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ALLISON FOX - BRIDGE PROGRAMS SPECIALIST
By April Sambrano-Leyva, Hixson-Lied Success Scholar
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Allison Fox, former Academic Success Coach at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, has recently shifted roles within the ASC and is now the Bridge Programs Specialist – a position she is very excited about. Allison, who is originally from Wyoming, is also a graduate student here at UNLV pursuing her Master's Degree in Higher Education. After a brief conversation about Allison’s background, I had the opportunity to hear more about her new role as the Bridge Programs Specialist and learn about the great work she will be engaging in.
She explained how she first got to UNLV, and how she became a general Academic Success Coach. She then explained what exactly a Bridge Specialist does. She stated that there are two bridge programs: Math Bridge and First-Gen Connect. Math Bridge is a summer program designed for students who have not tested into their required math course and need help getting there, while First-Gen Connect is a conference that takes place in August that is meant for students who are first-generation and helps them get adjusted to life in college before college starts.
As a first-generation student herself, Allison is glad there is something to help students like herself. Navigating college can be especially overwhelming for first-generation students, so this program provides support to help alleviate some of that stress and overwhelm that may result from this transition.
The role Allison plays in these programs is an important one, as she is the one responsible for the way these programs are set up, the goals they create, and how they are marketed. For example, some things she does includes setting up meeting rooms, hiring, and setting goals for her teams. Opposed to her previous position where she met one-on-one with students daily, Allison now serves as a coordinator for this program and now interacts with students in a different capacity. On occasion, she will meet with people who interact directly with students, people such as math tutors and team leaders. Allison states that after these programs are up-and-running, she will have the opportunity to meet with students, which is something she is eager to continue doing.
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Though not having daily one-on-ones is a big change, she looks forward to the implementation of new ideas and making Bridge Programs even better and more accessible. “I’m really excited to see good outcomes on those [program revisions], by seeing exactly how what we’re doing is positively impacting our students on the backend,” Allison stated when asked what she was most excited about. With summer being around the corner, Allison has already started working on the programs to make sure everything is perfect for the start of summer.
A part of the planning process in preparation for the summer is to start looking for enthusiastic and knowledgeable students to join the Math Bridge staff team. She mentioned that she is excited for this because she will get to establish good relationships with these people, which can be beneficial for not just each other but for students they will be serving as well. Allison plans on starting the hiring process in March, but most of the work won’t start until June and July. Though most people view summer time as a time when things tend to slow down, Allison says this is when Bridge Programs will speed up.
Finally, when asked about what initiatives she hopes to set forward with her new role, Allison stated “(My) goal for our new initiatives is to expand the reach of our First-Gen Connect program and our Math Bridge program to reach as many eligible students as possible.” She hopes to make students more aware of the Bridge Programs that are offered, because as we know, knowledge is key. She wants to make sure that their marketing efforts reflect this value because as she mentioned, it is something that students at UNLV need.
Another thing she would like to do is make these programs very “intentional”. She states that she would like “students to know exactly what these programs can provide them.” She also really wants to emphasize the growth mindset for students participating in Math Bridge. She wants students to know about math anxiety, and how to work past it.
“That is one of my big initiatives to really put forward, to create that growth mindset for our students, and have them understand the importance of failure in education and then teach them how to bounce back from that and really use those failures as learning experiences.” This is surely a perspective that all students can benefit from.
Allison is very excited about her new role and is looking forward to providing a supportive environment for new students at UNLV.
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BEYOND FOOD: A PLACE TO CONNECT
By Cruz Luna, Hixson-Lied Success Scholar
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The UNLV Community Garden is located just behind the Gaughan Boys & Girls Club of Southern Nevada. Upon first arrival, you are met with a small recycling plant, Rebel Recycling Plant. It is not necessarily pleasant to the eye, but behind a fenced off area, there remains the beauty of Mother Nature. There are forty-one rectangular shaped beds that are twenty-four inches from the ground. These raised beds hold the soil, plants, and potential growth of plants, flowers, fruits, etc. At the UNLV Community Garden, you would think the goal is to grow different plants, but in actuality it is much greater than that. Tara Pike, the Sustainability Coordinator of the Community Garden, said the goal of the garden is “To grow the campus community and to bring people together for a shared passion of growing food and flowers.” For this reason, sole individuals are not allowed to apply for their own garden bed. Instead, groups like RSO’s, faculty/staff departments of four or more, or a class can get their own bed. However, if an individual has a passion to grow and engage with nature while simultaneously becoming a member of a community, they can join the Rebel Roots Garden Club.
