Author to
speak at Day of Human Understanding March 5
Shippensburg
University will celebrate its annual Day of Human Understanding March 5 with
workshops, and several special events that reflect on diversity, inclusion and
cultural competence. The programs are free and open to the public.
Dr. Alice O’Connor,
professor of history at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and director
of the UCSB Washington Center program in Washington, D.C., will present the
keynote address at 3:30 p.m. in Old Main Chapel. Her talk is “America’s
Forgotten War: The Politics of Fighting Poverty From The Great Society to The
New Gilded Age.”
O’Connor will discuss
the extended period when ending poverty was embraced as an official policy
goal, and will describe the initiatives launched during this period that were
broad in scope and that raised issues of equity and social justice that remain
today. She teaches and writes about poverty and wealth, social and urban
policy, and inequality in the United States. She has also written extensively
about such topics as poverty and social policy.
Two special events are
also planned during the celebration. A silent auction will be held to raise funds for
the Safe Harbour Homeless Shelter in Carlisle. Items will be on display in the
Ceddia Union Building hallway outside the cafeteria from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. The
other event is the showing March 7 of the film Who Killed Chea Vichea? followed by a discussion with its
producer Rich Garella on “Life and Death in a Fledgling Democracy.” The film
starts at 6:30 p.m. in Grove Hall Forum.
The day begins with a
program at 8 a.m. in Ceddia Union Building 119 with a panel discussion on
“Embracing Diversity in the 21st Century: A Panel Discussion on Immigration and
Community Organizing.” Dr. Sara Grove, professor of political science, will
present introductory remarks before the discussion. Panel members include
Jessica Miller, parent coordinator for Title I and Title III at Chambersburg Area
School District; Pete Lagiovane, mayor of Chambersburg; Diana Martes, executive
director of the Chambersburg Hispanic American Center; Lilly Rodas, Americorps volunteer
at the Chambersburg Hispanic American Center; and Dr. José Ricardo-Osorio, associate
professor and chair of the modern languages department.
Breakout sessions will
begin at 9:30 a.m. and continue through 3:15 p.m. The sessions, all in the CUB,
are:
- 9:30 to 10:45 a.m.: “Homelessness.”
Social work students Jill Cox, Elizabeth Olendorf, Robyn Ross and Jenna Simmons
will discuss homelessness in Cumberland and Franklin counties.
- 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.:
“Exploring class values and initiating cross-class dialogue.” Dr. Kathryn Newton,
assistant professor of counseling and college student personnel, and Rachel
Esterline, a counseling graduate student, will explore class values and review strategies
for effective cross-class dialogue.
- 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.:
“Human trafficking — Exploitation for slave labor and sex.” Social work student
Cheryl Hershey will review the issues with discussion about the ways consumers can
use their purchasing power to influence elimination of forced labor and
examination of dynamics that influence the severity and prevalence of labor and
sex trafficking.
- 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.:
“Experiential Learning on Poverty and Social Justice in Our Neighborhoods and
Communities.” This session will be presented by Dr. Jerry Carbo, associate
professor of management and marketing; Dr. Viet Dao, associate professor of accounting
and management information systems; Dr. Steve Haase, associate professor of psychology;
Dr. Ian Langella, associate professor of finance and supply chain management;
and Petra Rueter, instructor in modern languages. The presenters will review
poverty in Southcentral Pennsylvania and its impact on area residents.
- 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.:
“Race: The Power of an Illusion In The 21st Century: “The House We Live In”
Part I,” followed from 12:30 to 1:45
p.m. by Part II of the presentation. The two-part sessions, presented by Nicole
Monastra-Hewitt, instructor in social work/gerontology, will focus on how
institutions shape and create race. The video “The House We Live In” will be
shown as an introduction to the second session.
- 12:30 to 1:45 p.m.: “Breaking
the Cycle of White Privilege in the Field of Accounting.” This program,
presented by Dr. Patricia A. Patrick, associate professor of accounting, will
review the demographic trends in accounting, and the educational and employment
opportunities available to minorities.
- 12:30 to 1:45 p.m.:
“Children in Poverty: The Case Of Gros — Mangles, Haiti.” Dr. Blandine Mitaut,
assistant professor of modern languages, and Dr. Agnes Ragone, professor of
modern languages, will use their personal experiences to look at poverty in the
rural community of Gros-‐Mangles, on the island of La Gonâve,
and center on the issues faced by children in this remote area.
- 2 to 3:15 p.m.:
“Conversations on disability.” Dr. Allison Carey, associate professor of
sociology and anthropology; Dr. Marita Flagler, associate professor of social
work and gerontology; and Dr. Cheryl Zaccagnini, associate professor of educational
leadership and special education, will facilitate a panel of speakers who each
have disabilities. The panel will include university students with disabilities
and participants in People Involved Equally (a student group that works with adults
with disabilities who live in the community).
- 2 to 3:15 p.m.:
“Poverty looks like me.” Dr. Becky Ward, associate professor of teacher
education, will explore the causes and consequences of poverty and work through
an exercise designed to provide a glimpse into what it means to be poor in the
U.S.
- 2 to 3:15 p.m.: “Dehumanization
and the path to genocide.” Dr. Mark Sachleben, associate professor of political
science, will explore how perpetrators of genocide willingly subvert human identity
and discusses why people often “stand by” and allow this human rights tragedy
to occur.
- 2 to 3:15 p.m.: “Minefield
of Diversity: What will it take to get to the other side?” Presenting the
session are Diane L. Jefferson, director of the Office of Multicultural Student
Affairs; Shauntae Doughty, assistant to the director of the MSA office; Kapri
Chase, graduate assistant in the MSA office; Sharicka Peters and MSA student leaders
will highlight the impact of culture both in and out of the classroom while
offering student leaders the opportunity to facilitate a common understanding
with workshop participants.
2/21/13