Just FYI...
Did you know that May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month?
For more information visit the Multicultural Affairs office website at www.washburn.edu/mao/
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Multicultural Affairs office to relocate
Just a short FYI just to inform...
As of May 18,2009, the Multicultural Affairs office will temporarily relocate to Morgan 18 (basement) for the summer due to renovations. The office phone number will remain the same, 785.670.1622. MAO office hours Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., or by appointment after 5 p.m. Visit the MAO website at www.washburn.edu/mao/
Dona K. Walker, Director
Regina Mendoza-Vargas, Office Assistant
As of May 18,2009, the Multicultural Affairs office will temporarily relocate to Morgan 18 (basement) for the summer due to renovations. The office phone number will remain the same, 785.670.1622. MAO office hours Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., or by appointment after 5 p.m. Visit the MAO website at www.washburn.edu/mao/
Dona K. Walker, Director
Regina Mendoza-Vargas, Office Assistant
Saturday, May 2, 2009
International Accents Fall-Winter 2008 issue
Just some information to post in case anyone is interested.
The Fall-Winter 2008 issue of the International Accents can be found under the link below. Thanks to those who contributed. Bailihttp://www.washburn.edu/iip/newsletters/fall-winter-2008.pdf
The Fall-Winter 2008 issue of the International Accents can be found under the link below. Thanks to those who contributed. Bailihttp://www.washburn.edu/iip/newsletters/fall-winter-2008.pdf
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Host an AFS Student
Being a host family of an international exchange student can enrich your life, and is a way to bring diversity to your family. American Field Service is seeking families to host international exchange students for the 2009-2010 academic year.
As a host family, you open your home and welcome students by providing them with a bed, meals, guidance, and support. The students desire to participate as active members of their host families, schools, and communities. Students will bring spending money and have medical insurance. Host families also receive support of regional AFS staff and volunteers.
If you would like additional information about hosting an AFS exchange student, please call 1.800.AFS.INFO or log onto www.afs.org/usa. You can also talk to an AFS exchange student about their country and their experience living in America.
This is a way to introduce a better understanding of the world to your children and family. You can also make a difference in the life of an AFS student.
As a host family, you open your home and welcome students by providing them with a bed, meals, guidance, and support. The students desire to participate as active members of their host families, schools, and communities. Students will bring spending money and have medical insurance. Host families also receive support of regional AFS staff and volunteers.
If you would like additional information about hosting an AFS exchange student, please call 1.800.AFS.INFO or log onto www.afs.org/usa. You can also talk to an AFS exchange student about their country and their experience living in America.
This is a way to introduce a better understanding of the world to your children and family. You can also make a difference in the life of an AFS student.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Jane Elliot to speak at Washburn
Jane Elliot, who best known for her exercises and documentaries titled, "Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes," will speak at Washburn from 6 to 8 p.m. April 30, in Washburn Room, Memorial Union.
Elliot is an internationally known teacher, lecturer, and diversity trainer. She is the recipient of the National Mental Health Association Award for Excellence in Education.
Elliot exposes prejudice and bigotry. Elliot devised the controversial, "Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes," in response to the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Her famous exercise labels participants as inferior or superior based solely upon the color of their eyes and exposes them to the experience of being a minority.
Admission is free for Washburn students with a valid WU ID and may be picked up in the Campus Activity Board office. Admission for the general public is $10 and tickets are available at the YWCA.
For more information, contact Kim Morse at 785.670.2059.
Elliot is an internationally known teacher, lecturer, and diversity trainer. She is the recipient of the National Mental Health Association Award for Excellence in Education.
Elliot exposes prejudice and bigotry. Elliot devised the controversial, "Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes," in response to the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Her famous exercise labels participants as inferior or superior based solely upon the color of their eyes and exposes them to the experience of being a minority.
Admission is free for Washburn students with a valid WU ID and may be picked up in the Campus Activity Board office. Admission for the general public is $10 and tickets are available at the YWCA.
For more information, contact Kim Morse at 785.670.2059.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
"We Shall Remain" Series on PBS/KTWU
Last night began the "We Shall Remain" series on PBS/KTWU.
The series features five 90-minute documentaries. The series captures moments in history from the Native American perspective over 300 years in U.S. history when Native Americans fought the extinction of their culture and land.
The series represents an unprecedented collaboration between Native and non-Native filmmakers.
Each week features a new episode. The episodes air at 8 p.m. Monday on PBS.
April 13, "After the Mayflower"
April 20, "Tecumseh's Vision"
April 27, "Trial of Tears"
May 4, "Geronimo"
May 11, "Wounded Knee"
The "We Shall Remain" series is part of the on-going PBS television series "American Experience."
For additional information and summaries of the upcoming episodes, log onto http://ktwu.washburn.edu/. Or preview the entire series at You Tube We Shall Remain.
