A Monthly Newsletter Publication of NKU Student Affairs
Freshfusion 2022 did not disappoint! The Center for Student Engagement welcomed the class of 2026. This annual event helped students engage and get connected to all that NKU has to offer! New students explored over 150 booths made up of student organizations, campus departments, and our local Northern Kentucky Community. Students enjoyed free food, including Whit's custard! Attractions included zip lines, an obstacle course, games, and much more!
Freshfusion was one highlight of the annual Victorfest events that start each academic year at NKU. Victorfest wrapped up on September 8. NKU students had an opportunity to participate in a variety of activities during the first 3 weeks of school. See page 6 for pictures from the events.
Patrick Hirsch is a Computer Science and Cybersecurity dual major from Florence, KY. Aside from being Executive Director of the Activities Programming Board and Assistant General Manager of Norse Code Radio, he's active in NKCyber and Norse Film Society. In his free time, Patrick enjoys watching, reading, and over-analyzing MCU content.
Briana Anderson is currently majoring in Radiologic Science along with a minor in Health Science. She was born in Owensboro, KY, but was raised in Louisville, KY. In her free time, she likes to shop online, watch Netflix, and hang out with friends and family. She has been a part of the Activities Programming Board since 2018. This school year, she is the Director of Events on the Executive Board.
Morgan Miller is a senior with a double major in organizational leadership and communication studies. She grew up in Waynesville, OH, where she played volleyball and was an active member in the 4-H program. In her free time, Morgan likes to cook, bake, and catch up on the new seasons of The Bachelor and Survivor. On campus, Morgan is the Director of Membership for the APB, a Desk Manager for University Housing, and a member of the Baptist Campus Ministry.
Mary Helena Merklin is a Marketing major in the Haile College of Business. She grew up in Independence, KY, with her 2 older brothers. Mary enjoyed competitively Irish Dancing for 10 years with the McGing Irish Dancers. She serves as the Director of Public Relations for APB and, in her career, she specializes in Social Media Management.
APB Outdoor Movie
(Mamma Mia!)
Thursday, Sept. 15
8:00p - 11:00p
APB Fall Carnival
Tuesday, Oct. 4
4:00p - 7:00p
Speed Friending
Thursday, Oct. 6
4:00p - 5:30p
President's Academy
Friday, Oct. 7
12:00p - 3:00p
RSO Advisor Training
(Virtual)
Wednesday, Oct. 12
9:00a - 10:30a
RSO Advisor Training
(Virtual)
Thursday, Oct. 13
9:00a - 10:30a
RSO Advisor Training
(In-person)
Friday, Oct. 14
2:00p - 3:30p
The NKU Hispanic Heritage Month Kick Off is the first event which launches the series of events that affirm, celebrate, and educate the NKU Community about the histories and contributions of Latinx peoples in the U.S. This year, the NKU’s Hispanic Heritage Month Kick-off will be held on Thursday, September 15, 2022 from 5pm – 8pm in the Otto Budig Theater/Ballroom (UC 375). This family-friendly event will showcase the rich diversity in the Latinx community, through dance, music and much more! Light refreshments will be served. Special guests include: Salsannati and Asi Es Colombia dance group. Get ready to celebrate and learn more about the rest of the events for Hispanic Heritage Month. Co-hosted by NKU’s Division of Student Affairs - Center for Student Inclusiveness’ Latino Student Initiatives and the Department of World Languages and Literatures.
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Hispanic Heritage Month is recognized nationally from September 15th through October 15th. In the US, the term “Hispanic” was originally used to identify descendants of Spanish-speaking origin from Spain and the term “Latino” (and more recently “Latinx” and “Latine”) have been used to refer to a person’s culture or origin—irrespective of race (which has included descendants from origin in Latin America including Brazil, and indigenous or Afro-Latino roots in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean Islands).
The origin of Hispanic Heritage Month, like many of the achievements of Latinx peoples, is rooted in activism and the desire to celebrate the contributions of the Latinx community to the American society. It was first introduced in June of 1968 by Californian Congressperson George E. Brown. The push to recognize the contributions of the Latinx community had gained momentum throughout the 1960s when the civil rights movement was at its peak and there was a growing awareness of the United States' multicultural identities.
