I just saw a determined woman struggling to succeed in a crumbling, backwards society. I didn’t think to question the book’s glorification of rape and slavery, even though they now seem like such blatant underpinnings of the novel.
On Oct. 15, Professor of Film and Media Studies Robert Sickels and junior Evan Martin showed their joint project, documentary "Seven Ways from Sunday," to a packed Kimball Auditorium. The film, created...
This story was originally published in The Mooring Mast of Pacific Lutheran University on October 3, 2014. It was written by PLU guest writer Genny Boots.
My Language My Choice is taking to the streets...
The second annual Power and Privilege Symposium is today, Thursday, February 20th, 2014. The theme of this year’s symposium is “Understanding Identity.†Classes are canceled, and a variety of panels and workshops have been scheduled from 9am until 5pm.
In mid-December, I, along with over 100 faculty members, attended a special faculty meeting to vote on a motion to cancel classes on Thursday, Feb. 20 in order to convene the Power and Privilege Symposium. Pen to paper, the faculty in attendance voted, and the motion passed by an overwhelming majority. The text of the motion upheld reads as follows:
I’ve often heard it said that people at Whitman don’t talk about race. It is quite true that an impoverished lexicon for discussions of race and racism exists at our institution, but this is not unique to Whitman—it is a generalized problem typifying political discourse in the United States, in which "race" surfaces to diagnose affective extremity (e.g., racial hatred), suspicious mobilizations of history (e.g., race-baiting) or demographic minoritization (e.g. “the Hispanic voteâ€). No wonder, then, that even faculty struggle to conceptually separate "race" (the historically contingent, political phenomenon through which categorical differences are ascribed to bodies) from "racism" (the creation or reproduction of structures of domination based on essentialized racial categories).
Last semester was tough. The school I loved turned into a place that caused me to feel anxious when talking about a topic that resonates with me the most: the topic of race.
Last semester, the Whitman campus engaged in a variety of critical discussions about race through public events like student panels on racism, and anonymously through the online website Whitman Encounters. As both an observer and a participant in these discussions, I’ve watched my fellow Whitman peers say countless, anonymous, hurtful things over the internet questioning or pointing out the actions or beliefs of specific individuals that do little to further discussions regarding race on campus.
The resolution passed Sunday the 17th directly addresses the issue of institutionalized racism on Whitman’s campus that a group of at least 225 students and faculty rallied against on Nov. 7. The original resolution expressed alarm at underlying racism that exists on campus and called for changes to be made at an institutional and administrative level. ASWC expressed open support for students of color and made a list of demands of the administration.
Outrage at specific incidents of racism has evolved into demands for decisive action on campus, putting pressure on Whitman's administration to instigate change.
Have you ever had a question that you didn't feel comfortable asking anybody? Well, I know that myself and many other Whitman students have. Luckily at Whitman, there is such a place that you can do this, and it is on a website called Whitman Encounters. However, this outlet to freely speak your mind might not be around for much longer.
Mia McKenzie, author of the blog Black Girl Dangerous, discussed her own struggle with developing an identity as a queer person of color, as well as challenged mainstream conceptions of racism. She spoke on Friday, Sept. 13 in a packed Reid Campus Center coffeehouse.