The series features five 90-minute documentaries. The series captures moments in history from the Native American perspective over 300 years in U.S. history when Native Americans fought the extinction of their culture and land.
The series represents an unprecedented collaboration between Native and non-Native filmmakers.
Each week features a new episode. The episodes air at 8 p.m. Monday on PBS.
April 13, "After the Mayflower"
April 20, "Tecumseh's Vision"
April 27, "Trial of Tears"
May 4, "Geronimo"
May 11, "Wounded Knee"
The "We Shall Remain" series is part of the on-going PBS television series "American Experience."
For additional information and summaries of the upcoming episodes, log onto http://ktwu.washburn.edu/. Or preview the entire series at You Tube We Shall Remain.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Last Diversity Matters Seminar
If you haven't attended a Diversity Matters Seminar this semester, don't miss out on the last one. The last Diversity Matters Seminar of the semester titled "What Would You Do If...," will be from 1:30 p.m.- 3:30 p.m. Friday April 10 in Morgan 270.
This seminar will be a working seminar which participants will be placed in groups. Groups will then work through three diversity related scenarios. The related scenarios are social, education, and work. Groups will present their responses to the scenarios. Participants will then discuss a global diversity issue.
The discussions will be moderated by Rio Cervantes-Reed, executive director of the Human Relations Commission of Topeka.
The seminar is open to all faculty, staff, students, and public.
This seminar will be a working seminar which participants will be placed in groups. Groups will then work through three diversity related scenarios. The related scenarios are social, education, and work. Groups will present their responses to the scenarios. Participants will then discuss a global diversity issue.
The discussions will be moderated by Rio Cervantes-Reed, executive director of the Human Relations Commission of Topeka.
The seminar is open to all faculty, staff, students, and public.
Milestones in Diversity
This year marks the year for many milestones in diversity. This year marks the year of the 100th anniversary of the NAACP and also the 40th anniversary of Affirmative Action.
Next fall, Washburn will be hosting a conference on the past, present, and future of Affirmative Action programs. The conference, "Affirmative Action at 40: Requiem or Renaissance?" will feature a distinguished alum of Washburn, Art Fletcher.
Art Fletcher is known for his involvement in the development of federal Affirmative Action programs.
The conference is scheduled for Sept. 22-24, 2009. The keynote speaker for the conference will be Gerald Torres, co-author of "The Miner's Canary: Enlisting Race, Resisting Power, Transforming Democracy."
To find additional information about the conference, visit www.washburn.edu/ce/affirmative-action/index.php.
Organizers of the conference welcome any questions, comments, or volunteers. Contact Kerry Wynn at 785.670.2062 or by email kerry.wynn@washburn.edu.
Next fall, Washburn will be hosting a conference on the past, present, and future of Affirmative Action programs. The conference, "Affirmative Action at 40: Requiem or Renaissance?" will feature a distinguished alum of Washburn, Art Fletcher.
Art Fletcher is known for his involvement in the development of federal Affirmative Action programs.
The conference is scheduled for Sept. 22-24, 2009. The keynote speaker for the conference will be Gerald Torres, co-author of "The Miner's Canary: Enlisting Race, Resisting Power, Transforming Democracy."
To find additional information about the conference, visit www.washburn.edu/ce/affirmative-action/index.php.
Organizers of the conference welcome any questions, comments, or volunteers. Contact Kerry Wynn at 785.670.2062 or by email kerry.wynn@washburn.edu.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Brent Scarpo is coming to Washburn
Motivational speaker, Brent Scarpo, will be speaking at Washburn 7 p.m. April 9 in the Washburn Room.
Scarpo's presentation, "Journey to a Hate Free Millennium," is part of a diversity program which features the multiple award-winning documentary film which he directed and produced. The film centers around real life hate crimes such as the beating death of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student in Wyoming , the Columbine high school shootings in Littleton, Colo., and Fred Phillips. Scarpo will be discussing ways to seek soloutions to ending hate and the hate crimes happening in this nation.
Scarpo donates a journey educational kit to each school he presents at. The kit includes an educational guide and the documentary film.
Representatives from Washburn attended the national NACA where Scarpo was part of the educational showcases. Billy Jean Burgman, executive director of Campus Activity Board said that they felt Scarpo's presentation would be a great way to impact students lives and for students to take action steps to prevent it.
The event is sponsored by the Campus Activity Board and Multicultural Affairs. The event is free and open to the public.
To find additional information on Scarpo's presentation, visit is website at www.brentscarpo.com.
Scarpo's presentation, "Journey to a Hate Free Millennium," is part of a diversity program which features the multiple award-winning documentary film which he directed and produced. The film centers around real life hate crimes such as the beating death of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student in Wyoming , the Columbine high school shootings in Littleton, Colo., and Fred Phillips. Scarpo will be discussing ways to seek soloutions to ending hate and the hate crimes happening in this nation.
