To the UConn Community:

The Office for Diversity and Inclusion and the Provost’s Office would like to remind you of several celebrations, commemorations, and moments of raising awareness for members of our community during the month of December:

Cultural Holidays: December holds several significant cultural and federal holidays:

World AIDS Day (December 1): Founded in 1988, World AIDS day was the first ever global health day, usually commemorated by wearing a red ribbon. This day reminds us of the ongoing crisis of AIDS: more than 35 million people have died from HIV- or AIDS-related illnesses since the virus was first identified in 1984, and an estimated 38 million people worldwide have the virus today. The day offers an opportunity to commemorate those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses and to support those currently living with HIV, as well as to raise awareness, fight prejudice, and improve education. This year’s theme is “Putting Ourselves to the Test: Achieving Equity to End HIV,” which encourages people across the globe to unite to eliminate the inequities and disparities that create barriers to HIV testing, prevention, and care.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3): First recognized by the United Nations in 1992, International Day of Persons with Disabilities promotes the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities and raises awareness about the political, economic, social, and cultural barriers to inclusion faced by those impacted by disability. It is important to remember that not all forms of disability are visible from the outside; some physical, mental, or neurological conditions that can challenge a person’s movements, senses, or activities are not obvious to others, which can lead to misperceptions, misunderstandings, and judgements. The theme for this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities is “Transformative Solutions for Inclusive Development,” which challenges stakeholders across the world to foster innovative solutions to making the word more accessible and equitable.

UConn has a strong commitment to expanding inclusion for people with disabilities through the Center for Students with Disabilities.  UConn also promotes awareness through academic programs like the Certificate of Interdisciplinary Disability Studies in Public Health and the Human and Developmental Sciences Families and Disabilities concentration, as well as academic centers like the Center for Excellence in the Study of Developmental Disabilities and the Collaborative on Postsecondary Education and Disability, and it offers courses in Disability Studies in Storrs and Waterbury.

Human Rights Day (December 10): Every year, we honor the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948, the Declaration establishes equal dignity and worth for every person and proclaims the inalienable rights that every human being is entitled to, regardless of race, class, gender, sexuality, ability, national origin, language, political orientation, or any other status.  Every December 10th, we acknowledge the importance of human rights.

UConn has a strong legacy of working to advance human rights.  The Human Rights Institute, which celebrates its 20^th anniversary this year, serves as a focal point for interdisciplinary educational and research programming. The Institute’s faculty advisory board, the Gladstein Committee, is made up of 48 faculty from across the university who conduct research and offer courses on a wide range of human rights issues. HRI houses an undergraduate major and minor in human rights, as well as a master of arts and graduate certificate in human rights.  HRI’s Dodd Human Rights Impact awards the Thomas J. Dodd Prize in International Justice and Human Rights, as well as programming related to human rights education, democracy and dialogue, business and human rights, and human rights film and digital media.

Innovative research and educational programs centering human rights take place across campus – including in numerous units in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Schools of Business, Education, Engineering, Law, and Social Work, as well as UConn Health. And, student-oriented programming in the Human Rights and Action Learning Community, Community Outreach Alternative Breaks, and efforts of student organizations such as the Human Rights Symposium and Huskies for Human Rights deepen the work of human rights at UConn. The reach of human rights extends into our communities and beyond, particularly through the efforts of UConn Law’s Asylum and Human Rights Clinic and courses offered on human rights in high schools throughout Connecticut in the Early College Experience Program.

National Homeless Person’s Remembrance Day (December 21^st): National Homeless Person’s Remembrance Day takes place on the North American winter solstice, which is the longest night of the year and the first day of winter.  Recognized since 1990, this day raises awareness about the plight suffered by those who are homeless or housing insecure. Housing insecurity is an issue facing college students across the nation, including students at UConn. Students impacted by housing insecurity are especially vulnerable during long breaks, including Winter and Summer, where they might not have access to either housing or to campus dining facilities, which can also increase their food insecurity.  The University has a few resources to assist students impacted by housing and food insecurity, including the Dean of Students Office, who has financial resources for students in crisis, and Off-Campus and Commuter Student Services.

