Today at CC Digest for Students

A Daily Digest for Colorado College

Today at CC Digest

A Daily Digest for Colorado College

In Solidarity with Our Native and Indigenous Community
“Antiracism is the commitment to fight racism wherever you find it, including within yourself.”

– Ijeoma Oluo

Dear Students,

Every November, Colorado College honors Native American and Indigenous Peoples Heritage Month with lectures, lunches, community gatherings, and a long-standing tradition of erecting a tipi on Tava Quad. The tipi is a gift from our Indigenous community and provides an opportunity to share in the understanding and traditions that were once illegal for many to uphold in the United States.
The Native American Student Union tipi signifies the resilience and presence of Indigenous people and students. The word tipi means “to live at” in Lakota/Dakota, but a tipi is also a sacred place, symbolizing the interconnectedness of all things. 
Sadly, last year a devastating windstorm destroyed the tipi and we were unsure if we would be able to replace it. Through much hard work, a replacement was acquired just in time for us to honor this tradition this year.
As this gift is being shared with our community, it is essential that we remember our Community Standards and Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harrassment Policies apply for behavior that happens on campus, off campus, and online. Use of violent and racist rhetoric against any community is not aligned with our values.
Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequence. We will always be a place for learning and supporting those who seek to grow in their understanding of others, but hate has no home here.
We would like to extend gratitude to all those who took the time to stand in solidarity at the gathering with NASU, as well as those who helped to set it up and continue to support it through monitoring and providing security. For those who wish to take a stand now, we ask that you make time today to consider your ability to impact this campus community. It can be as simple as interrupting the status quo. When someone makes disrespectful or harmful remarks, simply asking for clarification, such as, “tell me more about…” can force someone to reflect on their words and their impact. Don’t let these heritage months go by as simply a box you check off, but find ways to meaningfully engage by learning about issues that impact marginalized communities and by supporting local businesses and community centers:
For our Native and Indigenous community: We see you. We hear you. We stand with you. In the words of John Trudell and shared by Elder-In-Residence Debbie Howell, “Today is a great day to be Indigenous!”
Sincerely,     

Rosalie M. Rodriguez

Senior Associate Dean of Students for Equity and Inclusion
Support Resources

Many support services are available to members of the CC community.

The Buter Center

Chaplain’s Office:
Chaplain Kate Holbrook, a confidential resource, chaplainsoffice@coloradocollege.edu or (719) 389-6638.
Elder-in-Residence Debbie Howell, dhowell@coloradocollege.edu or (719) 389-7941.

Counseling Center

Community Standards/Title IX/Anti-discrimination:
Derrell Stinson, community standards and care manager, dstinson@coloradocollege.edu or (719) 389-6810.

CC’s Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, a confidential resource, for all students, faculty, and staff: sarc@coloradocollege.edu or (719) 227-8101. For support after normal business hours, the advocate on call can be reached at (719) 602-0960.

Wellness Resource Center
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14 E. W. Cache La Poudre St.
Colorado Springs, CO | 80903 US
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In Solidarity with Our Native and Indigenous Community
I shared this message with students earlier today and I want to make sure you have the same information as you support our students and the whole campus community.

Rosalie M. Rodriguez

Senior Associate Dean of Students for Equity and Inclusion
“Antiracism is the commitment to fight racism wherever you find it, including within yourself.”

– Ijeoma Oluo

Dear Students,

Every November, Colorado College honors Native American and Indigenous Peoples Heritage Month with lectures, lunches, community gatherings, and a long-standing tradition of erecting a tipi on Tava Quad. The tipi is a gift from our Indigenous community and provides an opportunity to share in the understanding and traditions that were once illegal for many to uphold in the United States.
The Native American Student Union tipi signifies the resilience and presence of Indigenous people and students. The word tipi means “to live at” in Lakota/Dakota, but a tipi is also a sacred place, symbolizing the interconnectedness of all things. 
Sadly, last year a devastating windstorm destroyed the tipi and we were unsure if we would be able to replace it. Through much hard work, a replacement was acquired just in time for us to honor this tradition this year.
As this gift is being shared with our community, it is essential that we remember our Community Standards and Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harrassment Policies apply for behavior that happens on campus, off campus, and online. Use of violent and racist rhetoric against any community is not aligned with our values.
Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequence. We will always be a place for learning and supporting those who seek to grow in their understanding of others, but hate has no home here.
We would like to extend gratitude to all those who took the time to stand in solidarity at the gathering with NASU, as well as those who helped to set it up and continue to support it through monitoring and providing security. For those who wish to take a stand now, we ask that you make time today to consider your ability to impact this campus community. It can be as simple as interrupting the status quo. When someone makes disrespectful or harmful remarks, simply asking for clarification, such as, “tell me more about…” can force someone to reflect on their words and their impact. Don’t let these heritage months go by as simply a box you check off, but find ways to meaningfully engage by learning about issues that impact marginalized communities and by supporting local businesses and community centers:
For our Native and Indigenous community: We see you. We hear you. We stand with you. In the words of John Trudell and shared by Elder-In-Residence Debbie Howell, “Today is a great day to be Indigenous!”
Sincerely,     

