Lindenwood Magazine - Spring 2021

12 13 SPRING 2021 EDITION SPRING 2021 EDITION THE LINDENWOOD THE LINDENWOOD UNDERSTORY The CAMPUS LIFE LETTER FROM A STUDENT Dear Lindenwood Community, After being submerged in a campus environment during a global pandemic, my ability to understand and apply innovative concepts has vastly improved. Being a part of Lindenwood’s quick transition to virtual schooling in the wake of COVID-19 has given me a front-row seat to new methods and procedures that have been essential for operations. I have witnessed the administration and faculty’s ability to face new situations and introduce techniques that ensure a safe and high-quality learning environment. In the midst of everything that has been thrown at us over the past year, Lindenwood has been able to adapt, whether that be offering hybrid classes, switching all food services to take out, or holding campus events at half capacity. During this time, I’ve experienced exponential growth in personal innovation as well, having completed an on-campus internship in the fall semester of 2020. As a GIS intern for the Public Safety Department, I was able to take hard skills learned in the classroom and make an immediate impact on current projects. Nearly all course material that we studied was directly applicable to the projects I was involved with. Renaming campus streets, putting together map layouts for office use, and updating the digital campus Clery map to include information for emergency response units are a few of the many things I was able to work on. This was an incredible experience made possible by innovative efforts from my professors and University faculty to make sure my Real Experience turns into Real Success. Sincerely, TANNER MARTIN Tanner Martin is a junior from Decatur, Ill., majoring in international relations with a minor in geography. He is an NCAA student-athlete on the football team and is a mentor in the Athlete Mentorship Program at Lindenwood. CAMPUS LIFE Experiencing theatre and music productions can be complex for individuals with physical or cognitive disabilities, and one Lindenwood student is doing his part to make the experience more inclusive. Joshua Stenger, a senior majoring in stage management, has received regional recognition for his work and has big plans for his future. Stenger submitted a project for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, Region IV Aspire Arts Leadership Conference in which “students were tasked with creating a theatre company, along with subsequent programming, mission/vision/values statements, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion statements, as well as our personal Leadership Philosophy, that we want to see as emerging arts administrators,” Stenger shared. His project developed the Imagine Theatre Co., making theatre more accessible for individuals with disabilities and those on the Autism spectrum. His project earned recognition as runner-up for the presentation and aligns with his interests in diversity, equity, inclusion, and access (DEIA) in the arts. Stenger’s advisor, Stacy Blackburn, has worked with Stenger since he transferred into the Lindenwood community. When asked about the project, Blackburn shared that Stenger was the one driving this project. “Joshua was really passionate about this part of DEIA, and so he used that passion and just ran with it,” she said. “It’s a really interesting project in that it’s about finding ways to include people on the Spectrum in theatre. It’s a very relevant conversation happening in theatre right now because so much of what we do is loud, and bright, and flashing, so we’re constantly looking at ways to offer sensory-friendly performances.” “My generation is full of creative minds that are vocal about necessitating the change we want to see,” Stenger said. His innovative approach to making the arts more equitable and accessible is desperately needed, and he is already making a positive impact. Blackburn says Stenger’s commencement is bittersweet. “His growth has been amazing. From where he started to what he now wants to accomplish, the way his viewpoint has expanded through his work here and through workshops is impressive”, she shared. “Watching his worldview expand, now he sees that he’s going to be an influencer in the art world.” Stenger’s inventive approach to incorporating DEIA in the arts is just beginning to flourish. After graduation, Stenger plans to pursue graduate studies at University of Connecticut. JOSHUA STENGER Joshua Stenger is from Brimfield, Ill., and completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Stage Management and minor in Nonprofit Administration in May. He worked as the lead stage manager for Lindenwood’s spring production of “Urinetown: The Musical.” STUDENT PROFILE Martin’s map of campus reduces response time for emergency responders. His growth has been amazing. From where he started to what he now wants to accomplish, the way his viewpoint has expanded through his work here and through workshops is impressive… Watching his worldview expand, now he sees that he’s going to be an influencer in the art world. STACY BLACKBURN Stenger’s experience feeds his passion for making art more inclusive.