When one walks into the garden area, it is not unusual to be surprised by the amount of plant life. In Nevada, it is a common misconception that there cannot be any significant plant growth or life because the state experiences excruciating temperatures during the summer and freezing temperatures during the winter. Ms. Pike corrected this misconception, “Here in Nevada, we have twelve months of growing. In fact, the hotter it gets in the summer, the sweeter your watermelon. In the warm months – spring to summer – you are able to grow cucumber, herbs, zucchini, squash, cantaloupe, watermelon, corn, eggplant, potatoes, a popular one is sun flowers, and so much more. In the cooler months, it is an even more exhaustive list! For example, artichokes and leafy greens do quite well.” Ms. Pike recommends to plant food because it is more shareable and that promotes the goal of creating a community on campus. You would be surprised about how rewarding it is to share the splendid results from the teamwork that was put into the plants and see your hard work come to fruition.
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One exciting new thing to look out for as the community garden expands is a new composting program that provides the gardeners access to backyard composting bins so they can make their own soil. Participating and contributing to The Community Garden is truly a hands-on learning experience from beginning to end. Plus, if you are unsure whether you are equipped with gardening skills, the UNLV Campus garden club will soon offer educational seminars. Additionally, the Rebel Roots Club also provides plenty of opportunities to grow and gain valuable knowledge.
I encourage you to join the fantastic community of the UNLV Community Garden by
applying online
with a group or joining the Rebel Roots Garden Club as an individual.
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MARJORIE BARRICK MUSEUM OF ARTS: BETWEEN A ROCK AND A CLIFF
By Virginia Ramos Munoz, Hixson-Lied Success Scholar
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Did you know that UNLV campus has an art museum? The Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art is a free admission and public programming contemporary art museum located next to the Lied Library. The Museum is driven by the diversity and the inclusion of various kinds of art. They try to promote art through different methods, such as exhibitions, lectures, workshops, and community events. In 1967, the Museum was founded as a Natural History museum open only to the higher education community; however, in 2012 they changed missions and became a contemporary art museum.
By promoting free exhibitions and events, they want the Museum to continue to be a place where art can be part of anyone’s life. Some of the exhibitions are displayed for months, meanwhile, others are displayed for a few weeks. They are open Monday- Friday from 9 am-5 pm, Saturday from 12 pm-5 pm, and closed on Sundays and all state/federal holidays.
On February 5, 2020, I had the pleasure of visiting the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art. I was astonished to see the different art exhibitions displayed. One of the exhibitions that was on display is called
Mikayla Whitmore: Between a Rock and a Cliff
. Mikayla Whitmore, who graduated from UNLV in 2010 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, is a queer artist and currently lives and works in Las Vegas.
She is known for photographs that explore the mental and physical landscapes of Southern Nevada. Mikayla is passionately driven by the desert, ritual magic, and tropes of science fiction.
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In her current exhibition,
Between a Rock and a Cliff,
the artist treats photography “As a process of archaeological discovery, unearthing questions about life, death, and her own queer identity.”
The exhibit is located at The Work Shop and Extinguisher Gallery at The Museum. This place is a flexible space for meaningful artistic play and research. One of my favorite pieces from her exhibition is
Laughing When Sad
.
Mikayla took this picture in 2018 when a small rush of natural ice hit Las Vegas. She took some food dye when the ice was still fresh and tried to decorate it, but the lines wouldn’t stay sharp. According to Mikayla, “Nothing felt as genuine as that face…
Laughing When Sad
comes from a place I think some can relate to – the feeling of having to put up a front or face to the outer world, even when we feel a completely different emotional state internally. When I saw this piece, I could identify myself in it.”