Rosalie M. Rodriguez

Senior Associate Dean of Students for Equity and Inclusion
Support Resources

Many support services are available to members of the CC community.

The Buter Center

Chaplain’s Office:
Chaplain Kate Holbrook, a confidential resource, chaplainsoffice@coloradocollege.edu or (719) 389-6638.
Elder-in-Residence Debbie Howell, dhowell@coloradocollege.edu or (719) 389-7941.

Counseling Center

Community Standards/Title IX/Anti-discrimination:
Derrell Stinson, community standards and care manager, dstinson@coloradocollege.edu or (719) 389-6810.

CC’s Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, a confidential resource, for all students, faculty, and staff: sarc@coloradocollege.edu or (719) 227-8101. For support after normal business hours, the advocate on call can be reached at (719) 602-0960.

Wellness Resource Center
View this email online
14 E. W. Cache La Poudre St.
Colorado Springs, CO | 80903 US
This email was sent to commsemailarchive@coloradocollege.edu.
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A Generous Gift to Support Student Success and Well-Being

Inasmuch Foundation has committed $3 million to CC to honor Mike Edmonds.

Inasmuch Foundation has committed $3 million to CC to honor Mike Edmonds.

Dear CC Community, 


Today, I am pleased to share the news of a major philanthropic gift to CC, which will have an enduring impact on students while commemorating Senior Vice President Mike Edmonds, a beloved member of our CC family. 

We are incredibly grateful to Inasmuch Foundation, which has been one of the college’s most significant benefactors for decades. This generous gift will be transformative for our student body, and it serves as a meaningful way to honor Edmonds’ outstanding career. 
 
Sincerely, 

Mary Ann Graffeo

Vice President for Advancement

Inasmuch Foundation Commits $3 Million Toward Student Success and Well-being


Court at Reid Arena to be named in honor of Senior Vice President, longtime Dean of Students, and former Interim President Mike Edmonds

Colorado College today announced that Inasmuch Foundation has committed a $3 million gift to CC in honor of retiring Senior Vice President Mike Edmonds. Funds will support student success and well-being.

The gift commemorates Edmonds’ three decades of service to the college and the indelible impact he has made on students and the CC community. Edmonds announced earlier this year that he will retire in May 2023.

In connection with the gift, the basketball and volleyball court within Reid Arena will be named in Edmonds’ honor.

“This gift is in recognition of a leader who, more than anything else, was focused on the success of the student at CC,” said Robert J. Ross, Chairman and CEO of Inasmuch Foundation. “Never has there been a time when student success, health, and wellness have been so intrinsically linked. We hope this gift will help to put inspired students out into the world to solve some of society’s most pressing issues. Naming the basketball court in Mike’s honor is a special way to recognize his legacy and commitment to student-centered leadership.”

Throughout his tenure at CC, Edmonds changed the landscape of the college and illustrated the power of inclusive leadership. From July 2020 through June 2021, Edmonds served as interim co-president of the college with Robert G. Moore; he was the first Black leader to serve as president in the college’s history.

“Concern and care for the CC student has been my guiding principle since my arrival at CC,” Edmonds said. “This incredible gift from Inasmuch Foundation continues my commitment to and faith in the CC student long after my departure. Inasmuch Foundation has touched my soul and core with this gift.”

Edmonds, who currently serves as senior vice president, has been integral to advancing the college’s institutional initiatives including its commitment to antiracism, creating greater access for students, and the partnership with the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. He served and mentored countless students, including many student athletes, through his years leading Student Life, and has fostered and cultivated countless relationships with community partners in Colorado Springs and beyond.

“As a leader, teacher, collaborator, and most importantly mentor and friend to thousands of CC students, Mike’s impact has inspired generations. This gift supports our steadfast focus on student success, mental health, and well-being,” said CC President L. Song Richardson. “We are so grateful to Inasmuch Foundation for their foresight and commitment to what our CC students need.”

