Voices By Mackenzie Doss (4/14, 4/15, 4/16)

April 12, 2022

Voices explores how the stories we tell ourselves often become our reality, and one woman’s journey to take control of her inner narrator and breathe life into new identities. Voices incorporates puppetry representing how we can speak to ourselves in ways both gentle and violent, and how that language colors our lives. Join Sarah, a down-on-her-luck journalist who finds herself alone with her thoughts in a mic night venue she’s supposed to be writing about in a few hours’ time. Cue the “voices.” The audience enters the ethereal and abstract world of Sarah’s mind as she navigates her mental landscape in search of shelter.

Tickets for Voices will be pay-what-you-can, with all proceeds to be given to the UCONN Women's Centers' 100 Years of Women Scholarship Fund. The Scholarship supports an incoming UConn student, or current student who, as a role model or advocate, has advanced the role and contributions of women in society. What better way to spend a night out than entertainment and enrichment? We lift each other in our own ways as best we can and hope you’ll join us for a night of abstract theatre in support of a deserving student’s continued education. Recommended for ages 12+. Seating will be cafe style and will be first come, first served. Tickets are available at https://bimp.ticketleap.com/voices/dates

From Childhood Sexual Abuse to Campus Sexual Assault (4/15)

WGSS and the Women's Center invite you to "From Childhood Sexual Abuse to Campus Sexual Assault: Black Feminist Perspectives," a panel discussion event for Sexual Awareness and Prevention Month.

Long-time Black feminist activists, artists, national thought leaders, and youth program builders will discuss their work in the anti-sexual violence movement and how to support multi-time survivors of sexual violence. Joanne N. Smith is the founder of Girls for Gender Equity and co-founder of Black Girl Freedom Fund. Aishah Shahidah Simmons is the director and filmmaker of NO! The Rape Documentary and editor of Love with Accountability: Digging Up the Roots of Child Sexual Abuse.

This panel discussion will include ASL interpretation and captioning services. Please contact the Women's Center at 860-486-4738 or womenscenter@uconn.edu with any accommodation inquiries at least 5 days in advance of the event.

This virtual event will be held on Friday, April 15th, from 3:30 to 5:00 PM.
Register in advance for this webinar: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_EFR1ffzYSzOidc1wC4-x0g

UConn’s Resources for Neurodiversity

April 11, 2022

UConn has several resources dedicated to researching and raising awareness about neurodiversity, as well as providing support to neurodiverse members of our community:

The Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service (UCEDD)
The Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD)
Neurodiversity at UConn
- INCLUDE: A Neurodiversity Initiative funded by the National Science Foundation
The Center for Neurodiversity and Employment Innovation
Beyond Access (BA), a fee-for-service program that offers students resources, strategies, and technologies to enhance their learning experience.
The Autism Awareness Club, a student organization dedicated to increasing knowledge about autism spectrum disorders by reaching out to both students on campus and members of the local communities.
The Early Detection Laboratory, a research center dedicated to improving the early identification of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), the developmental trajectory of those with ASD, and the provision of early intervention services

Autism Language and Vocabuluary

A resource on Identity-First Language from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network
A resource on Identity-First vs. Person-First Language from Vanderbilt University’s Frist Center for Autism and Innovation.

Know My Name – Chanel Miller (4/18)

The Women's Center, Asian American Cultural Center, and USG invite you to a talk given by Chanel Miller, an artist, writer, and author of Know My Name.

First known publicly as Emily Doe, Miller is the survivor of the Stanford University sexual assault case that exposed the harsh reality of what many victims face. Her assailant, Brock Turner had been sentenced to just six months in county jail after he was found sexually assaulting her on Stanford's campus. Her victim impact statement was posted on BuzzFeed, where it instantly went viral—viewed by eleven million people within four days, it was translated globally and read on the floor of Congress; it inspired changes in California law and the recall of the judge in the case. Thousands wrote to say that she had given them the courage to share their own experiences of assault for the first time. Now she reclaims her identity to tell her story of trauma, transcendence, and the power of words.

This virtual event will be held on Monday, April 18, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. See more information on the event page.

6th Annual Women of Color in the Academy Conference (4/29)

ODI invites you to register for the 6th Annual Women of Color in the Academy Conference.

This year's conference theme is Return to Love: Honoring the Legacy of bell hooks. The overall conference goal is to facilitate a more diverse academy by enhancing the timely career progression of faculty. Administrators, staff, post-doctoral scholars and late stage doctoral candidates are also encouraged to attend. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of interactive, virtual workshops, as well as to network with other women of color in academia.

This virtual event will be held on Friday, April 29, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. See more information and register at the event website. Registration closes Thursday, April 28.

Native American and Indigenous Studies Symposium (4/12-4/14)

UConn is excited to gather the most Native and Indigenous scholars, activists, artists, and organizers ever on campus at one time to hold a week-long series of events focusing on Native American and Indigenous Studies. These event build upon those hosted by Kat Milligan-McLellan in the fall "Indigenous Women and Two-Spirits in STEM" and this week by Nate Acebo "Indigenous Futures Through Multimedia."