Going to the Barrick museum was a unique experience, and I honestly encourage you to stop by soon. Sadly, Mikayla Whitmore’s exhibit ended on February 8, 2019. However, new exhibitions are constantly coming to the art museum. Some of them include
The Other Side of Paradise
, which will be on display from February 14-March 14
; Centro
exhibit, which will be displayed from March 27-July 25, 2020; and
Excerpts
exhibit from March 27, 2020-February 2021.
For more information about upcoming exhibits or about the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art in general, please visit
their website
.
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STOP THE BLEED AND SAVE A LIFE
By Brianna Hermann, Hixson-Lied Success Scholar
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Bystanders can play a key role during an emergency and serve as first responders to assist people in need. The moments waiting for an emergency response unit to arrive can be the difference between survival and death; therefore, having the skills to assist during these situations is critical and potentially lifesaving. Vanessa Hogan, UNLV’s Fire and Life Safety Inspector, offers students an amazing opportunity to be more immersed and aware of their surroundings, as well as possess the skill-set to potentially save a life. The program is called “Stop the Bleed” and is offered to all students, faculty, and staff on campus. The program started 11 months ago here on UNLV’s campus and had officially trained over 120 Stop the Bleed students by the end of February 2020.
The goal of this free training is to teach people a survival skill and increase the survival rate in the event of a mass casualty incident. Not only is this skill-set useful to know for others as a bystander, but for yourself, family members, and even friends. A study published after the Sandy Hook incident showed in its autopsy results that most of the casualties resulted in the individual bleeding out (StopTheBleed.org). The human body contains 5 liters of blood and it only takes about 2 to 5 minutes for someone to bleed out completely. From knowing how to apply a tourniquet to instructing other bystanders on how they can help, this knowledge can be used on and off-campus, as well as aid in helping first responders.
If you, your friends, or even your department is interested in signing up, please contact Vanessa directly at
vanessa.hogan@unlv.edu
, or by phone at 702-895-0463. You can also look for announcements about upcoming training through your Rebelmail, typically there are about two a month and are held on Fridays, mid-morning to mid-afternoon, or by scheduled approval through the coordinator. The training has two components, a PowerPoint presentation with all the information you need to know about how to apply these skills, followed by a stimulation kit that allows you to get hands-on experience with things like wound packing, tourniquet application, and different uses for an Israeli bandage.
During an interview with Vanessa, she also stressed that even if you are not a fan of blood, this training can still be useful to you too, even if that means you instruct others how to apply the skill, or even know how to call or guide first responders to the incident location. With this training, bystanders can learn to take charge of a situation and potentially save a life.
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Interested in becoming a 2020-2021 Hixson-Lied Success Scholar? Application is now open! Please visit this
website
for more information!
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Ms. Christina M. Hixson graduated from high school in Clarinda, Iowa and moved to Omaha, Nebraska to attend business school. She later went to work for Mr. Ernst F. Lied , a car dealership owner in Omaha and in 1960 she joined Mr. Lied in Las Vegas, Nevada as his assistant. After Mr. Lied’s death in 1980, Ms. Hixson became the sole trustee of the Lied Foundation Trust and turned the Lied Foundation Trust into one of the largest foundations in the state of Nevada at that time. Ms. Hixson has a special understanding of young people who, like her, came from a challenging family background and are willing to work hard.
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Mr. Ernst F. Lied was born in Columbus, Ohio and attended the University of Kansas for two years, where he played on the golf team. He ultimately graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1927. Mr. Lied became a Buick dealer in Omaha, Nebraska and later his dealership was ranked third in the country for the number of cars sold. Mr. Lied established his charitable foundation in 1972, and upon his death in 1980 at age 74 nearly his entire estate funded the Lied Foundation Trust. Lied Foundation Trust has enhanced the capabilities of many schools and enriched the quality of many lives!
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*All photos used are original, can be found on unlv.edu, UNLV social media or have references indicated
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