Edmonds has a strong presence in Oklahoma City, where Inasmuch Foundation is based, serving as Memorial Board Trustee of the Oklahoma City Memorial Museum.

Reid Arena is named after the late J. Juan Reid ’32, who served the college for nearly half a century in multiple roles including coach, dean of men, and director of alumni affairs. The naming of the court within Reid Arena in honor of Edmonds connects two remarkable legacies of service to the college and its students.

A court dedication will take place Friday evening, Feb. 17, at the double-header men’s and women’s basketball games vs. the University of St. Thomas. An athletics alumni reunion and additional festivities will be held throughout the weekend. Details will be shared soon.

Inasmuch Foundation is one of the college’s most significant benefactors, and the connections between Inasmuch Foundation and the college are significant and longstanding. Edith Kinney Gaylord, founder of Inasmuch Foundation, was a charter trustee of the college and was awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters degree in 1992. In addition, the foundation’s chairman and CEO, Robert J. Ross, currently serves as a Colorado College trustee. Jill Tiefenthaler P’21, P’24, former president of the college, serves on the Inasmuch Foundation Board of Directors, and Barbara Yalich ’53, former vice president of development and alumni affairs at Colorado College, provided decades of service as an Inasmuch Foundation Advisory Board member. Learn more about Inasmuch Foundation.

In recognition of Edmonds’ retirement, the college has also established the Mike Edmonds Legacy Fund made possible with the support of lead donors. The fund will provide resources for future generations of students of all backgrounds and expand access to all CC has to offer. Learn more about the Mike Edmonds Legacy Fund.
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Come to the President’s Holiday Party
Celebrate with fellow faculty and staff on Friday, Dec. 16, 3-5 p.m. in the Smith Family Gallery at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. This event is a chance to meet up with colleagues, experience the incredible galleries, and be grateful for our campus community as the Fall Semester nears an end.

See you Friday, Dec. 16!
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Today at CC Digest for Students

A Daily Digest for Colorado College

Today at CC Digest

A Daily Digest for Colorado College

Campus Mental Health and Wellness Update

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

As you know, we have elevated our support for mental health and wellness on campus. As you may or may not know, the four areas on which we are focused and will update the community on are: (1) working with external expertise to help guide the college; (2) new and existing resources for students, faculty, and staff; (3) addressing stressors unique to the Block Plan, and; (4) creating greater clarity and accessibility to resources in our communications and on our website.
I have two updates to share with you. 
First, we have begun the search for an associate vice president of wellness.
This is a new position for CC that will lead our efforts to build a healthy campus community free of harm, where students, faculty, and staff have access to resources that support their physical and mental well-being. The associate vice president of wellness is also responsible for developing and establishing external partnerships to enhance wellness support on campus.
Creating this position is in direct response to students, faculty, and staff who have asked for a more holistic and harmonized approach to wellness on campus and to serve our whole community.
Secondly, starting after Fall Break, Athletics will be launching a pilot mental health program with Children’s Hospital. The pilot is built on the evidence-based resiliency program Children’s has run successfully throughout Colorado Springs over the past three years. Outcomes have included a reduction in anxiety, depression, and negative emotions, as well as an improvement in resiliency, efficacy, and positive emotions.
This newest collaboration will be administered to CC’s varsity student-athletes and implemented and overseen by the CC Sport Performance Program, allowing medical leaders from Athletics and Children’s to determine proactive programming based on team needs. Follow-up care will then be implemented by CC. This is a program that we believe, once completed, will give us a proven resource we can implement across campus.
Sincerely,

Pedro de Araujo

Vice President and Dean of the College
Professor of Economics
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Don’t Miss Your Chance to Help Rename South Hall!

Don’t miss this chance to submit nominations for the renaming of South Hall.

Members of the Colorado College community are invited to submit name ideas for South Hall by the end of Fall Break.
South Hall was originally named after former Colorado College President William F. Slocum, who retired in 1917 in response to allegations of sexual misconduct.
After an investigation in Fall 2017, the CC Board of Trustees voted unanimously to rescind Slocum’s honorary degree and ordered the immediate removal of his name from the residence hall and commons building. The spaces were temporarily re-named “South Hall” and “South Commons.”
This is an opportunity rename South Hall and honor someone who is more representative of Colorado College today and its institutional values.
CC community members are encouraged to submit their suggestions for the new name of South Hall. The committee will accept name submissions through Sunday, Nov. 27.
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14 E. Cache La Poudre St.
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