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CMIE's Public Lecture: "Why Love Must Reign in a Time of Hate: From Microaggressions to Overt Racism"
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Dr. SooJin Pate |
On December 7, 2016 Students, faculty and staff gathered in large numbers in the Viking Theatre to hear Dr. SooJin Pate's lecture on microaggressions and overt-racism.
Pate titled her talk "Why Love Must Reign in a Time of Hate: From Microaggressions to Overt Racism." She used hate-crimes committed at University of Minnesota and this year's Presidential election as references to articulate the urgency of her talk. Pate stressed that the need for love and compassion is crucial after an election that has polarized the country, and that we all must unite during such a divisive time.
While many would rather react with anger and rage, It would not solve anything. In order for the country to move forward, we must keep our humanity and sensitivity intact, and always keep in mind the feelings and emotions of others.
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Update on Sustained Dialogue
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Don Williams '18 National Sustained Dialogue Award |
On November 17, 2016 Don Williams attended the National Sustained Dialogue Awards in Washington D.C. where he was recognized alongside Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
This semester there were four Sustained Dialogue groups, two student only and two blended. The student groups addressed the topic of stress; the positive aspects of academics and how one can talk about stress in more healthy ways. One of the blended (students, faculty, and staff) groups, SD three focused on why we are not able to have conversations on the social identities.
The student groups executed their action plan on December 13, 2016. SD group three (blended) will put together a proposal for departments to consider as they plan for second semester to help increase dialogue in and outside of the classrooms.
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Cultural Conversations Series:
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Students engaging in conversation
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On October 26, the Center for Multicultural and International Engagement (CMIE) held their second cultural conversation of the semester, "Transforming Safe Spaces". A total of twelve students gathered in a classroom in Tomson Hall to engage in a conversation with Writing Professor Dianne LeBlanc in regards to a discussion about safe space.
Professor LeBlanc first opened this discussion by mentioning that a safe space is a place "where individuals feel that they are not threatened". She wanted to make aware that a safe space should be a learning environment that allows discussion about controversial issues with honesty, respect, and sensitivity. This should not only occur in classrooms, but also in other areas on campus such as the Café, the different organizations on campus and any other place with continuous social interaction.
With regard to safe space and classrooms, students and professors should work together to prevent anyone being a wolf or a gazelle. The importance of inclusion and respect are vital in creating a safe space when discussing controversial issues. It is important to find a space not only for the majority perspective, but also the minority perspective. When one feels comfortable enough in a classroom to share their perspective, it is clear that a safe space has been established.
At the heart of any safe space is respect of other individuals. However, there are challenges that dawn upon a safe space such as systematic oppression, academic freedom and the right to teach and learn. Professor LeBlanc concludes that as a campus, we should continuously work towards creating a safe space despite these challenges. It is the responsibility of students, faculty and staff to continuously establish safe spaces on St. Olaf's campus. This is a process, but with opportunities such as cultural conversations, sustained dialogue and respectful discussions regarding controversial issues in classrooms, this process will only move forward.
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Five Days of Thanks - Program Assistants
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Program Assistants Ready for Their Event |
From November 14-18, the CMIE Program Ass
i
stants (PAs) hosted a week-long event titled, "Five Days
of
Thanks" led by Jose Campos. This event was a way for the S
t. Olaf community (students, staff, and faculty) t
o t
hi
nk about what they were thankful for and to share this on a p
ostcard. On this postcard was a picture of themselves and a few words to express who or what they were thankful for. At the end of the event participants receiv
ed the postcards they created in their P.O boxes, just in time for the holidays. Participants could choose to keep the postcards, or to send them as a message to another person. A total of about 50 people participated in this event, as just fewer than 100 postcards were printed. Through this event, not only did people get to meet the CMIE Program Assistants, but those who participated were able to get a finished product that they could keep and/or share with others.
This event was something new for the PAs. Utilizing iPads and Snapchat filters; the PA's were able to have a social media presence. Postcards were also posted on the CMIE PA Facebook page so that those who were not able to participate could see the messages participants wrote.
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Cultural Conversations Series: "Ally, Comrade? Supporter? Discerning Paths Toward Solidarity"
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Visiting Professor Suzanne Wint |
On Wednesday, November 30, the Center for Multicultural and International Engagement held a cultural conversation that was facilitated by Visiting Assistant Professor in Music, Suzanne Wint. The event was titled, "Ally? Comrade? Supporter? Discerning Paths Toward Solidarity", in which the discussion focused primarily on "how one can respectfully and prod
uctively participate in civil rights and protest movements organized by those outside one's own identity." Such examples mentioned by Professor Wint included white people taking part in BlackLivesMatter protests or even a born citizen at birth attending an immigration riot. Professor Wint wanted the goal of the conversation to bring about the awareness of allies' importance and to "discern our individual paths toward solidarity".
At one point, small groups were formed to discuss pertinent questions such as "What is an ally?" or "What does it mean to be present?" After exchanged responses were shared between smaller groups, Professor Wint gravitated the discussion back to the larger group. Concluding statements from students included phrases such as, "It is important to respectively be active in any way as a supporter, listener or even just silently demonstrating". Professor Wint ended this cultural conversation on a good note as she encouraged students to stand up for what is right and respectfully and actively participate in civil rights and protest movements despite being outside of a dominant group's identity.
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Congratulations Blue Key Society Members
On October 14th, fifteen juniors (Class of 2018) were selected to join the St. Olaf chapter of the
Blue Key Honor Society, in recognition of their "excellence in academics, leadership, and service". The following CMIE juniors were newly selected into the society this year. Congratulations!
Maggie Xingdu Chen, Layla Dang, Jauza Khaleel, Anna C. Prafcke, and Julia M. Valero
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Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration
Guest Speaker Ericka Huggins
January 16, 2017
3:30pm-5:00pm
Sun/Gold Ballrooms
Ericka Huggins, human rights activist, poet, educator, Black Panther leader and former political prisoner will deliver the Martin Luther King's day public lecture at St. Olaf College titled: "
The Thread Running Through History: An exploration of the weaving of the threads of systemic inequity history in the tapestry of U.S. culture;
the relevance of these threads in the present and the impact of this interweaving on future generations"
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| CMIE's Spotlight: Panel on Poverty and Society by the Program Assistants |
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Ghost Stories by the Diversity Awareness House |
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International Student Pumpkin Carving |
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African & Caribbean Night 2016
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Hmong New Year Celebration 2016
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| Diwali - Pooja prayer ceremony |
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| International Awareness Week |
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| Cultural Immersion Series - Hmong Story Cloth |
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| Penumbra Theater Trip Jitney sponsored by CMIE |
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| Alumna wins Hawkinson Award |
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| Student's Project Provides Economic Opportunity |
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To contribute to the Fund click the button above and specify CMIE.
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Awarded Scholarships
Ronald E. Hunter Endowed Scholarship
Martin Luther King Scholarship
Class of 1987 Scholarship
Class of 1990 Scholarship
Hartwig Scholarship
Hoeft Scholarship
Class of 1960 Scholarship
Patten Endowed Scholarship
Katherine Olson Schol
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