By September 17, 1968, Congress passed Public Law 90-48, officially authorizing and requesting the president to issue annual proclamations declaring September 15 and 16 to mark the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Week and called upon the “people of the United States, especially the educational community, to observe such week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.” In 1987, US Representative Esteban E. Torres of California proposed to expand the celebratory week to a 31-day period so the nation could “properly observe and coordinate events and activities to celebrate Hispanic culture and achievement.” And on September 14, 1989, President George H.W. Bush became the first president to declare the 31-day period from September 15 to October 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Month.
To learn more about Hispanic Heritage Month, see the Library of Congress page.
Flaming Hot Discussion w/ Latino Student Initiatives (Fireside Chat)
Wednesday, Sept. 14
12:00p - 12:50p
Student Union 102
Sponsored by the Center for Student Inclusiveness, LGBTQA+ Student Initiatives, and Latino Student Initiatives
Celebrating the African Diaspora in Latin America Through Music
Wednesday, Sept. 28
6:00p - 8:00p
University Center, Otto M. Budig Theater
Hispanic Heritage Month
Kick-Off
Thursday, Sept. 15
5:00p - 8:00p
University Center, Otto M. Budig Theater & Ballroom
Sponsored by the Center for Student Inclusiveness, LGBTQA+ Student Initiatives, and Latino Student Initiatives
Taste of Hispanic Cuisine
Wednesday, Oct. 5
3:00p - 5:00p
Student Union Ballroom
Sponsored by the Student Union, Chartwells, and World Languages and Literatures
Huelga: Noche de Poesía y Percusión
Friday, Oct. 7
6:00p - 8:00p
Student Union Ballroom
Sponsored by the Center for Student Inclusiveness and the Honors College
A competitive sports club for those who enjoy the game of soccer. WCS competes in the NIRSA Region 2 Conference. It is run by students who organize and facilitate practices, team social activities, games, and tournaments. They play the University of Tennessee in Knoxville next weekend (9/17) to kick off the season.
The third annual RecFest had a variety of activities for students to choose from and had over 700 student participants! Thank you to everyone who came out to RecFest 2022! We hope you had as much fun as we did!
Indoor Volleyball season is almost here! Join us for a preseason tournament on October 12! Regular season starts on October 19, and the registration deadline is October 5!
Soccer fans, are you ready? Our Indoor Soccer Leagues are on the way! The pre-season tournament is on October 18! Regular season starts on October 24, and the registration deadline is October 11!
Health, Counseling, and Student Wellness has Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 bivalent vaccines available for boosters. Flu vaccines are also available starting on September 12, 2022. Appointments are required. Please call (859) 572-5650 to get scheduled.
What You Need to Know
Monkeypox has been identified in Kentucky. This disease is commonly spread through skin-to-skin contact. The disease is especially impacting gay, bisexual, trans, and other men who have sex with men.
Know the Symptoms
5-21 days after exposure: Painful, pus-filled bumps or sores that appear in the mouth and other parts of your body, fever, headache, muscle ache, and swollen lymph nodes.
Stay Safe
Talk openly with partners before close contact. Check to see if you and your partner are free from sores, rashes, and other symptoms.
If You Have Symptoms
If you have symptoms, take a break from seeing others, wear a mask, cover sores/rashes, and call a healthcare provider about testing and treatment options.
Learn more on the CDC website
Individuals interested in getting a monkeypox vaccine should call (859) 363-2040. Because vaccine supply remains limited, appointments are scheduled based on a screening for risk factors. Appointment availability and criteria will expand as vaccine supplies increase, which is expected over the coming weeks and months.
Trauma Sensitive Yoga
Learn to recognize and tolerate physical sensations and regain a feeling of safety inside your body. Learn to calm your mind and regulate physical responses and emotions.
Mondays, 5:30p - 6:30p
(Sept 12, 19, 26 and Oct 3, 10)
Campus Recreation Center
Who doesn't enjoy a 4-foot volleyball and fighting against breast cancer?
