Volume 3, Issue 18: May 13, 2021
R.I.S.E.* Up Newsletter
*Reinforcing Inclusion through Skill-building and Education
Image of Sadhguru with quote - Peace is not the highest goal in life. It is the most fundamental requirement.
It is finals week at JCU. We applaud the work of our entire JCU community -- faculty, staff, and students -- as we close out the semester this week. We especially recognize our 2021 graduates. Congratulations on a semester well done! 

While the academic year cycles through its normal patterns, albeit in new and interesting ways over the past year, we would be remiss if we didn’t highlight how the work of social justice and attending to diversity, equity and inclusion continues. Some of the most concerning news that we are watching this week is that of increased violence in Israel and Palestine. This has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of combatants and civilians alike, casting a heartbreaking cloud on today's celebration of Eid al-Fitr while inviting condemnation and concern from people of all faiths. As we are alarmed by the escalation of hostilities in the region which affects our community in different, but impactful ways - please join me in a hope for peaceful and just resolution to this complicated, ongoing conflict. Let us continue to work and aspire towards an end to ALL violence and hate, wherever it occurs in the world. 

In that vein, I'd like to pass along to you the following message from three members of our Theology & Religious Studies faculty: Dr. Noah Bickart, Tuohy Fellow in Interreligious Studies; Dr. Edward Hahnenberg, Breen Chair in Catholic Theology; and Dr. Zeki Saritoprak, Nursi Chair in Islamic Studies. They write: 

"Recent days have witnessed an incredible wave of religious and nationalistic violence in Israel and Palestine. While the roots of the conflict are complicated and longstanding, there is no question that religion plays an important and frequently problematic role. 

"As scholars and practitioners of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam respectively, we wish to assert that among the many values that our traditions share is a firm belief in the sanctity of human life. The Holy Qur’an, the Bible, and the Talmud all witness to the truth that to take even a single human life unjustly is seen by God as having destroyed the entire world. Violence perpetrated in the name of our religions is not only morally wrong, but a violation of the core values promulgated by our traditions themselves.

"We ask you all to join us in praying for peace in Israel and Palestine, and especially in the city of Yerushalim/Al Quds/Jerusalem."

I join my voice to those of our colleagues and I invite you to stay connected with us in our pursuit of peace, justice and equity as we enter into the summer term. You can count on the R.I.S.E. Up Newsletter to continue bringing you the most important news, updates and events announcements on topics of diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the summer. Please encourage your friends, colleagues and students to  subscribe.
Headshot of Tiffany Galvin Green
Sincerely,

Tiffany Galvin Green, Ph.D.,
Vice President for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Division Announcements
Join us for the AAPI Heritage Month Community Book Read!
cover image of Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong
We are pleased to announce our May Community Book Read: 2020 New York Times bestseller and National Book Critics Circle Award winner Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning. Korean-American poet and essayist Cathy Park Hong "fearlessly and provocatively blends memoir, cultural criticism, and history to expose fresh truths about racialized consciousness in America." 

The book club will meet on Zoom on the following three Wednesdays, from 1:00-2:00 pm: May 26, June 2, and June 9. All participants will receive a link to download their own electronic copy of the book. Open to students, faculty and staff. Spaces are limited, so register today!
Eid Mubarak!
Image of fireworks with the words Eid Mubarak and DEI Division logo
Today is Eid al-Fitr, the Feast of the Breaking of the Fast. Today is first day of the 10th month of the Islamic calendar, which means that the month of Ramadan ended last night at sunset. Today is, therefore, a major celebration marking the end of the month of fasting.

We wish all of our Muslim colleagues, friends, family and community members a very happy and blessed Eid!
R.I.S.E. Higher: Featured Article of the Week
As Colleges Strive for a Return to Normal,
Students With Disabilities Say, ‘No Thanks’
Pandemic necessity showed the universal benefits of learning accommodations. Is there any going back?
Serena Puang, Chronicle of Higher Education, May 11, 2021

The pandemic has accelerated the conversation about disability accommodations on college campuses, as requests long labeled impossible, such as remote learning and recorded lectures, were universally adopted overnight. Now, as many colleges roll out plans for a return to “normal” this fall, students, professors, and disability activists are questioning the way people conceive of normalcy — and whether or not it’s a state that’s even desirable to return to.

While these changes are promising, some people with disabilities are also frustrated. Change didn’t come because of a fundamental shift in the way people think about disability; it came because suddenly, the needs of people who don’t identify as disabled converged with the needs of those who do.
Banner reads Watching Our Words
"chop chop"
Adverb, colloquial.

Quickly; with haste.
The expression "chop chop" originates from the Cantonese word kap, or 急, meaning "make haste." Dictionaries trace its appearance in English to the mid-19th century, when the term appears to have been adopted into the pidgin English used on some ships by sailors who were native Cantonese speakers. The term in English also has a profoundly condescending connotation; it is most often associated with a person in authority issuing commands to a subordinate or person perceived to be of inferior social status.

Read more about the term here: "Quick! What are the Origins of 'Chop Chop'?"
The "Watching our Words" feature discusses words or phrases in common use in American English with derogatory or offensive origins or meanings. Do you have a word or phrase you'd like us to feature in "Watching our Words"? Drop it into our Suggestion Box and we will explore it in a future newsletter!
Announcements from our network...
Stopping the Hate and Empowering the
Asian American Pacific Islander Community
Virtual Forum | Friday, May 14, 2021 |12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Image of a man in a crowd holding a handmade sign reading Stop Asian Hate
Join the Cleveland City Club for this forum with members of the Northeast Ohio AAPI community, who will share their perspective on what issues exist for the community and how to work towards a future that includes greater empowerment and inclusion.

The livestream will be available beginning at 12:30 p.m. Have questions? Tweet them at @TheCityClub or send a text to 330.541.5794.
Join the John Carroll delegation
for the 2021 Annual Meeting of the
AJCU Conference on Diversity and Equity!
June 2-3, 2021 | Online | Free registration!
promo image for AJCU CDE 2021 Annual Meeting
This year, the AJCU Conference on Diversity and Equity (CDE) will be holding its annual meeting virtually. This year's meeting will focus on ways that Jesuit colleges and universities can become anti-racist institutions. Participation is free! This year's meeting will be hosted by Canisius College. 
Youth winners of the "Stop the Hate" contest featured in a new video by the Maltz Museum
The Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage recently announced the winners of their annual "Stop the Hate" contest, an essay contest for Northeast Ohio K-12 students committed to creating a more accepting, inclusive society by standing up and speaking out against bias and bigotry. The young finalists' powerful words are featured in a terrific video produced by the Maltz Museum. Click the image to watch the video!
The Cleveland Play House presents:
Blackademics
a play by Idris Goodwin | May 22-26, 2021 | virtual event
image of a dinner place setting with one tiny seed on the plate and a large crack opening at its edge
A select table reserved at an exclusive café inspires a ravenous appetite from African-American professors Ann and Rachelle. From seed to slaughter, their host has the evening fully planned – down to the last chair. This comedic culinary celebration turns from crudité to cruelty as our scholars banter, debate and battle each other to claim their literal seat at the table. Can be streamed live or on-demand. ASL interpretation and closed captioning available.
Other articles we're reading this week ...