Update: message from chaplaincy; events; calls for contributions

by Ynda Jas · 19 January 2015

Message from the chaplaincy

Annie Rowley

The Chaplaincy has provided the following message of support for the LGBT Staff Network and LGBT staff at York St John University.

This is just to remind you that the Chaplain and Chaplaincy volunteers at York St John University are unreservedly pro LGBT. We are here to support anyone, staff and students alike, whether they follow a religion or not. You may need an unconditional listening ear or you may want to explore how your own spirituality fits in with your sexual identity. Even if you have been rejected by an established church and have therefore rejected all kinds of organised religion, feel free to come and have a chat over a cup of tea or arrange to meet somewhere else on campus.

Warm wishes to all

Annie (Chaplain)

Jenni (LGBT Chaplaincy Volunteer)

Talking about Teaching 2015

This year’s Talking about Teaching conference will be held on Friday 23 January at York St John University, with the theme of inclusivity. There will be two keynotes – “Developing an Inclusive Curriculum” and “Making the university inclusive for students and staff: a BSL teachers’ perspective” – two sets of parallel workshops, and a set of parallel teaching and learning conversations. For more information, including the full programme, see the Talking about Teaching 2015 event page.

Final call for contributions to Faculty of Arts York LGBT History Month 2015 events

Dr Liesl King, Head of Programme for English Literature and MA Contemporary Literature, has invited members of the LGBT Staff Network to contribute to two events they are holding as part of York LGBT History Month 2015. Take a look at the message below (following on from her original message), and, if interested, email Liesl (l.king@yorksj.ac.uk) by Thursday 15 January.

Dear All

We’ve got some great Idols and Icons for the first event on February 19^th, including Mae West, Jeanette Winterson, Angela Carter and Anthony Sher, but we could use some more! Can you think of a favourite LGBT author or character, musician, choreographer, dancer, designer, scientist, composer, artist or performer (for example), that you could talk about for five minutes on the night? Additionally, we’ve got three panellists for the Radclyffe Hall event on [February] 25^th and could use one more; could you help facilitate discussion on the night? If you get back to me by the extended deadline of [this] Wednesday (21^st January) you can still take part in either (or both!) of these public facing events.

I look forward to hearing from you!!!!

Liesl

Call for contributions to working abroad event

Plans for the first joint event with the University of York on international issues are taking shape. This will be held at the University of York in March. Their Equality and Diversity Office have asked for volunteers to come forward to share their experiences of working abroad as LGBT people (for instance, working in a country where LGBT identities are not widely accepted). If interested, contact the University of York Equality and Diversity Office.

Next meeting of Campus North

The next meeting of Campus North, the network of LGBT staff networks in northern higher education institutions, is to take place on Tuesday 14 April, roughly 12:00-16:00 at the University of Leeds. For an idea of what gets discussed at these meetings, take a look at the materials from the meeting we hosted and the report from the previous meeting at the University of Bradford. If interested, contact Andy.