Scarpo donates a journey educational kit to each school he presents at. The kit includes an educational guide and the documentary film.
Representatives from Washburn attended the national NACA where Scarpo was part of the educational showcases. Billy Jean Burgman, executive director of Campus Activity Board said that they felt Scarpo's presentation would be a great way to impact students lives and for students to take action steps to prevent it.
The event is sponsored by the Campus Activity Board and Multicultural Affairs. The event is free and open to the public.
To find additional information on Scarpo's presentation, visit is website at www.brentscarpo.com.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Brown v. Board of Education celebrates Cesar Chavez's birthday
Brown v. Board of Education is hosting a film screening featuring a new documentary film titled Viva La Causa! in celebration of the anniversary of Cesar Chavez's birthday at noon March 31.
The 40- minute film depicts one of the seminal events in the march for human rights- the grape strike and boycott led by human rights activists Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta. The film highlights the parallels between the farm workers and civil rights movement. The film is from the Southern Poverty Law Center's Teaching Tolerance Project.
The event is free and open to the public. The event is a brown bag lunch event. Attendees are welcome to bring lunch. Reservations are recommended. RSVP by March 29 by calling the Brown Foundation at (785) 235-3939 or email brownfound@juno.net.
The event is at the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site Auditorium 1515 SE Monroe Street Topeka, Kansas.
The 40- minute film depicts one of the seminal events in the march for human rights- the grape strike and boycott led by human rights activists Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta. The film highlights the parallels between the farm workers and civil rights movement. The film is from the Southern Poverty Law Center's Teaching Tolerance Project.
The event is free and open to the public. The event is a brown bag lunch event. Attendees are welcome to bring lunch. Reservations are recommended. RSVP by March 29 by calling the Brown Foundation at (785) 235-3939 or email brownfound@juno.net.
The event is at the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site Auditorium 1515 SE Monroe Street Topeka, Kansas.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Multicultural Affairs to raise awareness of NAACP
The Multicultural Affairs office is sponsoring an event for the Black Law Student Association to promote awareness of the Topeka NAACP chapter.
The new and current president of the Topeka NAACP chapter, Rev. Ben Scott, will be speaking to black law students on March 25 at noon at the law school.
Director of Multicultural Affairs, Dona Walker is a member of NAACP and wants law students to know that there is a local chapter, the activities that they are involved in and that the law students are welcomed and encouraged to join.
The event is free and open to all Washburn students.
I am going to cover the event for my second story.
The new and current president of the Topeka NAACP chapter, Rev. Ben Scott, will be speaking to black law students on March 25 at noon at the law school.
Director of Multicultural Affairs, Dona Walker is a member of NAACP and wants law students to know that there is a local chapter, the activities that they are involved in and that the law students are welcomed and encouraged to join.
The event is free and open to all Washburn students.
I am going to cover the event for my second story.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Washburn raises awareness in slavery
To heighten awareness of slavery, Washburn hosted a week long series of events. Slavery Awareness Week was held Feb. 23-27.
The week of events were sponsored by different student organizations and offices on campus. Some of the events that were held during the week included an art reception featuring an art exhibition, a film screening of "Very Young Girls" and a panel discussion on the topic domestic trafficking, all held at the Mabee Library. These events were just a few that were held during awareness week. All events that were held were free and open to the public.
The art exhibition titled "Reflections on Modern Slavery", will remain open through the end of March.
Washburn promotes slavery awareness every year.
The week of events were sponsored by different student organizations and offices on campus. Some of the events that were held during the week included an art reception featuring an art exhibition, a film screening of "Very Young Girls" and a panel discussion on the topic domestic trafficking, all held at the Mabee Library. These events were just a few that were held during awareness week. All events that were held were free and open to the public.
The art exhibition titled "Reflections on Modern Slavery", will remain open through the end of March.
Washburn promotes slavery awareness every year.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Brown Bag Lectures
A brown bag lunch coupled with an informative speaker is a way some students, faculty and staff are spending their lunch hour Wednesdays at Washburn.
This semester the International House is hosting a series of brown bag lectures from noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays. A different speaker is brought in each week to speak on topics dealing with diversity and different cultures issues.
The last speakers invited to speak were Washburn President Jerry Farley and School of Nursing Dean Cindy Hornberger. They presented a lecture "India, Opportunities and Challenges," Feb. 18. The lecture was about India's population, recent economic advances and opportunities and it's cultures.
The next brown bag lecture will be from noon to 1 p.m on March 4. The speakers will be Norma Juma and Kanalis Ockree. They will be speaking on the topic "A Glimpse at WTE Opportunities in Kenya and a Spectacular Safari," the professors of Washburn's School of Business visited universities in Kenya last summer and will be speaking about their trip and opportunities they saw for WTE credit.
