Critical Social Justice scoffs in the face of snow delays — we are unstoppable. Two of the CSJ events that were postponed on Monday have been rescheduled for next Monday, March 10th. Read on for more details and we hope to see everyone there to continue engaging with these important social justice issues!
Critical Social Justice 101 – 4-5:30pm in UC Ballroom Lounge – What is critical social justice? What challenges and possibilities exist for social justice activism? And what does that mean within an academic setting? Find out more at this roundtable led by Dr. Kate Drabinski (Gender + Women’s Studies), Lisa Gray (the Mosaic Center), student and activist Crystal Ogar, and Dr. Joby Taylor (Shriver Center). (Event sponsored by: Critical Social Justice) Facebook myUMBC
Just Kids: The Automatic Prosecution of Youth as Adults in Maryland – 7-9pm in UC 310 – Following a screening of the new documentary The Truth About Our Youth, Just Kids Youth Leaders Kevin J. and Richard R. and Assistant Youth Organizer Jabriera H. will share their personal stories to bring statistics to life and dispel misconceptions about youth who are charged as adults. Learn more about this important issue here. (Event sponsored by: The Just Kids Partnership, a collaboration between Community Law in Action and the Public Justice Center) Facebook myUMBC
UMBC hosted the guest speaker Stephen Prothero, acclaimed expert and
author on religion, offered members of the UMBC community religious and
spiritual insight during the discussion "God is Not One: The Eight
Religions That Run the World and Why Their Differences Matter."
Prothero
has authored numerous books on religion including God is not One: The
Eight Rival Religions that Run the World and Religious Literacy. He is
also a professor in the Department of Religion at Boston University and
has appeared on mainstream news networks like CNN, MSNBC and FOX.
The discussion was held on Thursday, November 29 in the Skylight Lounge. About 50 students, faculty and visitors attended to hear Prothero's lecture, in which he emphasized the importance of educational literacy in religion in America.
"You can't make sense of the world without making sense of religion," said Prothero. He pointed out how religion affects major societal matters such as politics, military forces and government systems. "I believe humans are motivated by passions that cannot be seen."
Catholicism, Islam, Buddhism and Christianity were some of the religions Prothero compared and contrasted. He also described how although the U.S. is the most religious country in the world, individuals have very little knowledge about religion itself.
"Religion has public power," he said, explaining that the media has displayed how religion affects human rights like abortion and marriage equality during the last decade. Individual morals and values differ across religions, which often ignites controversy regarding the legislation of these human rights.
One of Prothero's main goals is to encourage both teachers and professors to incorporate religious topics in their curriculum. "I think it would be good to teach world religions and Christianity in a general sense," said senior public health major Alexandra Mills. "It's important to discuss and have a basic understanding of different religions."
The discussion was sponsored by The Office of Student Life's Mosaic Center along with the Office of Undergraduate Education and several other co-sponsors. The Mosaic Center staff dedicates their time to creating and fostering cross-cultural collaboration and diversity on the UMBC campus through events such as Prothero's discussion.
"We like to find ways to be a more unified community at UMBC," said Assistant Director of Student Life for Cultural and Spiritual Diversity Lisa Gray.
"I agree that we should focus and celebrate our differences," said senior Asian studies major Yasmin Radbod. "We shouldn't assume that we are all the same."
Printer-Friendly | Modified Mon Dec 3 21:01:06 2012 - © The Retriever Weekly. ]]>Mark is a junior studying Sociology.
“I couldn’t tell you the meaning of existence. It’s different for everyone I suppose. I can tell you this though. The happiest moments of my life have occurred in a room full of difference, of unknown beginnings and uncertain ends. I’ve never been happier than when I’m meeting someone new. I’m an explorer, you could say, but I explore the landscape of human experience. Every conversation is a new expedition, a new chance to discover the unknown. That is what Diversity means to me. It’s the fuel of my spiritual economy.”
*The Diversity Educator Interns are undergraduate and graduate students who co-facilitate cross-cultural and diversity awareness discussions and educational workshops across campus.
Q. What made you get involved with The Mosaic Center as a Diversity Educator Intern?
A. I found an advertisement for UMBC Talks, and after attending one I saw the smokin' cool "Meet the DEIs" board in the Mosaic Center. So I inquired about what exactly a DEI was, and I thought it'd be cool to learn about diversity education.
Q. What's your favorite moment as a DEI so far?
A. We were doing a presentation about cross-cultural communication, and within five minutes of being there this guy, this top-dog, let the entire class know that he "did work" with women. It was very funny.
Q. What has surprised you most about working in a Center for Culture and Diversity?
A. I was really surprised by how much the position has broadened my ability to think outside the box.
Q. Do you find anything challenging about being a DEI? If so, explain.
A. There haven't really been too many difficulties thus far although I'd like to increase the number of different workshops we have to offer.
Q. What might someone be surprised to know about you?
A. Well, I'm secretly a legendary Go-Kart Racer. Also, once upon a time my goal in life was to be a Loli-Pop kid from The Wizard of Oz. One Halloween I dressed up as one of those happy midgets, and I basically chugged helium so that I could keep the voice all night.
Q. What's it like to be a Diversity Educator Intern for The Mosaic Center?
A. Imagine that your mind is a treasure chest with a lock on it, but inside that chest there are a thousand little miniature boxes with locks on them too. Inside every box is a gem, an idea waiting to be discovered. The cool thing about being a DEI is that you get the key to open the big chest, and if you're lucky you can pop open a couple of those mini-boxes too.