UConn undergraduate students, graduate students, staff, and faculty are invited to join (though the “Red Praxis” teaching workshop is limited to faculty and graduate students).

All events will be held in person.

April 12 Tuesday

4:30 PM | 6:00 PM -- Class of 1947 Room, Babbidge Library
Public Lecture by Mishuana Goeman, Visiting Scholar in Gender and History.
"Mapping Urban Indigenous Landscapes of Care in Cartographic Art Practices"

April 13 Wednesday

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM | Oak 106
"Red Praxis: Teaching Against Empire."
Workshop led by Sandy Grande. Open to faculty and graduate students only.

3:00 AM – 4:30pm | Castleman 212
Film screening: Beans, directed by Tracey Deer (2021).
Followed by a panel discussion, "Beans and the Oka Crisis" with Audra Simpson and Mishuana Goeman.

April 14 Thursday

12:30-1:45 | Oak Hall 408
"Black and Indigenous Politics and Pedagogies: Schooling in the Settler State"
with Khalil Anthony Johnson, Bayley Marquez, and Jarvis Givens.

4:00 PM – 6:15 PM | Castleman 212
Film screening: End of the Line: Women of Standing Rock
Followed by a panel featuring director Shannon Kring and the activists who comprise the cast of the film: Phyllis Young, Wašté Win Young, and Sky Roosevelt-Morris.

We are thankful to our many sponsors: Radical Books Collective, WGSS, NAIS, NACP, POLS, the President's Commitment to Community Grant and CLAS and individuals who have supported us!

Native American and Indigenous Studies Speaker Series (4/11)

The Neag School of Education invites you to the UConn Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS) Speaker Series: "Erasure and Resurgence: A Critical Conversation on Indigeneity, Sport, and Education"

Host: Chen Chen, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Sport Management Department of Educational Leadership, Neag School of Education, Affiliated faculty member, Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS) University of Connecticut

Speakers: Janelle Joseph, Ph.D Assistant Professor, Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education Founder and Director, IDEAS Research Lab - Indigeneity, Diaspora, Equity, and Anti-racism in Sport, University of Toronto

Tricia McGuire-Adams, Ph.D. Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Ganandawisiwin/Good Health Sovereignties Assistant Professor, Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport and Recreation, University of Alberta.

Event co-sponsored by UConn North American and Indigenous Studies; Neag School of Education's Department of Educational Leadership; UConn Sport Management; UConn Africana Studies Institute; and UConn Women's Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program.

This virtual event will be held on Monday, April 11, from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM. For more information, and to register visit http://s.uconn.edu/NAISApril2022

April Heritage and Awareness Month

April 8, 2022

To the UConn Community:

April is an important month for many members of the UConn community. The Office for Diversity and Inclusion and the Provost’s Office would like to take this opportunity to remind you of several celebrations, commemorations, and moments of raising awareness for members of our community:

Arab American Heritage Month: During the month of April, cultural institutions, schools, legislatures, and organizations across the country formally recognize the achievements of Arab Americans. Over 3.7 million Americans have roots tracing to 22 Arab countries across the Middle East and North Africa, representing diverse faiths, races, and languages. Efforts to honor their rich and diverse cultural heritages, as well as the many contributions they have made to American society, have been underway since 2017. This year, 37 US states have issued proclamations commemorating Arab American Heritage Month, as has President Biden, who in 2021 became the first US president to publicly acknowledge the celebration of Arab American Heritage. UConn wishes a happy Arab American Heritage Month to all who commemorate it!

Asian American Heritage Month: Every April, UConn commemorates Asian American Heritage Month – which is observed nationally in May – to honor the contributions Asian, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders have made to our country, our state, and our university. We believe that 2022 is an especially important year to celebrate Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) members of the UConn community. The AAPI community been unjustly targeted for racially based violence and harassment over the last two years. This increase in racially-based violence and harassment has a negative impact on the living, learning, and working conditions for AAPI members of our community – and, in turn, for all members of our community.

This year we are excited to honor the AAPI members of our community together and in-person after two years of virtual events. The Asian and Asian American Cultural Center will be hosting a month full of events. Some highlights include:

A month-long art mural in the Women’s Center acknowledging the hard work and achievements of Asian American women throughout history
Art & Activism – Ruby Ibarra (4/14)

See a full list of events here. We look forward to seeing you!

Autism Acceptance Month: UConn recognizes Autism Acceptance Month – formerly Autism Awareness Month – each April. Autism impacts a large segment of the population: 1 in 44 children are diagnosed with autism and there are currently over 7 million Americans from all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic standings on the autism spectrum. Autism Acceptance Month is aimed at raising awareness about the experiences and needs of those affected by autism, as well as ensuring that all those affected are able to achieve the highest quality of life possible. The name has been changed from “awareness” to “acceptance” to indicate the need to create a world where everyone in the autism community is connected to the help they need when they need it, and where the community’s critical needs for inclusion, connections, and support are met. Click here to see UConn’s resources dedicated to this community.

Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month: Every April, UConn renews its commitment to eliminating sexual violence on our campuses, in our state, and across the country. Sexual assault, harassment, violence, and abuse can happen anywhere: in the US, nearly 1 in 5 women experience rape or attempted rape. Sexual violence disproportionately impacts women of color, Native and Indigenous women, immigrant women, LGBTQIA+ women, and disabled women. Moreover, people under the age of 30, especially college-aged individuals, face the highest rates of sexual assault, including 21% of transgender or non-binary students, 18% of female students, and 4% of male students. Ending sexual violence requires care and commitment from all of us.

ODI is committed to raising awareness about sexual violence and prevention and supporting survivors of sexual violence. The ODI Central Office and Cultural Centers and Programs are here for you. UConn employees are obligated to advise the Office of Institutional Equity if they receive a report of sexual assault; cultural center full-time employees are exempt from this, however, which means that we can support you without reporting your information (unless you request it or an incident involves a minor). We also have events like a talk on Black Feminist Perspectives on campus sexual assault (April 15) and “Take Back the Night” (April 20) to honor sexual assault survivors.

ODI also supports University efforts to hold accountable the individuals who commit sexual assault, violence, and harassment:

Report an incident at inform.uconn.edu
Report an incident through the Office of Equity and Inclusion

You can find more resources through the Title IX Office and Responding to Student Disclosures of Sexual Violence. You may also find information on the President’s Task Force on Combating Sexual Violence on the President’s website.

Religious Holidays: April 2022 is a significant month for the religious practices of many members of our community (listed chronologically):

Ramadan (April 2 – May 2) and Eid al-Fitr (May 2-3): A holy month for Muslims that is used for spiritual reflection and growth, to help those in need, and spending time with loved ones. Muslims around the world typically observe a fast during daylight hours. UConn Dining will have specially prepared meals and will set up a station to collect meals after sundown.

Vaisakhi (April 14): This holiday marks the start of the Punjabi New Year and also celebrates the year (1699) when Sikhism was established as a formal order by Guru Gobind Singh. The day is observed by temple worship, feasting and dancing.

Passover (April 15 – April 23): This is a celebration of the Jewish redemption from slavery in ancient Egypt. Members of the Jewish community all over the world observe Passover by hosting seder meals. UConn events include Passover at Chabad and annual seder meals hosted by Hillel. UConn will offer specially prepared kosher meal options.

Easter (April 17): Easter is a Christian holiday to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is preceded by a Holy Week that begins with Palm Sunday (April 10). Festivities typically include special church services, music, flowers, the ringing of church bells, and family gatherings with a meal on Easter Sunday, the holiest of all Christian feast days.

Orthodox Easter (April 24): The celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ by Orthodox Christians, especially in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Greece, Lebanon, the Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Ukraine, and Russia.

We welcome the celebration of each of these holidays on our campuses and encourage support for those requiring accommodations. You can find information about guidance on academic accommodations for religious observations on a new webpage hosted by the Provost’s Office.

To see more information about resources and events happening this month and throughout the remainder of the semester, please visit our events page at www.diversity.uconn.edu/events.

Sincerely,

Carl and Frank

Carl Lejuez

Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Frank Tuitt

Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer

This post has been edited for corrections as of April 13th, 2022.

Take Back the Night (4/20)

April 4, 2022

Come to Student Union Ballroom 330 on Wednesday, 4/20/22, 7:00 - 10:00 PM for a night to honor victim-survivors of sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, stalking, and harassment through candlelight ceremony, sharing poetry, stories, songs, and open mic. This is a gender inclusive event and food & drink are provided!

If you are interested in sharing on stage, please register at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf2Nlzqo9WyJPXX6FiiBQyL36pTv3Sr0kf1oXkf-nl8CHaV-Q/viewform?usp=sf_link

(Registration is not required but highly recommended)

Antisemitism: Past and Present (April 5, 2022)

The Center for Judaic Studies and Contemporary Jewish Life invites you to "Why do you think they call it the oldest hatred?: Antisemitism-Past & Present," a talk by Dr. William Brustein.

Drawing on more than 40 years of empirical research on antisemitism in Europe and the U.S., he intends to offer key insights into the ubiquity of antisemitism. Among the questions to be addressed in his presentation are: why did antisemitism reach such heights before the Holocaust? How do we explain societal and temporal variation in antisemitism?, How does antisemitism differ from other forms of ethnic, racial and religious prejudice? Is leftist antisemitism new?, and how does present-day antisemitism differ from past antisemitism?

Dr. Brustein is author of the “Logic of Evil” and a professor at West Virginia University.

This is an Honors Event. It will be held in-person event on Tuesday, April 5, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the Konover Auditorium, Thomas J. Dodd Research Center.