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Get Ready for Spring Break

You're almost there! Vol State Spring Break will be March 9 through the 14th. There will be no classes at any of the Vol State locations, however offices will be open for usual business hours. Thigpen Library in Gallatin Spring Break hours will be Monday-Friday from 8:00a-4:30p, and closed March 14-15. Regular hours resume on Monday, March 16. It will be the same for the Learning Commons in Gallatin.

March Events at Vol State

Vol State Events Calendar March 2015 All events are free, unless specified.

Mar. 2                   One Book: The Effects of Hip Hop on Society, Pickel Gym, 9am

Mar. 2                   “Cycling: Lycra Not Required, Pickel 101, 12:15pm

Mar. 2                   Lecture: Was Lindberg a Nazi? by Peter Johnson, Thigpen, 12:20pm

Mar. 3                   Lecture: Race, Slavery & American Values, by Grady Eades and Nancy Blomgren, Caudill 102, 11:10am

Mar. 4                   Speaker: Zohra Sawari, Thigpen, 12:30pm

Mar. 5                   Lecture: Intro to Gamification in Education, by Michael Torrence, Thigpen second floor, 2pm, open to faculty, staff and students

Mar. 6                   Chili/Soup for Books, fundraiser- $5 for lunch, Nichols Dining Room, 11:30-1:30pm

Mar. 13                 Free Community Shredding Event, Pickel Field House Parking Lot, 2pm-6pm

Mar. 17                 Lecture: Transcendentalist Communes, by Shellie Michael, Thigpen, 11:10am

Mar. 18                 Coffee with the Prez, Cafeteria, 11am-Noon

Mar. 18                 Honors: Technological Advancements in Sports, by Philip Williams, Thigpen, 12:20pm

Mar. 19                 One Book: Fear of, or Low Expectations of, Young African-American Males, Nichols Dining Room, 12:30pm

Mar. 21                 Sumner County Elementary Art Exhibit, Ramer Great Hall, through April 12

Mar. 24                 Lecture: Hear the Color & See the Rhythm, by Sue Mulcahy and Nancy Slaughter, Thigpen, 11:10am

Mar. 24                 One Book: Final Discussion- What We Have Learned, Thigpen Library, 6pm

Mar. 25                 Supplemental Instruction History Bowl, McKinney students versus Johnson students, Thigpen, 11:15am

Mar. 25                 Women’s History Tea, Nichols Dining Room, RSVP to Student Life, 12:30pm

Mar. 26                 Math and Science Expo, hands-on activities for kids and parents, Wallace Building-North, 2:30-6pm

Mar. 28                 Family Day and Easter Egg Hunt, Library Lawn, 10am-Noon

Mar. 31                 Lecture: Thinking Fast and Slow, by Cynthia Wyatt, Thigpen, 11:10am

Mar. 31                 Belmont Pre-Nursing Advising Session, Warf 110, 12:45pm-2:10pm

Get Ready for Your Next Semester at Vol State

For those of you who are not graduating (and a big congrats to those who are) it's time to get ready for your next semester at Vol State, whether it be summer or next fall. In March, you should schedule an appointment with your academic advisor to see what classes you should take next semester. Degree Works, on your My Vol State page, can help map it out for you, but make sure you also visit with your advisor. You don't want to take classes that you don't need for your degree or transfer plans. Priority registration starts the first week of April, the 6th and 7th.

2015-2016 Scholarship Application Open Now

It's time to apply for scholarships for next year. The scholarship application for 2015-2016 academic year is available now.  The application process is open now and the award process will begin in April. Apply here.

Vol State Events this Week

Ongoing                      Andy Dailey, art exhibit, Thigpen Gallery, 8am to 4:30pm, Mon.-Sat.

Feb. 23                        Tennessee Technological University, Wood Campus Center, 10am—1pm.

Feb. 24                        Austin Peay State University, Wood Campus Center, 10:00am—1:00pm.

Feb. 24                        Lecture: “James Baldwin’s Another Country,” by Laura Black, Thigpen Library, 11:10am

Feb. 24                        One Book: Tense relationships between police and the African-American community, Nichols Dining Room, 12:30pm

Feb. 24                        Chinese New Year celebration, traditional Chinese dances and food,  Ramer Great Hall, 1 p.m. to 2:20 p.m. 

Feb. 24                        VISA Club event: International students talk about their countries, Rochelle Center, 2:30pm

Feb. 25                         Middle Tennessee State University, Wood Campus Center, 10am—2:00pm.

Feb. 25                        Black History Recognition Luncheon, Nichols Dining Room, 12:30pm

Feb. 26                        Union Pre-Nursing Advising Session 12:45 – 2:10 pm Warf Bldg., Room 110

Feb. 27                        Tennessee State University representative will be in the Wood Campus Center 9:00am—10:30am.

Feb. 28                        Science Olympiad, area schools compete, campus-wide, all day

Don't Stay Silent: Shining a Spotlight on Dating Violence

Statistics from LoveIsRespect.org say one in four young people report emotional, physical, or sexual abuse from a dating partner each year. Those actions can range from emotional and verbal abuse to physical or sexual abuse.

February is Teen and Young Adult Dating Violence Awareness Month, and the Campus Police Department is doing its part to make sure every student knows it's their responsibility to help anyone they know who might be in an abusive relationship.

Assistant Chief Angie Lawson said there are several options for helping those who might be in trouble. While reporting the issue is important, Lawson said students don't always have to report the issue to campus police. If someone is in an abusive relationship, any staff or faculty member can be notified anonymously to help address the situation.

"A lot of people want to be involved, but they don't want to be involved. It's a catch-22 for a lot of people. A lot of people don't want to involve campus law enforcement, especially the victims, so they don't report it to us," Lawson said.

While reporting an incident can be a scary thing, it's still important to say something. First-year student Holly Wilson believes fear keeps many people from reporting anything when it comes to abusive situations.

"So many people don't even think about it. I would say some people are just abusive relationships just because they want to have someone with them. Maybe they're just too insecure or scared to say anything," she said.

Lawson said knowing when to report is one of the biggest issues police see when dealing with issues of dating violence and abuse. Programs that aim to educate people on bystander intervention such as Step Up, which Campus Police are working on integrating into student programs, is just one of the many ways students can be educated on the importance of reporting.

"It takes a whole army to try and change the culture, and if we can take a few steps to help, then that's worth it. Step up and say something, even if it's a text to a friend. Let us know, so we can do something about it. The silence is what's killing us," she said.

The Campus Police Department is located in the lower floor of the Wood Building. For more information on how to report abuse or prevention, call 615-230-3595. For more information on dating violence, visit LoveIsRespect or the CDC's Division of Violence Prevention website. The National Dating Abuse Helpline is 1-866-331-9474.