Black Lives Matter

by Joshua Wilson

@jjwil325

Most days I am lost for words, but not feelings, around #BlackLivesMatter.

Today, as I woke up once again to the news that a Black man, Philando Castile, was fatally shot by police officers, I am left once more confused and hurt.

I hate that this issue is persistently present and that I have to use my voice to speak up. I hate that we live in a country where the likes of Donald Trump threaten the progress we’ve made around racial equality and in particular #BlackLivesMatter.

For my friends who are forever confused on the concept #BlackLivesMatter, please note that this is not a new campaign. All we have to do is look at history to tell the tale of #BlackLivesMatter. I Matter. This I tell myself almost every day, even if it’s not on social media or in our conversations. It’s concerning to know that you will forever be targeted by some because of your skin color. 

For those who ask, don’t “All Lives Matter.” Absolutely, all lives matter. With the deaths of Philando Castille, Alton Sterling, Trayvon Martin, Sandra Bland, Eric Garner, Mike Brown and too many more names to name, I will continue to tell myself that #BlackLivesMatter #ChristianLivesMatter #MuslimLivesMatter #LGBTQLivesMatter #YourLifeMatters #MyLifeMatters.

I will continue to choose to not turn a blind eye to the injustices of this world. I will continue to try to raise my voice. I will continue to try to Love all. Will you join me?

Hangout Music Festival 2016 Review

by Joshua Wilson

@jjwil325

It's been a few weeks since Hangout Music Festival (HMF) 2016 at Gulf Shores, AL and I'm still finding sand in places I don't want to see sand. My group's consensus - Hangout Music Fest was amazing! It is definitely worth checking out if you've been wondering if you should make the investment. As a former Alabamian, the festival was also a great reminder that you'll never meet a stranger in this state. I met folks from all over the country. So take from this review some lessons learned from Hangout Festival. 

The Music:

The lineup this year was sick! I lost my mind during Alabama Shakes and Florence + the Machine was everything I could have dreamed of to close off the festival. Our group created a custom Spotify music playlist featuring all the artists from the Hangout Music Fest. HMF also partnered with Pandora music where users could listen to artists through a custom channel as well. The production quality was on point. I feared two things at the festival: beach wind and unbalanced sound. I learned soon that these were not things to worry about. There were three stages on the beach and believe it or not there was not major noise pollution. If you were in proximity of a stage, that was the show you were going to enjoy. The sound engineers were sure of that. All stages were within a comfortable distance to each other. Some of my favorite parts of the festival also included the collaborations and the unknowns. If you're familiar with the artists on the lineup you can see that there are a lot of collaborations between the artists. This carried over into HMF where these collaborations would also unfolded on stage. Say what?! Just take Griswold's and Walk the Moon and Daya and Chainsmokers as examples. HMF was a simple reminder to celebrate music. I listened to every single artist before the festival and now have new artists that I respect and hope to see their popularity rise! Huge shout outs to Griswolds, Lizzo, Flume, Givers, and Leon Bridges and all the entertainment! For your favorite artist, you might have to skip a show if you want to be front row or at least be willing to fight like hell through the crowd - with pure dedication you might just make it toward the front by the end of the show.

Simple take-a-ways:

• Give yourself a break! There is usually only about 10-15 minutes in between each of the groups. Be sure to make time in the schedule for food, sleep, or other fun.
• Bring a water container. They have plenty of water fill-up stations.
• Sun tan spray and lotion...it is your friend.
• Not your favorite band, you don't have to be front row. For some musicians some of sat as far back as possible where we could still hear and see the show without the annoyance of a crowd.
• If you have AT&T don't expect data usage, call signal worked. I wish we had walkies.
• Verizon data and calls worked best from what I could tell.
• Download the HMF app and choose to receive notifications. If you customize your schedule on the app, they'll send reminders for your favorite performers, schedule changes, and festival updates.

