In the 21st century fight for continued civil rights we must ‘march on until victory is won,’ said Maureen Grasso, dean for the Graduate School.
“With all the challenges I am not discouraged, we shall overcome,” Maurice Daniels, dean of the School of Social Work and keynote speaker with a speech entitled “Unfinished Business: 21st Century Civil Rights Movement.”
The ninth annual lecture, sponsored by the Graduate and Professional Scholars, honors Mary Frances Early- the first African-American to receive a degree from the University in 1962, when she earned her Master of Public Education.
“She has never stopped opening doors for others and her determination and resolve to dream continue to inspire us all,” said Grasso. She went on to thank Early for making democracy “more of a reality for all Americans.”
Taking a moment to look back before looking forward, Daniels discussed unsung heroes of the 20th century civil rights movement. He gave credit to students for often being at the forefront in movements for social change and encouraged students to continue. He also talked about how they have helped the United States reach where it is today.
“A nation that refused to pass anti-lynching laws in the 20th century elects its first Black president with Barack Obama in the 21st,” Daniels said.
Early, who was in attendance, gave a few remarks to the audience at the conclusion of the lecture on being a part of history.
“I am proud that I could be a part in the path of desegregation at the University and am proud of the University of Georgia,” Early said. “I think of the song ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing,’ and the line facing the rising sun of our new day begun’ and I can say the sun is truly rising.”
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Diversity at UGA
Diversity is more important today as our world becomes increasingly smaller, and the University like many peer institutions is working to increase diversity.
Approximately 21 percent of the freshmen class identified themselves as being members of a minority group, according to an August University press release.
“The world is changing and UGA needs to change with it and the student body needs to reflect that sense of change,” said Chris Blakely, a fourth year biology major from Peachtree City.
The University has several initiatives to increase the diversity within the next class across several areas including race and ethnicity, geographic, linguistic and experiential, according to the UGA Admissions Web site.
Des Potier, associate director of admissions for multicultural recruitment, works with student organizations to help foster and increase diversity. Organizations have several options ranging from high school visits to “call outs” in which current students call those admitted and answer any questions they may have.
Student groups understand that they too must play a crucial role and many such as Georgia Daze are devoted to increasing diversity at the University. Every year the organization hosts a weekend in the fall and spring to give 40 admitted students a taste of UGA.
"The weekend helps break what everybody complains," said Erika Brown, recruitment chair for Georgia Daze. "We have a high retention rate, about 95 percent of students who attend end up coming to the University. And the people who help with it now were participants which speak to the level of quality of the program."
Numbers for projected fall 2009 enrollment are not yet available because applications are still being reviewed, but past enrollment indicates that the amount of diversity will increase.
For some, diversity at the University is not only important for life at UGA but life beyond the Arch.
“The world beyond the Arch is very different from life at UGA,” said Melissa Shivers, director of intercultural affairs for the University. “One of the biggest things we hear from job employers is that students who graduate from Georgia are not ready to work in a diverse environment.”
Approximately 21 percent of the freshmen class identified themselves as being members of a minority group, according to an August University press release.
“The world is changing and UGA needs to change with it and the student body needs to reflect that sense of change,” said Chris Blakely, a fourth year biology major from Peachtree City.
The University has several initiatives to increase the diversity within the next class across several areas including race and ethnicity, geographic, linguistic and experiential, according to the UGA Admissions Web site.
Des Potier, associate director of admissions for multicultural recruitment, works with student organizations to help foster and increase diversity. Organizations have several options ranging from high school visits to “call outs” in which current students call those admitted and answer any questions they may have.
Student groups understand that they too must play a crucial role and many such as Georgia Daze are devoted to increasing diversity at the University. Every year the organization hosts a weekend in the fall and spring to give 40 admitted students a taste of UGA.
"The weekend helps break what everybody complains," said Erika Brown, recruitment chair for Georgia Daze. "We have a high retention rate, about 95 percent of students who attend end up coming to the University. And the people who help with it now were participants which speak to the level of quality of the program."
Numbers for projected fall 2009 enrollment are not yet available because applications are still being reviewed, but past enrollment indicates that the amount of diversity will increase.
For some, diversity at the University is not only important for life at UGA but life beyond the Arch.
“The world beyond the Arch is very different from life at UGA,” said Melissa Shivers, director of intercultural affairs for the University. “One of the biggest things we hear from job employers is that students who graduate from Georgia are not ready to work in a diverse environment.”
Open Mic With Mike
Budget woes and the University's plan to weather the economic downturn dominated conversation at Open Mic with Mike on Tuesday, but President Michael Adams took a minute to address racism and the African-American community at the University.
"You are welcome here, and if you are being mistreated in any way there are avenues that I encourage you to seek them out," Adams said in response to a question from Natasha James, a third year management and environmental economics major from Decatur who asked Adams about subtle racism on campus.
Adams said the University is working to increase its diversity through the administration, recruitment and enrollment of African-Americans
Adams said applications from and acceptance of African-American students has increased, with Blacks making up 80 percent of the minorities on campus, .
