It’s a “Digest!” - RyersonSA Digest Issue 1
Welcome to the new #RyersonSA Digest - coming straight to your inbox on a monthly basis. This format should be a more accessible resource than the previous ryersonstudentaffairs.com. You can find an archive of all the old posts from ryersonstudentaffairs.com at ryerson.ca/studentaffairs/storytelling/stories (archive in development).
These ‘digests’ will contain student stories, staff spotlights, program highlights, noteworthy changes, and anything we think you might be interested in regarding the world of Ryerson Student Affairs. If you have information or events you would like to see in future editions, please share with Sarena Johnson in SA Storytelling at sarena.johnson@torontomu.ca.
Staff Spotlight: Adrian Layne on the Influence of Uncle Phil in Black Masculinity
by Sarena Johnson
In, West Philadelphia, born and raised… The intro to “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” is iconic. Like many other Xennials*, I can still recite the lyrics, decades later. The images of the basketball court, throne, bright graffiti and funky taxi cab are still etched in my visual memory. Fresh Prince was a hit show for many reasons. I related to the show’s hip-hop culture and I appreciated seeing a racialized family on the screen. Like millions of tweens and teens in the 90’s, I also had a major crush on Will and have since been inspired by Will Smith’s highly public evolution from bubble-gum rapper to serious actor and role model.
Uncle Phil, played by the late James Avery, was stern and enforced discipline. His size added to the powerful and image he portrayed. He was extremely successful in his career, living in a Bel Air mansion with all the lavish trappings that ensues. He was “classy” (although I find that term problematic for various reasons), refined and well mannered, yet he embodied the rags to riches American Dream of a self-made man from a poor southern upbringing.
The show sees Will, coming from an impoverished single mother household in a West Philadelphia “ghetto” to the Bel Air mansion and wardship of Uncle Phil and his (ever-changing) wife Vivian. Will is goofy and mischievous, appearing self-assured but really seeking external validation through his wild antics. The six seasons of the show demonstrate an enormous character development arc with Will starting as troubled and goofy youth with no direction to a university student and onto being a responsible and successful young black man.
I recently had a chance to sit down with Adrian Layne, now Career Education Coordinator of the Ryerson Career & Co-op Centre, about the 90’s sitcom. Adrian said the show was a huge influence on his life - even determining his intention to become a lawyer as early as grade one. From that young, Adrian wanted to be like ‘Uncle Phil’. He saw Uncle Phil as the “ultimate image of a black male professional.” He was a good provider to his family, able to create stability and guidance yet also emotionally available. Although highly professional and an exemplary citizen, Phil was also a bit of a “badass”, as we see in pool hall scene in the season 1, episode “Banks Shot (external link) .”
Adrian says that he related to Will’s character on several levels, and made it a goal to become more like Uncle Phil. Hence, in grade one he decided he wanted to be a lawyer and even did a Socio-legal degree in university. In realizing law wasn’t for him, Adrian worked in youth programming in multiple communities and capacities, including developing a dance mentorship program. So in a way, Adrian was still pursuing that black male archetype in that at a young age he was already a role model providing healthy activities for black and other marginalized youth.
Yet he continues to seek professional advancement and is getting closer to his goals in 2019 with his recent promotion acting Career Education Specialist, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science, a significant increase in responsibility from his former Campus Engagement Coordinator role. He has also moved from Pickering to downtown Toronto. Adrian says he is “trying not to settle for 'The Fresh Prince', and reaching for Uncle Phil in his work and personal life.” We can look forward to hearing more about this concept and journey from Adrian, in his own words, as he will be sharing a creative piece on the Will-Phil connection to black male identity for sa-exchange.ca (external link) later this year.
* “Xennials are classified by remembering a time before the internet and smartphones, living an analog childhood with rotary telephones, and a digital adulthood. (*start dial-up clip*) The internet wasn’t available until we were in our teens, and even then that didn’t mean you had it and if you did you endured the grating sound of a dial-up connection and yelled to everyone else in the house not to pick up the phone and disconnect you.”