What to Wear:

• Hats and shades should be mandatory! Protect your face.
• Bring a towel. If you sweat know the sun will destroy you. Towel was also great for sitting in the sand.
• Flip flops were the preferred shoe of choice. Going from beach sand to pavement was killer.
• Shirt or no shirt. Just have a plan for the sun. Lots wore some type of tank or beach shirt. After dancing in the sun and the Alabama heat, you'll be glad you did so.
• Swim suite or trunks. It's really a mix. Some will be in their swim wear and some will not. Go with what you feel would be most comfortable. There's not much access to beach or pol (unless you choose VIP)

Parking:
This was initially pretty stressful let me tell you. Our group didn't purchase the $50.00 shuttle pass. We were told that our condo would provide shuttle to and from the beach. Except they misled us. We found out only days before the festival. After we scrambled to find shuttle parking tickets, we reached out directly to them and this is what they told us: "We have added bike parking and taxi stands. If you plan to drive, we recommend arriving early to snag one of the limited spots on the street." Not very helpful. Picture this. There was a rain delay on day one. We're hanging out in the condo and begin to call taxis and every single taxi company's phone line was busy. This was two hours before the event and one thing was apparent, taxi was not our route to HMF. Our condo was six miles away, walking was also out. We took the truck - riding in the back of a pick-up is not illegal in Alabama. The first day we found parking for $20.00. However, at the end of the event, It took us an hour to get out of the parking area that first night. Shuttles take priority on the roads and we some how snaked ourself to the back of a one exit street with 3-4 streets leading into it. Needless to say not good. So we learned after that first night where to park and for days 2 and 3, we payed $0.00 to park. A savings for the group of $280.00. This did mean that we carpooled together and left together each day.

Hangout Music Festival 2016 gave my friend group an amazing experience in Gulf Shores, AL. Most of us have already thrown out a 2017 return. Some of us are calling it better than Lollapalooza. Go and see for yourself, you won't be disappointed.

Revolving Door

by Joshua Wilson
@jjwil325

Spotted the graduates.

In Student Affairs there is a revolving door of student leaders, graduate and undergraduate, who continuously step into leadership roles. Today we celebrated our second year graduate students with a hooding ceremony. The hood is a garment that is added to the graduation gown. Faculty members for the Student Personnel in Higher Education program at the University of Florida hooded the soon to be graduates as tradition for master's candidates. As I watched the graduates be hooded one by one, it hit me that in this revolving door of a field, we have learned how to say goodbye and how to transition fiercely to welcome, train, and encourage those brave newcomers who step into empty positions. We are a revolving door of a profession and in the work we do with student leaders. Shout out to Emily our Programs, Arts, and Leisure graduate student and Richard who interned with us last year. You'll always be a "PALs."

Not only here recently have I had to say goodbye to graduate students but also to my undergraduate student leaders. This year I was especially struck hard because this is one of the best group of leaders and seniors that I've worked with at UF. There were challenges throughout the year, there was also laughter, tears, celebration, and so much more! This revolving door can be hard for us professionals. I see many students more than I see my own family and so the connections we make can be life changing. Thank God for Facebook, Twitter, and phone technology.

My cohort of student leaders and seniors.

It's bittersweet saying goodbye to student leaders. We know that those who meet our challenges, step out of their comfort zones and open themselves up for learning are those who will be the leaders needed in this world. They will be able to lead teams and advance in their career paths. We advisors only want the best for them. Though, many of us wish that we had just a little bit longer with our students to keep the train moving. So, I'll do what professionals are doing all over the country. We'll say goodbye, reflect on the good times and welcome the next wave of student leaders. We'll try to bring out the best of their leadership and we will do our best to prepare them for life after college. And it's true one day we will say goodbye to them. It's the revolving door that doesn't stop turning. But I say to all of you, we'll never stop believing in you. 

The Day I Became a Blazer #FreeUAB

by Joshua Wilson
@jjwil325

There are legitimate accusations that UAB Football could cease to exist in the future. But this post will not be about who is leading the charge to end UAB Football or how incredibly frustrating the Alabama Board of Trustees has made it for my Blazers. Instead, this post is a celebration of what the football program has meant to me and my UAB family.

Past:

When it was time to apply for colleges, I looked at programs such as the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), University of Alabama, University of South Alabama (USA) , Jacksonville State, Jefferson State, out-of-state colleges and more. I grew up in the south and I wanted to play in the marching band. My heart was set on UAB or USA. At the time USA did not have a football team - when I learned, my decision became easier - I would be a Blazer.

