Dear Faculty and Staff Colleagues,
As we prepare for another busy semester, many students have already returned to campus—including RAs, Spring Start leaders, international students, athletes, and others in various leadership positions.
On Friday, we’ll welcome another group as 46 Spring Start students move in and begin their Orientation Week. I look forward to seeing the fresh ideas and perspectives they’ll bring to our community.
A special thanks to CHL, Oxford Athletics, and the men’s basketball team for hosting Staff Appreciation Night at their game on Monday. I heard it was a great time!
There are several opportunities to celebrate the life and legacy of MLK over the next week:
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Newton County will host its MLK Celebration on Sunday, January 14, at 3:00 p.m. at Newton High School in Covington. I will be in attendance, and I look forward to seeing some of you there.
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Volunteer Oxford is hosting its MLK Day of Service on Monday, January 15. Learn about volunteer options—including packing care boxes and removing invasive species—in the section below. You can donate items for gift packages here. Please encourage your students to register at this link.
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Oxford’s own MLK Celebration will be Wednesday, January 17 at 7:30 p.m. in Old Church. You can read more about this year’s program below, and I encourage you all to attend this inspirational service.
Warmly,
Badia
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Submitting to Campus Update |
To submit items for Campus Update, please email Julia Kim. The newsletter is distributed weekly on Wednesday. Please submit items by Monday afternoon.
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A Message Regarding Campus Update Submissions |
For any Campus Update submissions, please include your most recent headshot, detailed information about what you will be submitting, and a link if possible. Julia Kim will reach out to you with any questions through email.
A reminder to all faculty and staff that Campus Update submissions are due no later than Monday at 5:00 p.m. for the Wednesday edition. Items that are received after that time will be included in the following week's newsletter.
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Alix Olson, Assistant Professor of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, just published a new book with Alex Zamalin titled The Ends of Resistance Making and Unmaking Democracy. You can order the book here, and use the code AUTH for a 20% discount.
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Chris Blake, Assistant Professor of Economics, recently had a piece in The Conversation titled "College applications rose in states that legalized recreational marijuana." Read it here.
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Jonathan Bennett is the new head coach of the Oxford men's and women's tennis programs. Bennett is originally from New Zealand and has been playing tennis for nearly his entire life. While in New Zealand, he played juniors successfully at the national level. Bennett has experience in coaching high school students in the U.S. and New Zealand to division I and division II colleges. He also holds several tennis certifications, including from the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) and the International Tennis Performance Association (ITPA). He earned his Bachelor of Commerce in Management and Human Resources at the University of Auckland and received his masters in management from the same university. Bennett lives in Oxford with his wife, Dr. Tasha Dobbin-Bennett, associate professor of art history and studio art, and their two sons. Wecome, Jonathan!
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The Journey to Healing for One Emory Discussion |
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Join the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Initiative on Tuesday, January 16 from 12:00–2:00 p.m. and Thursday, January 18 from 4:00–6:00 p.m., to launch a 4-part series during the spring 2024 semester titled, "The Journey to Healing for One Emory." The entire Emory community is invited to engage in safe, brave, and responsible spaces to discuss, reflect, experience, and imagine a process of healing. You can register for the event here.
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Book Club Discussion: The Sun Does Shine
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On January 16 at 7:00 p.m., Oxford Teaching Professor of English Stacy Bell will host a Zoom conversation about Anthony Ray Hinton's debut memoir, The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row. Hinton was Emory's 2023 commencement speaker. The book tells his story of being sentenced to death row due to mistaken identity and his subsequent time in prison. Hinton's hope lived on despite the darkness around him. You can learn more and sign up for the conversation here.
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MLK Day of Service Donations |
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Volunteer Oxford (VO) is requesting your support with our MLK Day of Service on Monday, January 15 from 10:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. in the Greer Forum of Student Center. VO is packing weekend meal kits for local children experiencing food insecurity and menstruation supply kits for local middle school students experiencing period poverty. You can support both of these projects by donating the following items to the OSC front desk or from the Amazon Wish List.
- Individual snacks (chips, apple sauce, raisins, peanut butter crackers)
- Individual microwavable meals (Chef Boyardee, ramen, mac & cheese)
- Individual breakfast items (grits, oatmeal, cereal)
- Pads
- Panty liners
- Tampons (light, regular)
- Flushable wipes
Another group will work with the Oxford Farm and City of Oxford to remove invasive species from Dried Indian Creek Trail. Students can register to volunteer here.
Thank you for your support!
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Celebration of the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. |
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Oxford's annual MLK Celebration will be held on Wednesday, January 17 at 7:00 p.m. at Old Church (1011 Wesley St. in Oxford). This year's program is a celebration of music, which will feature a Newton County community choir, Oxappella, our chamber ensemble, and the new group Oxford Soul Collective. There will be greetings and remarks interspersed throughout the evening, including a reading by Tameka Cage Conley, assistant professor of English and creative writing. Sponsored by Oxford Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life. Free and open to all.
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Men's Basketball: Georgia Highlands Reserve Squad
William's Gym | 7:00 p.m.
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Men's Basketball: Virginia Peninsula CC
William's Gym | 1:00 p.m.
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Men's Basketball: Southern Crest Technical College
William's Gym | 7:00 p.m.
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Oxford Campus Celebration of the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Old Church | 7:30 p.m.
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To submit a news item for the next Campus Update, please email Julia Kim.
The newsletter is distributed weekly on Wednesday. Please submit items by Monday afternoon.
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