Austin Peay This Week: Stories of confronting racism, navigating the pandemic and finding home

(Posted Aug. 10, 2020)

APSU employees share their stories about racism in ‘If Austin Peay Could Talk’

“If Austin Peay Could Talk” is a new, special series about listening. Paying tribute to James Baldwin’s novel, “If Beale Street Could Talk,” the essays in this series are meant to magnify the experiences of the University’s Black faculty and staff.

Every Friday, a different University employee will share their own deeply personal story about racism – stories that have been overlooked for too long.

Today, Austin Peay is talking, and we hope you will simply listen to these important words.

These are the links to stories our colleagues have told so far:

Interim President Dannelle Whiteside’s story.
Chief Diversity Officer LaNeeça Williams’ story.
Psychological Science and Counseling Assistant Professor Dr. Eva Gibson’s story.
Psychological Science and Counseling Assistant Professor Dr. Jessica Fripp’s story.

APSU employees share their stories about racism in ‘If Austin Peay Could Talk’ “If Austin Peay Could Talk” is a new, special series about listening. Paying tribute to James Baldwin’s novel, “If Beale Street Could Talk,” the essays in this series are meant to magnify the experiences of the University’s Black faculty and staff. Every Friday, a different University employee will share their own deeply personal story about racism – stories that have been overlooked for too long. Today, Austin Peay is talking, and we hope you will simply listen to these important words. These are the links to stories our colleagues have told so far: • Interim President Dannelle Whiteside’s story. • Chief Diversity Officer LaNeeça Williams’ story. • Psychological Science and Counseling Assistant Professor Dr. Eva Gibson’s story. • Psychological Science and Counseling Assistant Professor Dr. Jessica Fripp’s story. Watch the two mini-musicals an APSU professor penned during the pandemic An Austin Peay State University musical theatre voice professor wrote two “mini-musicals” during the COVID-19 pandemic. And you can watch them on YouTube. Dr. John Ray – who recently joined Austin Peay as assistant professor in musical theatre voice after serving as visiting professor last year – said he wrote the mini-musicals “as the pandemic worsened and performance opportunities dwindled.” “I had the idea to create a couple of virtual mini-musicals to offer actors a creative outlet,” Ray said. The musicals were “my way of trying to contribute artistically and put a much-needed positive spin on being socially distanced from one another,” he added. You can watch the children’s mini-musical “Thelonia Thorn and the Thunderous Thursday” at https://youtu.be/5iwUmj9m3LE. You can watch the grown-up mini-musical “La Quarantena” at https://youtu.be/cYWwZZVX68A. For more about the mini-musicals, click here. GOMB member Heather Gauthier shares how APSU was the ‘best decision I’ve ever made’ With an associate degree in hand, she transferred to APSU. “Last fall was just like home. I returned to the last field I stepped off of during high school, and now it’s my home field. Austin Peay is the best decision I’ve ever made.” Read Heather's story here. Wondering what fall will look like at Austin Peay? We put together a story that includes a video, graphics and helpful links. Check it out here. Other Austin Peay happenings this week: • The Seminar for Adult Students is at noon Tuesday, Aug. 11. Click here for more information. • The Student Organization Dance Association is having an interest meeting at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12. Click here for more information. • Fraternity and Sorority Affairs is having an information session at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12. Click here for more information. • Student Counseling Services is hosting Black Voices of APSU, a support group for Black students affected by racism, at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13. Click here for more information.

A screen capture of "La Quarantena."

Watch the two mini-musicals an APSU professor penned during the pandemic

An Austin Peay State University musical theatre voice professor wrote two “mini-musicals” during the COVID-19 pandemic. And you can watch them on YouTube.

Dr. John Ray – who recently joined Austin Peay as assistant professor in musical theatre voice after serving as visiting professor last year – said he wrote the mini-musicals “as the pandemic worsened and performance opportunities dwindled.”

“I had the idea to create a couple of virtual mini-musicals to offer actors a creative outlet,” Ray said.

The musicals were “my way of trying to contribute artistically and put a much-needed positive spin on being socially distanced from one another,” he added.

You can watch the children’s mini-musical “Thelonia Thorn and the Thunderous Thursday” at .

You can watch the grown-up mini-musical “La Quarantena” at .

For more about the mini-musicals, click here.

Heather Gauthier

GOMB member Heather Gauthier shares how APSU was the ‘best decision I’ve ever made’

With an associate degree in hand, she transferred to APSU. “Last fall was just like home. I returned to the last field I stepped off of during high school, and now it’s my home field. Austin Peay is the best decision I’ve ever made.”

Read Heather's story here.

Wondering what fall will look like at Austin Peay?

We put together a story that includes a video, graphics and helpful links. Check it out here.

Other Austin Peay happenings this week:

The Seminar for Adult Students is at noon Tuesday, Aug. 11. Click for more information.
The Student Organization Dance Association is having an interest meeting at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12. Click for more information.
Fraternity and Sorority Affairs is having an information session at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12. Click for more information.
Student Counseling Services is hosting Black Voices of APSU, a support group for Black students affected by racism, at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13. Click for more information.

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