I'll never forget the day I truly became a Blazer. It was the first week of band camp. I wore my favorite Auburn hat to block the heat from those long practices in the sun. At the end of practice we would always huddle up. The band director called out, "U   A   B" and the band responded, "Blazers. Let's Go!" But one of the band directors had an announcement, we called him Doc. He announced at the end of practice that any apparel not associated with UAB should not be worn at practices. I didn't even think about my actions offending those around me.

I looked around and there were only a few of us that sported non-UAB apparell, I did what I hope the other folks did. After dismissal I marched straight to my car, threw the hat in the trunk and never wore that hat around practice again, haha.

Present: 

This upcoming weekend one of the "four horsemen" is getting married. We dubbed ourselves the four horsemen because of our dedication to UAB Bands and UAB Athletics. I would have never met these men if it weren't for UAB Athletics. I can't help but think without UAB Football this bond and friendship would not exist.

Anyone who knows me understands that UAB Football is my number 1 college team. It's a long distance to the number 2 team. The way I see it, I spent thousands of dollars at UAB. Therefore, if I'm going to cheer any team to success it will be UAB Football followed by my Ball State Cardinals.

I'm distraught but not broken as I learn more and more about the very credible rumors surrounding UAB Football. I, like many others, invested more than enough money into the program and I want to see football inspire future generations of Blazers! At UAB I had an amazing experience and formed amazing bonds. Blazers, I hope that you join me in sharing your stories. 

This is one of many posts and letters that will be sent to administrators at UAB. Every voice is one to be heard. If we bond now through the strength of this Blazernation I truly believe nothing is impossible. 

Here's how we can help:

1) Share your story/ your voice
2) Share other's stories and information via social media and use hashtags (#saveUABfootball #FreeUAB #UABFootball)
3) Write a Letter to your elected officials/ UAB administration/ Alabama Board of Trustees (http://www.uab.edu/boardliaison/bd-member-contact-info)
4) Sign the petition: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/continue-uab-football
5) Donate to UAB Alumni Society

So #FreeUAB and Go Blazers.

Joshua Wilson
c/o 2010 

ACUI Sweet Tea

By Joshua Wilson
@jjwil325

This April I went to Association for Colleges and Unions International national conference with my work colleagues representing the  University of a Florida and found the conference to be excellent. I enjoyed the professional development, education sessions and the socials. I had not thought about it but I grew up in the college union at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. It was certainly one of my favorite places to spend time for orientation, grab food, spend time with friends, and other involvement opportunities.

At ACUI I bumped into so many colleagues from my past that I certainly felt right at home. Enough so that I signed up for a Battle of the Regions contest where no one else was willing for Region 3...Slam Poetry it would be. Check out the poem I wrote in an hours time:

"Smoked filled eyes and lungs and clothes.
There was laughter and friends and university branded chairs, pull-up tents, over-filled parking lots, and it was one hell of a hot day. Damn, it was only morning.

The Greeks were on their porches and sitting on their roofs. I like to think their was sweet tea in those Red Solo Cups - Toby Keith did write a song about it. 

One bead. A thousand beads. In the south you sweat in the sun and in the shade. Not that the heat could deter the mission on this day of those southern gentlemen and sweet southern ladies.

Corn hole and beer. Barbeque and chips - and man would momma hit me on the head if I didn't mention sweet tea. In our world sweet tea is deep in our veins.

It's one of the many connections to a past that brought us all together. 

Remembrances of laughter and friendship, heartbreak, and loss. It was all for the southern good - friends, family.

That sun beat and beat, I wipe the endless sweat from my forehead. I knew from the first big hit that fall had arrived. In the stadium we ooooggghh and ahhhh in one accord. And sang and cheered and sweat. 

We lost that game and it mattered. Football matters in the south. This loss would be felt for days. But with it we are still one.

There is sweet tea in our veins." - by Joshua Wilson

I certainly didn't win the slam contest. There was not enough slam in this poem but it certainly is worth sharing with you.