The 9th annual Big Pink Volleyball Tournament is October 11, starting at 3:00p in the Campus Recreation Center. Faculty, staff, and students are all encouraged to get a team of 406 players and help NKU support the Ft. Thomas St. Elizabeth Breast Cancer Center. Teams are $25 and $10 per t-shirt, if desired. There are four divisions this year:
Student Organizations
Fraternity & Sorority Life
University Housing students
Faculty/Staff
The deadline to register on Presence is Sept. 28.
We are thrilled to announce that, on September 1, Dr. Eddie Howard took over as the chair of the Northern Kentucky Chamber's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee. We are excited by this additional connection between NKU and the Northern Kentucky community.
The four NKU Greek Life councils have been very busy creating a sense of belonging for the campus. The councils and chapters hosted eight Victorfest events over the past three weeks. These events attracted over 1,200 students!
Service on Saturday is NKU's annual day of service. The event is on Saturday, September 24. Students, faculty, staff, and alumni are welcome to participate. The event is from 10:00a to 1:00p and will begin in the Student Union Ballroom. The registration deadline is September 19. Please register on Presence.
The Summer 2022 NKU Upward Bound Summer Program was a huge success with 19 students from five target high schools living on campus and taking classes ranging from science to Spanish. These students also had the opportunity to participate in several cultural and educational trips, such as college tours and a visit to the Queen City Underground.
The ARP HEERF III grant for mental health initiatives has been extended for a second and final year. With this grant, we have waived counseling fees for students for the 2022-23 academic year; hired two additional contract counselors in Counseling Services; hired a contract advocate in Norse Violence Prevention; funded the first year of Talkspace, a new EAP benefit through HR that provides chat and televideo counseling for faculty and staff; and we are able to provide another year of Norse Support, a one-credit hour course equipping students to provide peer-to-peer mental health support.
We are excited to announce a new partnership that will expand the Help-A-Norse initiative when students present with needs beyond the University's ability to assist. Cultivated by Dr. Neisha Wiley and supported by Drs. Gannon Tagher, Ryan Padgett, Bob Alston, and UCAP Director Peg Adams, this partnership with Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission will provide supportive and developmental services that can help students on their pathway toward an NKU credential.
40 R.O.C.K.S. scholars participated in the African American Student Initiatives' signature NKU R.O.C.K.S. program, and engaged in sessions covering: Leadership and Organization, Where I Am From, Spiritual Reflections, Cross Cultural Communication, and more.
The Latinos Avanzando Mentorship Program (LAMP) welcomed 25 first-time-in-college students and their families with a traditional en familia dinner to kick off their orientation program, which introduced the students to their on-campus support team and included sessions on topics like student success, leadership, Latinx identity, JDEI (Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), and campus resources.
University Housing and over 400 volunteers welcomed 1,192 students to campus on Thursday, August 18, 2022. Highlights of the day included 15-minute unloading times, a catered lunch for anyone who was part of move-in, and a welcoming and engaging experience that helped set the tone for NKU residential students.
The Residence Hall Association (RHA) hosted more than 300 students on the lawn Friday, August 19, for the new Dr. Strange movie and then held their signature "Paint Wars" on Sunday, August 21, with students throwing colored chalk dust and paint at one another in a giant frenzy celebrating the start of the academic year.
The LGBTQA+ Student Initiatives office launched QPLUS, which stands for Queer Persistence, Leadership, Unity, and Service. This mentoring program is intended to assist queer students in developing self-authorship, leadership, and communication skills and fostering intercultural understanding, and community-building opportunities.
The Center for Student Engagement, in partnership with APB, offered a number of programs at the start of the academic year, in conjunction with Victorfest. Some of these events included fire pits, s'mores, a Move-In Day Glow Party, Karaoke Night, and a Paint Night. Each of these events were highly successful and brought students together to celebrate the start of the year, make new friends, and engage with new organizations.
End of Newsletter
This newsletter was created by David Berland on behalf of NKU Student Affairs. Please direct questions, comments, or updates to berlandd1@nku.edu.
Northern Kentucky University
832 Lucas Administrative Center
Highland Heights, KY 41099
Phone: (859) 572-6447
Fax: (859) 572-1310
