Through my internship in the Community Service-Learning office I've noticed that these conversations about "civic engagement" and social issues are common among the faculty of the university, but rarely engaged by the wider student body.  The university is a place of learning and, I believe, that it's important to have all ideas being put out on the table so that we can learn from one another's experiences.

It's exciting that there are more spaces are being given for students and faculty to listen to one another.

The next brown bag lunch will be held on Monday November 9th and the topic of discussion will be Latino/as in the military during WWII.  The brown bag lunches are held in the Stamp Student Union, Student Involvement Suite, Terrapin Rooms B & C, 12:00p-1:30p.

Until next time,

Sasha

(Gerald Martineau/the Washington Post)

Members of the UMD community were given the opportunity to write down their feelings and post them on the Administration building.  Students and faculty declared, "Without diversity, there can be no equality." Various students expressed that the UMD self proclaimed ideals of diversity was what brought them to the university.

I have heard critics ask, "What is the point of the protest?  What can students actually do?"  That attitudes assumes that we have no say in our experience as college students.  It implies that our time here is a serious of experiences and actions done to us, rather than us being a part of the decision making process. 

No one denies that the budget cuts are serious and that the whole university hasn't been impacted.  I feel that students are voicing concerns that we are being ignored in the decision making process.  The students and faculty are equally affected by the decisions of the administration.  Students are asking for transparency.  At the very least we are asking to be informed rather than just being told after the fact. By protesting students are saying enough. 

We have come a long way as far as diversity, but we still have a long way to go.  Issues of diversity are not solely for minority groups, but affect us all equally.  There is so much that we have yet to learn from each other.

On Tuesday Novemeber 10, 9p students and faculty will again meet to discuss next steps. 

According to the, recently drafted,  Diversity Plan Draft diversity is "all the ways we differ as indiviuals. It includes visible differences such as age, gender, ethnicity, and physical appearance; as well as underlying differences such as thoughts styles, religion, nationality, socio-economic status, belief systems, sexual orientation and education. It means respecting, valuing and harnessing the richness of ideas, backgrounds and perspectives that are unique to each individual" (ASME).  In addition the University of Michigan points out that diversity "should be a source of mutual enrichment to all members of the university community."

So what does this all mean with the restructuring of the office of Equity and Diversity (which includes the Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Education, Nyumburu Cultural Center, and the office of LGBT Equity)? As Nehama mentioned Dr. Cordell Black, Assistant Provost of Equity and Diversity Cordell Black, has worked at the university for years fighting for marginalized groups on campus with the idea that diversity is essential to the "excellence and enrichment" of the the university.

Students are not taking the matter lightly.  Last night there was an emergency meeting to discuss the restructuring of the office of Equity and Diversity and Dr. Cordell Black.  This morning's Diamondback article is titled Students furious over diversity official's ousting.

In response to last night's meeting there will be a march on the administration building starting at 12p at the Nyumburu Cultural Center.  Let your voices be heard!

-Sasha

I've been given an incredible opportunity and I'm so excited about it that I thought I'd share it with you all early! I'm attending the General Assembly (GA) of United Jewish Communities next week and can't wait. The GA is a HUGE gathering of Jewish leadership from around the world that comes together on an annual basis to discuss Jewish leadership, current issues, and have plenaries, forums, and workshops for current and emerging leaders. It encompasses the political, business, and non-profit realms while bringing together leaders of diverse ages and backgrounds.

The GA is taking place in DC and I applied for a chance to go for free--and got it! There are lots of amazing speakers who will be there, and I will be sure to update you about everything next week. As of now, I know that President Barack Obama and Prime Minister of Israel Benyamin Netanyahu will be speaking there. I was also invited to a student event at the Israeli Embassy where Ambassador Michael Oren and past Deputy Prime Minister of Israel Natan Sharansky, among others, will be speaking. 

If you've ever met me, you know that I freak out when meeting important people, and get more a bit more excited than I should. I can't wait to share my experiences with you next week!

-Nehama

I first heard of What is the What? by Dave Eggers when I spent time in India two years ago. Each of the people in my group brought a few books and we spent the summer passing them around. There wasn't much to do right in the middle of the day when it got unbearably hot and no one was outside, so we had the opportunity to read a wide variety of books we might have never otherwise come across. What is the What? was one of the books circulating that summer, and while I yearned to read it, it never made its way into my hands.

Flash forward to this semester, when What is the What? was picked as the First Year Book, and I got a free copy at the First Look Fair. I've been a fan of Eggers for about 6 years (A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius and How We Are Hungry are both amazing!), so I immediately delved into the book, and was incredibly surprised by so many things in it. For those of you who haven't read it yet, I won't give anything away, but it's an combination of incredible stories organized in a moving and unique way. Eggers chronicles the story of Valentino Achak Deng, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. 

