Student Luncheon

March 23, 2016

Class:
Total Attendance: 18
Undergraduates: 10
Audit Students: 2
All students in attendance were LGBTQ students or allies at the University of Memphis.

Comments and Concerns of Students

Student Life
Student expressed concern about transgendered students and which restroom they are permitted
to use on campus. Student asked if there were any specific policies towards which restroom a
transgendered student would need to pick in order to fall in line with the universities policy.
o Response: Dr. Rosie Phillips Bingham, Vice President for Student Affairs, explained that
the university does not discriminate towards which bathroom any student decides to use.
o Student Response: Student voiced that the main issue was that transgendered students felt
anxious about which bathroom to use due to their fear of a social outbreak occurring as a
result of which bathroom they went into.
o Additional Response: Dr. Bingham encouraged the student to work with Student
Governing Association in order to address the concern.
Student wanted to know what the university does to eliminate discrimination against LGBTQ
students with housing on campus and if there were any future plans or policies in place for these
students.
o Response: Dr. Bingham explained that it was illegal to discriminate against any student
because of his or her sex or gender and that if any student was discriminated against, it
would be handled the same way any discrimination on campus would be addressed with
the Office of Student Conduct.
o Additional Response: Dr. Stephanie Blaisdell, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs,
added that the new Recreational Center on campus would have gender neutral bathrooms
and locker rooms.
o Additional Response: Dr. Bingham noted that the university is now working to identify
gender neutral bathrooms in all buildings.
Student inquired about the relationship that the new Office of Inclusion would have with
Stonewall Tigers.
o Response: Dr. Bingham explained that a graduate assistant will be hired to work with
programming for this new office and that the office will be housed in Multicultural Affairs
where Stonewall Tigers is already one of the groups with whom the office works.
Additionally, she encouraged the students to be actively involved in helping shape the new
office.
Student inquired about the Universitys social media policy.
o Response: Provost, Dr. Karen Weddle-West, explained that the Universitys social media
policy would be updated and posted soon, but that in situations where social media does
not represent the University, the marketing department is notified and determines the next
steps.
Student explained that they were curious about the Safe Zone training and were concerned that the
last updated training was in 2013.
 o Student Response: Student explained that the Stonewall Tigers are working together to get
more students Safe Zone certified. Student explained that the communication in order to
get the training has been difficult and awkward.
o Additional Response: Dr. Blaisdell, expressed concern over the lack of communication
and explained that the Counseling Center is in a transition period, but that she would
follow up on it to make sure that more was being done.
o Note: follow up shows that Dr. Umieca Hankton is in charge and running sessions.
Student inquired about who was able to become Safe Zone trained. Student wanted to know if it
was just for faculty, or if anyone was able to go through the training.
o Response: Dr. Bingham explained that anyone can participate in the training.
Student expressed concern for the LGBTQ students who were also in the Greek system. Student
wanted to know if it was possible to somehow implement a session for the fraternities and
sororities to attend so that they could get further training on how to work with students who were
LGBTQ.
o Response: Dr. Bingham explained that we will open this request to the Greek Coordinator
and implement training.
o Additional Response: Student encouraged this student to stand up for what he believed in
and to call people out if they were not being respectful.
Student expressed concern about the Gay-Straight-Alliance. Student explained that it angered him
that students did not realize that this support group was also for students who were straight.
Dr. Weddle West inquired if students were upset when others forget that it was not just LGBTQ,
but LGBTQA+.
o Response: Student explained that it didnt bother him and that the simpler, the better.
Student expressed concern about the Tiger Zone listing for Stonewall Tigers. Student explained
that it was not under LGBTQ and questioned how students would know about it as a resource, if it
was hard to find on the site.
o Response: Dr. Blaisdell explained that this is important information to know and that she
would be happy to work with the student to help identify search words that the website
might be able to adopt and utilize.
Student inquired about transgendered students and wanted to know if there was anything to
protect these students from harassment.
o Response: Dr. Bingham assured the student that any form of discrimination is treated the
same for every student at the university and goes through the Office of Student Conduct
and the office of Institutional Equity.
Student expressed concern about the Wi-Fi in the Residence Halls. Student explained that it is
down often and that it can be hard to complete homework. Student said she lived in Rawls Hall,
but other students from Centennial Place noted that the west end of Centennial Place was also
spotty for Wi-Fi.
Shout out to the Tiger Success Institute for being extremely helpful in helping students transition and gain
confidence in their first years of college. Student specifically liked the booklet that they receive at the
beginning of the program and noted that they refer to it often.

Academic Affairs

Student explained that even though she works full time, she still wants to continue learning, as she
has been an audit student for some time now. The student expressed concern about one of the
classes she wanted to audit. She explained that the professor of the course required the audit
students to do all of the assignments (including papers, homework, and tests), she inquired if there
was a specific policy at the University stating that students had to do this course work.
 o Response: Dr. Weddle-West explained that the instructor is allowed to make the
requirements for their specific class, but there is no specific policy.
Student expressed concern about a professor telling him that he was using his race to get ahead in
life. Student explained that his grade was tanked and that he thought it was because of this
dispute. Student explained that he confronted the professor and ended up getting the grade he
wanted, but that it still upset him.
o Response: Dr. Weddle-West encouraged the student that he could still report it and that if
he had any additional concerns to come to her and she would take care of it directly.
Student inquired about academic advisors and if any performance review occurred.
o Response: Dr. Weddle-West explained that the Deans, Chairs, and Directors will be
reviewing advising and be utilizing a review process in the future. She also asked the
student if they were familiar with DegreeWorks, the web based tool to help students and
advisors track student progress toward their degree.
o Student Response: Some students noted that they were familiar with it, but others were
unfamiliar with the resource.

Positive Notes and Kudos Given to Faculty and Staff

Shout out to Dr. Brandy Wilson, professor in the English Department, for being an incredible teacher to
her students.
Shout out to Ms. Kendra Murphy, instructor coordinator and undergraduate advisor in the Department of
Sociology, for always coming to meetings, communicating with the students even if she cannot make it,
for being a wonderful lady and a real blessing.

Student Affairs Staff in Attendance:

Dr. Rosie Phillips Bingham
Dr. Stephanie Blaisdell
Dr. Karen Weddle-West
Ms. Linda Hall
Ms. Kyle Capstick
Ms. Connie Beck

Notes sent to:

Presidents Council
Student Affairs AVP Group
Jane Clement
Susan Te Paske
Linda Hall
Justin Lawhead
Jennifer Williams
Aretha Milligan