It seems like it’s been quite awhile since I last put up a post, the semester is flying by at break-neck speed and I’ve been slacking on updating a little bit.  Aside from classes, work and extracurriculars,
Wittenberg offers its students various unique opportunities throughout the year.  These could be in the form of speakers, programs, or, as in the case of this past weekend, conferences.

Last Friday six very dedicated members of Wittenberg’s Gay/Straight Alliance got up and boarded a shiny red mini-van at 7:00am.  As any of you from Ohio know, we awoke that morning to a snow and ice-covered wonderland.  After much scraping and de-frosting, we piled into the van and set off for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, to attend MBLGTACC 2008.  For those of you unfamiliar with the monstrous acronym, it stands for The Midwestern Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, Ally College Conference.  Whew, what a mouth full.  Right before we got to the Illinois state line, we ran into a complete white-out of snow an ice causing the last 40 miles of our trip to take 2 and ½ hours.

Once we finally arrived the fun really began.  The GSA had been planning to attend MBLGTACC since last semester so we were all very excited to see the conference come.  I had gone alone to the conference the year before in Minneapolis and was very excited to get back.  MBLGTACC serves as a forum for discussion and inclusion for the Mid-West’s GLBT students.  It consists of key-note presenters, dozens of workshops, and a plethora of entertainment activities.  It’s a great place to generate and gain new ideas that can be taken back to campuses all across the country.

The first night I attended a workshop for young gay men who want to one day be fathers.  Just the sheer diversity present at events like MBLGTACC is astounding.  After the workshop I heard the first US soldier to be wounded in Operation Iraqi Freedom give a speech about the military’s don’t ask don’t tell policy.  Finally the night was rounded off by a series of short plays that were all first-rate.

Saturday I went to three other workshops, attended the state caucus and ended the night at a Dance against AIDS party thrown for the conference attendees. 

While academics do play a huge role in your college career, I think there is more to it then just the studying and class time.  I personally feel that some of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had at Wittenberg have been ones that happen outside the classroom setting.  MBLGTACC and other conferences throughout the year offer Wittenberg students a chance to interact with other college students from around the country and are just one of the many reasons Wittenberg is such an amazing place to come and develop yourself.

Sincerely,

Ben A.