The brown bag lectures are free and open to the public. Drinks and cookies are provided.
This semester the International House is hosting a series of brown bag lectures from noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays. A different speaker is brought in each week to speak on topics dealing with diversity and different cultures issues.
The last speakers invited to speak were Washburn President Jerry Farley and School of Nursing Dean Cindy Hornberger. They presented a lecture "India, Opportunities and Challenges," Feb. 18. The lecture was about India's population, recent economic advances and opportunities and it's cultures.
The next brown bag lecture will be from noon to 1 p.m on March 4. The speakers will be Norma Juma and Kanalis Ockree. They will be speaking on the topic "A Glimpse at WTE Opportunities in Kenya and a Spectacular Safari," the professors of Washburn's School of Business visited universities in Kenya last summer and will be speaking about their trip and opportunities they saw for WTE credit.
The brown bag lectures are free and open to the public. Drinks and cookies are provided.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Multicultural Affairs observes Black History Month
The staff of Multicultural Affairs is reminding students at Washburn the month of February is national Black History Month by passing out freebies in the Union.
Dona Walker, director of Multicultural Affairs set up a table on Monday at the Union to make students aware of the significance that the month has in black history.
Walker said that there were many students that passed by that did not remember that black history month was observed in February.
Walker had signs that described what the month promoted. She also handed out pencils and stickers to encourage awareness.
Multicultural Affairs will be hosting another awareness event from noon -1 p.m. Monday Feb. 24 in the Union.
Dona Walker, director of Multicultural Affairs set up a table on Monday at the Union to make students aware of the significance that the month has in black history.
Walker said that there were many students that passed by that did not remember that black history month was observed in February.
Walker had signs that described what the month promoted. She also handed out pencils and stickers to encourage awareness.
Multicultural Affairs will be hosting another awareness event from noon -1 p.m. Monday Feb. 24 in the Union.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Research & Misc.
This week, I just tried to make all contacts as possible. I used this week to get more familiar with my beat and research my beat more thoroughly.
News Briefs
It is hard to imagine a campus without WBSU or better known as Washburn Black Student Union.
The members of Washburn's Black Student Union decided Tuesday night that they were not going to meet anymore. The group that meets once a week at 8 p.m. discussed their declining attendance rate from the members of the group.
The group decided that they were not going to meet any longer or at least until members become more active and show a participating interest in the group.WBSU the only minority group that is registered, is out of commission for now until interest in the group picks back up.
WBSU's seven members adjourned Tuesday night with thoughts of the uncertainty of WBSU's future.
The members of Washburn's Black Student Union decided Tuesday night that they were not going to meet anymore. The group that meets once a week at 8 p.m. discussed their declining attendance rate from the members of the group.
The group decided that they were not going to meet any longer or at least until members become more active and show a participating interest in the group.WBSU the only minority group that is registered, is out of commission for now until interest in the group picks back up.
WBSU's seven members adjourned Tuesday night with thoughts of the uncertainty of WBSU's future.
Contacts
Contacts that I made this week were:
Dona K. Walker, Director-Multicultural Affairs785.670.1622; I owe Dona a lot for making this beat possible. I got most of my information from her. She passed along information every time that she learned of something new happening on campus.
Tina Williams, International Program; I did not directly speak to Tina. Dona gave me information about the Brown Bag Lecture Series and different events that the International Program was sponsoring.
Angela Valdiva, Office Assistant-International Program; I spoke to Angela maybe once or twice. She was very informative about things happening on campus. She was able to give me direction on where to track some information down.
Marsha Carrasco Cooper, Student Activities & Greek Life; I received some emails from Marsha about events that were happening on campus.
Regina Mendoza-Vargas; office assistant of Multicultural Affairs office; Regina was also a huge part of my beat. She forwarded information and emails to me about events and additional information that I would have not been able to obtain if she did not inform me. Both Dona and Regina went above and beyond to keep me informed.
Dona K. Walker, Director-Multicultural Affairs785.670.1622; I owe Dona a lot for making this beat possible. I got most of my information from her. She passed along information every time that she learned of something new happening on campus.
Tina Williams, International Program; I did not directly speak to Tina. Dona gave me information about the Brown Bag Lecture Series and different events that the International Program was sponsoring.
Angela Valdiva, Office Assistant-International Program; I spoke to Angela maybe once or twice. She was very informative about things happening on campus. She was able to give me direction on where to track some information down.
Marsha Carrasco Cooper, Student Activities & Greek Life; I received some emails from Marsha about events that were happening on campus.
Regina Mendoza-Vargas; office assistant of Multicultural Affairs office; Regina was also a huge part of my beat. She forwarded information and emails to me about events and additional information that I would have not been able to obtain if she did not inform me. Both Dona and Regina went above and beyond to keep me informed.
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