According to the Office for Institutional Diversity Web site there are 1,800 African-American students at the University. The retention rate is 95 percent for African-American freshmen.
“The people who feel segregated tend to separate themselves, I never feel like I am treated any differently than anybody,” said Angelo Kalevela, a third year Management and Information Systems MIST major from Statesboro.
However, one student said that the problem on campus is not racism but a lack of sensitivity toward the experiences of minority students.
In addition to recruitment efforts, the University has also tried to increase diversity through legal avenues.
"We just went through a lawsuit, which we lost in which we favored affirmative action," Adams said.
He added that the loss of the suit caused the University to "redouble" its effort to recruit more talented and diverse students and encouraged students like James to help. .
“I don’t think he really answered my question, he mainly gave me statistics but I know that the University is trying,” James said.
President Michael Adams
"You are welcome here, and if you are being mistreated in any way there are avenues that I encourage you to seek them out," Adams said in response to a question from Natasha James, a third year management and environmental economics major from Decatur who asked Adams about subtle racism on campus.
Adams said the University is working to increase its diversity through the administration, recruitment and enrollment of African-Americans
Adams said applications from and acceptance of African-American students has increased, with Blacks making up 80 percent of the minorities on campus, .
According to the Office for Institutional Diversity Web site there are 1,800 African-American students at the University. The retention rate is 95 percent for African-American freshmen.
“The people who feel segregated tend to separate themselves, I never feel like I am treated any differently than anybody,” said Angelo Kalevela, a third year Management and Information Systems MIST major from Statesboro.
However, one student said that the problem on campus is not racism but a lack of sensitivity toward the experiences of minority students.
In addition to recruitment efforts, the University has also tried to increase diversity through legal avenues.
"We just went through a lawsuit, which we lost in which we favored affirmative action," Adams said.
He added that the loss of the suit caused the University to "redouble" its effort to recruit more talented and diverse students and encouraged students like James to help. .
“I don’t think he really answered my question, he mainly gave me statistics but I know that the University is trying,” James said.
President Michael Adams
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Holmes/Hunter lecture
The "American fragmented family" is in need of repair and strong marriages are part of the solution, said Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears of the Georgia Supreme Court.
"The concept of family is becoming fluid and the net result of family transformations means that more kids will grow up in single-parent households," Ward said, adding that she related to single parents, having been one at one time.
"I know [marriage] is not a panacea for all our problems in society, but marriage is the best anti-poverty and violence prevention that we have."
Ward said 60 percent of the civil cases at the trial court level are now about domestic issues, a percentage higher than all criminal cases combined. Despite the statistic, Ward said that "hope still exists."
"It is our job to save our country and children from self destruction," she said.
Ward, who spoke at the 24th Annual Holmes-Hunter lecture held Thursday, is retiring from the Court this June and will teach a seminar in the School of Law beginning this fall, University President Michael Adams said.
The annual lecture honors Charlayne Hunter-Gault and Hamilton Holmes, the first African-American students to attend the University in 1961.
"We have hills to climb and roads to traverse to make sure we are engaging each and every person that comes here," Adams said.
A woman of firsts herself, Ward became the first woman to serve as Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court when she was appointed in 2005, and was the youngest member ever to serve the Georgia Supreme Court in 1992. She has worked on two major initiatives, including the Georgia Supreme Court's Commission on Children Marriage and Family Law and the Committee on Civil Justice.
Growing up in the 1950s and '60s, Ward said she benefited from Holmes and Hunter-Gault and reached a defining moment when she would look over college brochures that came in the mail. Realizing that none of the students looked like her, Ward said she was determined to make a difference - and strives to through her work in the justice system.
"I knew America needed to change, and I wanted to be one of the people to help bring about change," Ward said.
Ward also gave the audience some advice, saying our society can find solutions to problems such as the fragmented family.
"You don't always have to carry a big stick. It's OK to speak up, but pick your battles," Ward said. "What we don't know how to accomplish we must learn."
"The concept of family is becoming fluid and the net result of family transformations means that more kids will grow up in single-parent households," Ward said, adding that she related to single parents, having been one at one time.
"I know [marriage] is not a panacea for all our problems in society, but marriage is the best anti-poverty and violence prevention that we have."
Ward said 60 percent of the civil cases at the trial court level are now about domestic issues, a percentage higher than all criminal cases combined. Despite the statistic, Ward said that "hope still exists."
"It is our job to save our country and children from self destruction," she said.
Ward, who spoke at the 24th Annual Holmes-Hunter lecture held Thursday, is retiring from the Court this June and will teach a seminar in the School of Law beginning this fall, University President Michael Adams said.
The annual lecture honors Charlayne Hunter-Gault and Hamilton Holmes, the first African-American students to attend the University in 1961.
"We have hills to climb and roads to traverse to make sure we are engaging each and every person that comes here," Adams said.
A woman of firsts herself, Ward became the first woman to serve as Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court when she was appointed in 2005, and was the youngest member ever to serve the Georgia Supreme Court in 1992. She has worked on two major initiatives, including the Georgia Supreme Court's Commission on Children Marriage and Family Law and the Committee on Civil Justice.