I actually haven't finished the book yet because I've found that I need some time between each spurt of reading to digest the words and fully understand and appreciate Deng's story. I'm almost done with it though, which is great timing since Eggers and Deng will both be on campus together this Thursday! They will be speaking from 5:30 pm to 7 pm in Tydings 0130. Long lines are anticipated (personally, I think they should have rented out Cole for this--everyone should be there!), so get there early! It is sure to be a moving speech, and if it is anything like the book it will be unlike anything you've ever experienced before. 

I hope to see you there!

It's unfortunate that as a society it has taken us this long to realize that what we do today impacts our earth in serious ways and all of those who will be living in it in the future.  I know that I don't want my children to live in a world with little trees and clean air to breathe. Global warming and rising sea levels are very serious matters.  With an ever growing population we can't afford to wait to change our habits.  We aren't talking about returning to the era of the caveman, but being conscious about your impact on the earth. What we do does make a difference.

On Novemeber 3 at 5p UMD students will meet at the sundial on McKeldin Mall to rally around electing pro-environment city council candidates. It is important to take steps both individually and collectively. While what we do as individuals is of great importance helping to make policy changes helps to speed the process up.

Let's prove that we are not a generation of apathetic youths!

March it.. click for more info!

..and have a happy and safe Halloween!(Remember Sunday 2a is Daylight Savings)

There are 2 awesome things happening today that you should make room for in your schedule: APO's Blood Drive, and JSAC's Trick or Treat for Cans. Each will only take 1-2 hours of your time and be especially helpful. I find that sometimes the small things are what mean the most to me. Taking off a week to rebuild homes in New Orleans is obviously great, but that's not something that can occur on a regular basis. Incorporating the small things like these into your live on a regular basis allows you to truly make social justice work something that is intertwined into everything else. You'll start making connection between the work and your academics, friendships, and everything else. 

Well, here goes!

Alpha Phi Omega (APO), a co-ed community service fraternity, is sponsoring a blood drive today. Did you know that about 1000 units of blood are needed by people EVERY day? Or that 25% of those are used by cancer patients? However, even with that drastic need, only 3 out of 100 people donate blood. Sign up for today's drive and change that number! 

https://www.membersforlife.org/rccm/mobilesch/login.php, enter the sponsor code of 13160. Also, you can try to drop-in and see if there's a spot. It's from 11 am-5 pm in the Stamp Atrium. 

And if you're looking to infuse something awesome into your Thursday night, go to Jewish Social Action Committee (JSAC)'s Trick or Treat for Cans. Every year, they go into nearby neighborhoods to trick or treat, but instead of accepting candy, they ask for canned food donations. The donations go to the Capital Area Food Bank. In a time of economic uncertainty, food donations are critical right now. Many food banks across the nation have empty shelves and people of all ages and backgrounds are going hungry as a result. Going to this event helps get more food to people who need it, and you'll also have fun. Costumes are encouraged. For more details about the event, visit the FB event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=158669406579&index=1.

I hope you can Impact your Thursday! Do one or two small things and make a HUGE difference!

-Nehama

Some people ask why it's necessary to have these months dedicated to certain groups of people, for example Black History month or Latino Heritage month. While I think it's true that every day we should celebrate all people and their advances, these minority groups often go unoticed by society at large. These months of celebration are a time for people to be able tell their stories.  It's a time for learning and reflection.

The stories of Native Americans are often unheard.  People wouldn't even think of all of the injustices that are faced by the indigenous.  It's important to acknowledge history and to learn from it and move forward towards a better future.

The U.S. is an amazing place because of its diversity.  While there may be very serious racial issues and a long way to go there is the opportunity to learn from our neighbor's culture in order to gain a better understanding and repect for one another.

There is a calendar of events with all of the activities going on next month through MICA (Multicultural Involvement and Advocacy). Exciting stuff!

I hope to see you at some these events :)

-Sasha

If you're a faculty member, consider applying for one of these grants by Friday! If you're a student, encourage your favorite professor to apply for one--help them design it, and participate in the class! It's a great way to get to know a professor better and bring civic engagement issues into your studies. Info is below.

Have a great day!

-Nehama

2010 Civic Engagement Stimulus Grants:  Request for Proposals

The Coalition for Civic Engagement and Leadership, the Center for Teaching Excellence, and Undergraduate Studies invite applications for 2010 Civic Engagement Stimulus Grants.  The purpose of the grants, intended for student-faculty collaborations, is to foster new ways of integrating civic engagement into new or existing courses to be offered in Winterterm or Spring semester 2010. 

The grants are in the amount of $50 to $250.  They can be used for many purposes, including, but not limited to:  supplies, transportation, room rental, food, and speaker fees. For more information and the application, please visit:  www.terpimpact.umd.edu and go to Faculty/Staff Resources on the top tool bar. Applications are due by October 30, 2009.

These grants are funded through a 2006-07 Instructional Improvement Grant received by Dr. Linda Moghadam entitled “Civic Engagement and Leadership Opportunities: What’s Going On in Classrooms Across Campus.”