Q. When you aren’t performing DEI duties, what are you most likely doing?
A. I like stories. Whether they're written, spoken, or in some cinematic form, I spend most of my free time seeking out cool stories. I really enjoy meeting new people too, so I spend a lot of time just walking around and looking for interesting people to start up conversations with.
Q. How would (someone) describe you?
A. How many words can they use to describe me? Most people would probably label me as sarcastic with a melodic voice. (Melodic is such a cool word) I try to base my actions off of the people I'm surrounded by at the time, so I adapt myself to whoever I'm with.
Q. What do you wish other people knew about The Mosaic Center?
A. I wish they knew about all the cool events that The Mosaic Center co-hosts and sponsors, such as UMBC Talks.
Q. What would you say are some of your strongest beliefs about diversity?
A. Whether you want to acknowledge it or not, it exists. If you want to make friends, form bonds, and maybe seek out future family members, you have to know how to relate to people. So how do you relate to people? You can't do it by assuming that everyone thinks like you do on every issue. You have to be prepared to discuss things, to change your mind, to learn about new ways of living. Basically, you have to be willing to open your "treasure chest" of a mind and let things in.
Q. What's your personal philosophy on what should be done about promoting communal diversity and inclusion?
A. Step 1: Relax. If someone says or does something that offends you, you have to realize that more often than not it's not on purpose. People don't often go out of their way to annoy people they don't even know. I know it seems that way sometimes, but people are generally good. The moment you're angry, the moment you write them off, is the moment you lose. You could've just lost a lifelong friend or a true love--whatever that is.
Step 2: Listen. Before you voice your opinion, see what someone else has to say. Maybe you disagree with them completely, but the first step to understanding something is to acknowledge that it's worth your time. You do that by listening.
Step 3: Don't try to "fix" stuff. You can't solve difference. It's not something that can be overcome. It's something to be appreciated and welcomed. New ideas always make the end result better.
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Want to know more? Contact mosaic@umbc.edu - to request a workshop for your group or org complete a workshop request form! http://my.umbc.edu/groups/themosaic (form must be submitted at least two weeks in advance)
Khristina is a senior studying Anthropology with a minor in Sociology. In addition to her studies, she participates in several extracurricular activities, particularly those that have to do with volunteerism, activism, and social justice. Currently, she is a member of SGA’s Service & Volunteer Activism department, Vice-President of the student org Students Abolishing Slavery, and a Campus Ambassador for the organization “Half the Sky,” which raises awareness about the oppression of women and girl’s worldwide and works to turn the oppression into opportunity.
*The DEIs are undergraduate/graduate students who co-facilitate cross-cultural & diversity awareness discussions & educational workshops across campus.
Q. What made you get involved with The Mosaic Center as a Diversity Educator
Intern?
A. I wanted to be a DEI because I felt that in this position I would be able to
foster cultural sensitivity, openness, and unity on campus by educating my
classmates on issues of diversity and intercultural communication.
Q. What's your favorite moment as a DEI so far?
A. My favorite moment so far has been spending time with my fellow DEIs. They
are all great people!
Q. What has surprised you most about working in a Center for Culture and
Diversity?
A. I’m surprised by how much work is put into teaching people about culture and
diversity. There is a lot of planning involved in developing the presentations
and the materials used in them.
Q. Do you find anything challenging about being a DEI? If so, explain.
A. Sometimes it is difficult to balance my DEI duties with my student duties.
There have been times outside of my internship hours where I have been thinking
about my duties as a DEI when I should have been focusing on homework.
Q. What might someone be surprised to know about you?
A. I don’t think there is much about me that would surprise people, as I’m a
pretty honest and open person.
Q. What's it like to be a Diversity Educator Intern for The Mosaic Center?
A. Since this is only the second semester of the program there are a few kinks
to be worked out, which can be frustrating at times. For the most part though,
it’s great. I feel that through the presentations we put on I’m becoming more
confident in my public speaking and I’m learning important skills such as how
to successfully interact with an audience and how to be a better teacher.
Q. When you aren’t performing DEI duties, what are you most likely doing?
A. Homework and extracurricular activities such as, Anthropology Council of
Majors, Oxfam Club, Amnesty International Club, and SGA Service &
Volunteerism executive board!
Q. How would (someone) describe you?
A. People would describe me as extremely motivated, friendly, and outgoing.
Q. What do you wish other people knew about The Mosaic Center?
A. I would like my fellow students to know what The Mosaic Center is and what
we do! So many of them still have to ask, which makes me sad. We offer a lot of
great programs and the space is available for them to make it their own. I wish
students would come inside and eat lunch, talk to friends, and do homework.
Q. What would you say are some of your strongest beliefs about diversity?
A. I believe that diversity should be something that brings us together instead
of separates us. We are all different and we should celebrate these differences
and experience what life is like for those who are unlike us.
Q. What's your personal philosophy on what should be done about promoting
communal diversity and inclusion?
A. I believe that talking about racism, sexism, discrimination, prejudice etc.
is the only way that communal diversity and inclusion will succeed.
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Want to know more? Contact mosaic@umbc.edu - to request a workshop for your group or org complete a workshop request form! http://my.umbc.edu/groups/themosaic (form must be submitted at least two weeks in advance)
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