— Melissa Warden Black, Confessions Of An Orientation Coordinator: A Journey From New Student To OTR Professional (external link)
- Julia Hanigsberg Make Your Mark Staff Awards
Marcelle Mullings, Office of the Vice-Provost, Students - Larissa Allen Employee Experience Staff Award
Natalie Roach, Student Affairs and Human Resources - Alan Shepard Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Employee Award
Housing and Residence Life:
All-Gender Housing Development Team
Valerie Bruce, Jenny Owens and Brandon Smith - Julia Hanigsberg Make Your Mark Staff Award - Innovation
Orientation Leadership Team
Kait Taylor-Asquini, Andrew Bisnauth, Tesni Ellis and Cathy Nguyen
Congratulations to all our SA award winners on recognition of their hard work and achievements! Look forward to a future digest dedicated entirely to staff recognition with details of what the awards were about and information about other recent #RyersonSA stars!
by Sarena Johnson
“As we head into black history month there are so many black historical figures who have made a difference in the world. When we think of Elijah McCoy who created the lubricating cup that changed the way we traveled on trains, Garrett Morgan who created the gas mask and modified the traffic light and Charles Richard Drew who created the world’s first blood bank - these are black individuals who changed the way people think. These innovators help to inspire me to help lead a fantastic co-op team to changing the way co-op is done in Canada.” — Thoywell Hemmings
This new monthly digest will feature a spotlight on one new employee each month so we can all get to know the newest additions to Ryerson Student Affairs. To start us off, we are pleased to welcome Thoywell Hemmings to the Ryerson Student Affairs Team! Thoywell joined the Ryerson Career & Co-op Centre team as Senior Manager this past November, while the Co-op team is in the process of an official merge with the Career Centre. Stay tuned to future updates with details about this fantastic Ryerson collaboration.
Thoywell brings a wealth of experience in co-operative education and a keen insight for innovation in this field. He’s looking at ways higher education in general and co-op in particular can remain relevant in an increasingly technological society. In a recent conversation with Thoywell, he cited the hotel and taxi industries as examples of those that have suffered by the increased popularity of tech-hacks. For Thoywell, thinking outside the box isn’t just a creative novelty, it’s a necessity.
In discussing what co-op “is”, I shared my limited experience with co-op in high school, in which I very much disliked my placement. I was surprised with Thoywell’s response that this is actually a very good experience for students. He shared that it’s better to learn that your dream industry isn’t really what you want before spending years of work and large amounts of money to prepare. Regardless of whether you continue in the field, co-op brings you the hands on experience in a profession, that comes with a reference letter and transferable skills.
Thoywell is an innovator and responsive to the rapidly changing needs of industries where on the job experience in increasingly valued. Hence, Thoywell and his team are exploring alternative co-op methodologies. There could be ways to leverage technology to, say, connect international students with overseas employers and even those within other parts of Canada. He’s looking at ways to offer equity seeking groups the job experience they need. And expanding the existing model of co-op to include various formats such as work integrated learning, short term programs and job shadowing for students without access to OSAP to offset the co-op fee.
The merger into the RCCC will increase efficiency and brings resources like resume and interview workshops to the co-op program. In the year ahead Thoywell aims to look at streamlining efficiency to create more time for students and employer relationships.
Co-op currently has partnerships with the faculties of engineering, science and community services. They’re looking at increasing faculty partnerships as well, and would like to see co-op programming in every faculty where possible. Together with the Career Centre’s Campus Engagement team, Co-op is always seeking to grow industry employer relations. Please join in welcoming this dynamic team to #RyersonSA and add them to your social media!
@RyersonCareer (external link)
https://www.facebook.com/RyersonCareer (external link)
https://www.instagram.com/RyersonCareer/ (external link)
https://www.instagram.com/ru_coop/ (external link)
https://www.facebook.com/RUcoop/ (external link)
Student Life TMU: Side Hustlers Video Series
by Jillian Maniquis
Student Life TMU content creator Jillian Maniquis is highlighting Ryerson students who have a side-project/passion-project which falls far from their program of choice. How does Chaad Pierre mix his life as a science student with his passion for sewing? This side hustle gives him every excuse to be creative.
If you know of any students who could be a good fit for this video series contact rustudentlife@gmail.com!
#RoadtoRyerson 2018
Orientation 2018 saw great excitement with the opening of Ryerson’s newest Residence, HOEM, and our first annual SLC Live! The O-Team facilitated one of the largest campus events to date, bringing together the six faculties, multiple departments, and a number of student organizations to host 3,730 students for an evening in the Student Learning Centre. Construction on Gould Street and in the Quad didn’t slow us down - we used the opportunity to turn Lake Devo into our own beautiful green oasis by artificially turfing it and hosting our concerts and daytime events on the stage setup.
Renewed partnerships, amazing volunteers, and a fresh approach culminated in one of the best orientation experiences for the incoming class to date.