Growing up in the 1950s and '60s, Ward said she benefited from Holmes and Hunter-Gault and reached a defining moment when she would look over college brochures that came in the mail. Realizing that none of the students looked like her, Ward said she was determined to make a difference - and strives to through her work in the justice system.
"I knew America needed to change, and I wanted to be one of the people to help bring about change," Ward said.
Ward also gave the audience some advice, saying our society can find solutions to problems such as the fragmented family.
"You don't always have to carry a big stick. It's OK to speak up, but pick your battles," Ward said. "What we don't know how to accomplish we must learn."
Budget Allocation: Dollars and Cents
Money is not everything, but without funding from the University many student organizations would not be able to function.
Organizations must be registered and only organizations those “directly benefits or serve a large segment of the student body,” receive money from student activity fees according to the University’s Campus Life Business Office’s Web site.
Isis Men-Nefer, vice president of the Black Affairs Council, serves as a member at large for the SGA All All -Campus Allocations Committee. “I represent the voice of many of the multicultural organizations such as those in the Office of Intercultural Affairs and its important that we make sure that organizations receive adequate funding.”
There are over 500 registered student organizations and according to the Original Budget Summary by Fund Source for the Fiscal year of 2009, the money collected from student activity fees is approximately $11.3 million however not all organizations receive equal portions of that money.
“We have about 300 organizations that receive funding out of the more than 600 that are registered,” said Jerry Anthony, assistant director in the campus life business office.
Anthony said that many special interest organizations such as religious, political groups and greek organizations do not receive funding because they do not serve a large segment of the University.
The amount of money received also depends on the size of the organization, with smaller organizations often receiving less money because they have small membership numbers. Georgia Daze, which hosts accepted minority students for a weekend visit to the University.
“We don’t receive from student activities fee, so we receive money to operate from departments on campus such as the Department of Housing and the African-American AACCC,” said Erika Kristen Brown, recruitment chair for Georgia Daze. “We just started implementing dues because of budget cuts, so right now we ask for $5 from students who participate- we definitely need more money.”
Organizations must be registered and only organizations those “directly benefits or serve a large segment of the student body,” receive money from student activity fees according to the University’s Campus Life Business Office’s Web site.
Isis Men-Nefer, vice president of the Black Affairs Council, serves as a member at large for the SGA All All -Campus Allocations Committee. “I represent the voice of many of the multicultural organizations such as those in the Office of Intercultural Affairs and its important that we make sure that organizations receive adequate funding.”
There are over 500 registered student organizations and according to the Original Budget Summary by Fund Source for the Fiscal year of 2009, the money collected from student activity fees is approximately $11.3 million however not all organizations receive equal portions of that money.
“We have about 300 organizations that receive funding out of the more than 600 that are registered,” said Jerry Anthony, assistant director in the campus life business office.
Anthony said that many special interest organizations such as religious, political groups and greek organizations do not receive funding because they do not serve a large segment of the University.
The amount of money received also depends on the size of the organization, with smaller organizations often receiving less money because they have small membership numbers. Georgia Daze, which hosts accepted minority students for a weekend visit to the University.
“We don’t receive from student activities fee, so we receive money to operate from departments on campus such as the Department of Housing and the African-American AACCC,” said Erika Kristen Brown, recruitment chair for Georgia Daze. “We just started implementing dues because of budget cuts, so right now we ask for $5 from students who participate- we definitely need more money.”
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Yasmin Yonis profile
Sunlight softly pours into a window in a corner on the third floor of the
Yonis continues to pray the Salaat, a Muslim prayer, recited five times a day.
Yonis, a second year international affairs and newspapers major from Lawrenceville, in some ways is a minority within a minority. As an African-American and Muslim student at the
"Just as a people, we are lacking a sense of humanity for our brothers and sisters as just human beings,” Yonis said. As the 2008-09 Political Action Chair for the Black Affairs Council, Yonis has strived to make the voices of minority students and communities heard.
Some of the events held this year included the annual Black America Oratorical Contest, a debate between the Young Democrats and College Republicans and a voting registration drive for the entire fall semester.
"When people hear political action they often think about the militant side but it is much more than that," said Isis Men-Nefer, vice president for the Black Affairs Council.
Men-Nefer also said that the organization’s political action initiatives, which Yonis directs, help with outreach and educate others on African-American and world culture.
To some African-American students being politically active is important to creating change.
active is important." Politics has a lot to do with how corrupt our society may seem, so it is important as young
people it is important to be involved so we can help end discrimination against certain groups. For Yonis being
a political activist stems from a sense of personal responsibility.
"I look back at several movements throughout history like the civil rights movement, the situation in Darfur and
South Africa
"And I asked myself, ' why didn't the whole world stand up?' I don't want to look back years from now and
have my kids ask me why I didn't do anything."
Monday, February 23, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Purpose of the blog
The purpose of this blog is to report on diversity -related issues at the University of Georgia.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
New York Times story
I saw this story about a neighborhood where making $500,000 a yea won't get you far.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/fashion/08halfmill.html?_r=1&ref=fashion
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/fashion/08halfmill.html?_r=1&ref=fashion
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