Lecture series inspires

Although Wednesday marked the last class of the semester for students in the Minority Achievers Program, their work was far from over. That evening, in a lecture at the Indiana Memorial Union, they were also issued a lifelong challenge: to tap their intellectual abilities to achieve their goals.\nThe MAP Program hosted its final LEAD (Leadership Skills, Academic Excellence, Professional Achievement, Community Development) speaker series of the semester Wednesday night. In the minds of many students involved, the program could not have concluded with a more influential speaker.\nCharlie Nelms, vice president for student development and diversity and vice chancellor for academic support and diversity of the Bloomington campus, spoke to about 30 MAP students about how to reach their goals and aspirations in a lecture entitled "Developing Your Leadership Potential as a Changed Agent."\nIn his lecture, Nelms asserted that in order to reach their goals and make a difference, students must develop their mind power, use their time wisely and build intellect to achieve their highest potential. Nelms stressed the potential of each student to "leave the world better" than we found it.\n"Mind power is the only energy source that can never be depleted," Nelms told the students. "You must use this power and learn to believe you can make a difference, and then be clear about your values and beliefs to become a changed agent."\nNelms supported these ideas by speaking about his own personal experiences, as well. Nelms, who grew up on a farm in Arkansas during the period where restaurants, bathrooms and colleges were segregated, indicated that he did not waste his time being angry. He instead searched for a way to fulfill his dreams. \nIn addition to his work at IU, Nelms has served as chancellor at two other colleges and has also served on numerous committees and programs promoting quality improvements.\nThe advice students learned from Nelms and his personal achievements tied in with what they have learned in X155, a required course for MAP students.\n"In the beginning of the semester, I hoped that the students would start out with open minds and a willingness to learn about a variety of different issues," said Daisy Rodriguez, an X155 instructor and higher education doctoral student. "Even if they started the class knowing about issues such as white privilege or racial tracking and stereotypes, I hope they leave the class thinking about these issues in a different light and understand the multiple perspectives of these issues."\nDebra Unger, coordinator of counseling and academic services for MAP and also an X155 instructor, deemed the lecture a success and said she was sad to see the students leave her class.\n"My purpose is to help all of you excel with your academic and career planning professional development issues here at IU, and I want you to stay in touch with me," Unger said to the students. "You are what make my job and purpose in being here interesting, fun, and worthwhile."\nFreshman Lindsy Serrano has attended many of the LEAD speaker series lectures this semester and said she learned a lot from the MAP program.\n"Through MAP, I have also realized that there are so many people on this campus that can help me succeed in the future," she said.