Some interesting data points include:
72% of students who responded to the 2018 Orientation Survey said they learned about resources available for academic concerns
63% met someone they’re still friends with
74% saw evidence that Ryerson is committed to inclusivity and accessibility
63% said attending Orientation helped with understanding social expectations at Ryerson
Travel and distance still remains one of the top reasons why students do not participate in orientation programming. According to our Orientation 2018 assessment, it’s worth noting that 50% of students commute over one (1) hour to get to Ryerson. To help with the navigation to campus, Ryerson to the Core programming took a major step forward this year in supporting the student commute to campus, utilizing better signage and additional volunteer stations at major campus intersections and nearby subway stations.
As we look to Orientation 2019 (it’s only a few short months away), we’re actively seeking new ways to further support our commuting students while continuing to enhance feelings of community and belonging for Ryerson’s incoming class.
Want to relive the experience? Watch our recap video
“It's been quite, it's been very nice you know. I'm not used to being in a gathering like this so when I see how opening and welcoming the university is, I was nervous at first but now I feel more at peace and I feel like I can actually see myself enjoying my time here.”
'OBC' Updates
This section will provide a space for the One Big Committee (OBC) to share updates and info on a rotating basis. This month the Wellness Sub-Committee would like to share the following:
#SAwellness
Introducing the new wellness sub-committee hashtag! We hope to see you using it at one of several upcoming events. Looking forward to seeing you soon! In person and online with #RyersonSA and #SAwellness! You can also contact us at sa.wellness@torontomu.ca
Article Club
The next best thing to reading a great article is sharing it with a friend. Read something interesting lately? Share it with us (external link) . The Wellness Working Group will do a roundup of links to everyone's favourite articles in the SA Digest! They can be about any topic — just something online that captured your attention and you think others would enjoy reading. You can also bookmark the link to keep sharing as the months roll on: http://bit.ly/ArticleClub (external link)
SA Book Exchange
Date: Thurs Feb 28th
Time: Noon-1:30pm
Location: Faculty-Staff Lounge
Looking for a new book to read? Have a book you want to share with colleagues? Join the Wellness Working Group for the SA Book Exchange on Thursday, February 28, 12pm-1:30pm in the Faculty-Staff Lounge. Bring a beloved book to share (we'll keep track so you get it back), or simply drop by to say hi and find your next read. We'll have complimentary coffee and tea, just bring your favourite mug!
Wellness Winter Pop-Up
Date: Thurs March 7th
Time: Noon to 2pm
Location: POD 71
We're back at it again with a Winter Pop-up! We had so much fun DIY-ing succulent planters last term, we decided to bring it back! To make sure everyone gets a plant, this term we're going to do a $5 buy-in & registration for the succulents. Here is the registration link for ALL participants (external link) . For you non-green thumbs, there will also be music, snacks, puppy videos and other free activities! Please note: if you have a financial concern but wish to participate, we invite you to confidentially contact us at sa.wellness@torontomu.ca.
Nyle Johnston on “Little People Sweat Lodge”
In case you missed the installation of the Indigenous art in POD 60, here is a video (external link) of the artist, Nyle Johnston (external link) , talking about the meaning of his painting, “Little People Sweat Lodge.”
sa-exchange.ca just celebrated its first anniversary! If you didn’t check out the daily posts of our anniversary campaign, here’s one of the articles: “Bold and Courageous Leadership at the Precipice of Disruption in Post-Secondary Education (external link) ,” by Carrie Chassels, Vice-Provost, Student Affairs, University of Guelph & SA-exchange Editorial Board member.
Harkening to SA-exchange’s roots as a Ryerson-only blog, I think we can all continually appreciate the amazing series put together by Dr. Sarah Thompson with the help of Luke Gobert, that will be permanently housed on sa-exchange.ca under the ‘Focus on Emotions’ section. Here’s a throwback from that series: “SA Has the Feels 201 (Part 1): A Primer on Managing Your Emotions and Feelings. (external link) ” It’s never too late to add your comments to the discussion (external link) .
As a final thought to the digest, we will nominate one #RyersonSA pro to share a random pondering each month. This can be a personal reflection or you could respond through a conversation with colleagues, a mention on social media or even have your response posted in the next issue. Answers/comments/criticisms can be posted with the hashtag #RyersonSA or emailed to sarena.johnson@torontomu.ca for printing in next issue, or, just because. The designated ponderer will then nominate a colleague to submit the next issue’s pondering.
Sarena’s ponder:
What if an SA genie popped out of your coffee and gave you one SA wish for this year - what would it be? Ponder on it for a minute…
Then ponder on -
What if the genie was you?
For next month’s ponder I nominate John Hannah!
To contribute to the RyersonSA Digest in any way, contact Sarena Johnson at sarena.johnson@torontomu.ca (external link) . You can find an archive of all the old posts from ryersonstudentaffairs.com (external link) at ryerson.ca/studentaffairs/storytelling/stories(archive in development).