I. FOREWORD

This packet of materials represents a hard summer of work as a graduate intern at the University of California, San Diego’s LGBT Resource Center.  I was given a charge to develop a “packet of resources” for student staff (RAs) and their supervisors to use in educating one another and residents on gender and sexual identity issues.  Little did they suspect I would assemble a massive collection of materials bordering on eighty pages!  Although this packet may have information specific to the UC San Diego campus, I am sure student affairs administrators from all institutions and all departments could find some use for these materials.

I definitely want to honor the method of resource sharing in student affairs – a method I employed a great deal in compiling these resources.  Traditionally, those of us in student affairs have snapped up whatever resources are thrown out there with the honorable intention of educating our students – but without taking the time to give credit where credit is due.  Some of the ideas and words of this packet are my own, from my own hands and head and based off of my own experience.  Many of the ideas and words are not.  Some have been lost through the student affairs ages, programs or handouts that have been shared since the dawn of time.  Others I have adapted from previously existing materials, taking others’ brilliant ideas and honing them into something useful for student and professional staff.  Some are the ideas of my brilliant colleagues at other institutions, particularly UC San Diego and the University of Delaware, that I was able to transform into a format appropriate for this packet.  Still others I flat-out copied, such as resources I found on many useful websites, and I was able to give credit where credit is due.

It is definitely not my intention to take credit for what is not mine.  However, I also have the desire to provide student and professional staff with a comprehensive packet of the best resources available.  I believe a “work” like this is of great importance, as it is giving those of us who facilitate student development the tools possible to educate on issues of sexual and gender identity.  It is far from my attention to give offense or use someone else’s materials in an inappropriate manner.  If you are the author of the works incorporated in this packet and wish to contact me about proper use, please do not hesitate to do so.  At the same time, I hope we can all appreciate the collection of these integral resources and the spirit in which they have been compiled.

A few “thank yous” are also in order.  I wish to thank the Russell Complex staff at the University of Delaware, particularly Sami Nassim, Morgan Randles, Michael Franklin, Gordana Copic, Jared Phillips, Michele Kane, and Dr. Kathleen Kerr, whose vision I shared while serving as a Hall Director not only helped me to develop some of these very activities, but who also helped me to develop my own passion for social justice and diversity education.  Finally, I wish to thank Shaun Travers and Jan Estrellado, my supervisors and my friends in my brief time here at the University of California, San Diego’s LGBT Resource Center.  You have inspired me and pushed me to grow by leaps and bounds in the short span of time I have worked with you.  Thank you both for your constructive criticism and your constant support.

Best,

Leigh E. Fine

Summer Graduate Intern

LGBT Resource Center

University of California, San Diego

Link to Download PDF Packet

© 2007 Leigh E. Fine, UC San Diego.