Boxing Day (December 26^th): Boxing Day is held in many countries associated with the British empire, especially in the Caribbean. Though traditions vary from place to place, typical customs include visiting family, friends, and neighbors with gifts, food, and drinks

Kwanzaa (December 26^th – January 1^st): From the Swahili matunda ya kwanza or “first fruits,” Kwanzaa is a seven-day African American cultural festival.  Started by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966, this festival celebrates family, community, and culture. Each of the seven days of Kwanzaa are dedicated to one of the Nguzo Saba (Seven Principles): Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith).  These seven principles are represented by a kinara (candle holder) holding seven candles of red, green, and black, which families light each night before discussing that day’s value.  On December 31, families join in karamu, a community feast. Some may wear traditional African clothing during the celebration. This year, the African American Cultural Center at Storrs will be holding its Kwanzaa celebration on Friday, 12/9, at 6:00 PM in the SU Ballroom.  AACC will also be celebrating the retirement of long-time Director Dr. Willena Price that day.  The event is free, but please RSVP in advance.

Religious Holidays: December holds several significant religious holidays for members of the UConn Community:

Advent (November 27^th through December 24^th): In Christianity, Advent is a period of preparation for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas, as well as for preparing for Christ’s second coming. In Western churches, Advent begins on the Sunday nearest to November 30^th. Eastern Churches begin Advent 40 days before Christmas.

Christmas (December 25^th): Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus, though it has also become a widespread secular holiday. Popular customs include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, and sharing meals with family and friends. Christmas was in the first group of federal holidays passed by Congress in 1870, along with New Year’s Day, Independence Day, and Thanksgiving.  Christians in the Orthodox tradition, especially in Central and Eastern Europe, celebrate Christmas on January 7th.

Saint Stephen’s Day (December 26^th in Western Churches; December 27^th in Eastern Churches): This Christian feast day commemorates Christianity’s first martyr. It is also an official public holiday in much of Europe and in countries associated with the British Commonwealth.  In some countries, it is known as the second day of Christmas.

Hanukkah or Chanukkah (sundown December 18^th through sundown December 26^th): Hanukkah, which is Hebrew for “Dedication,” is an 8-day Jewish festival celebrating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after Greek control in the second century BCE. Hanukkah is celebrated for 8 days because a single day’s supply of oil for the Temple menorah miraculously lasted eight full days. Often called the “Festival of Lights,” this holiday is celebrated with the lighting of the menorah – which represents light pushing out darkness – traditional foods, games, and gifts. Hillel will hold a few Hanukkah events this year, including a “Hoops and Hanukkah” event in Storrs (12/4); a tabling event in Stamford (12/7), and a virtual candle-lighting ceremony for each night of the Hanukkah. Check out Hillel’s social media accounts for more information.

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

Sincerely,

Frank, Anne, and Jeff

Frank Tuitt
Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer

Anne D’Alleva
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Jeffrey F. Hines, MD
Associate Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer, UConn Health

 

 

 

Hello Huskies,

The semester is successfully underway. This time last year, Dr. Tuitt and I promised to send you periodic updates about bias incidents and referrals at UConn. Today we honor that promise by including details of the bias referrals we received for the 2021-2022 academic year.

Before we get into the details, however, we’d like to remind you why it is so important to routinely address bias incidents: such incidents of hurtful speech and action undermine our commitment to creating an inclusive and caring community. Such speech and actions can hurt people and make them feel isolated at UConn. This not only makes it harder to achieve their full potential at UConn, but also limits what we, as a group, are able to achieve together. We are committed to making UConn a better place to live, learn, and work by addressing any and all bias incidents that negatively impact our campus climate.

Every incident referred to us documents a hurtful moment impacting a member of the UConn community. Not all of those incidents rose to the level of a conduct violation. For example, anonymous postings on white boards that mock identity, people shouting offensive slurs in the middle of the night when they think no one is listening, or anonymously posting derogatory comments online are all harmful incidents, most of which are protected by freedom of speech. In these cases, we are determined to use these incidents to educate the community about their harmful outcomes.

Here is a summary of what was shared with the University (students are welcome to submit a report here):

Over the course of the 2021 -2022 academic year, 124 bias related referrals were shared with the University. Some of those referrals disclosed multiple incidents, some resulted in code violations. The majority of the referrals resulted in community conversations led by the Dean of Students Office or the Department of Residential Life. We used these moments to provide honest reflections of our University and to rededicate ourselves to improving it.

What should we make of this? Is UConn a community that values free speech? Absolutely. It is the reason we are able to learn and discover as a research university. Some have suggested in these community conversations that maybe our sense of humor is lacking. Can we just not take a joke? Sure, we can.

But is it funny? Is it funny or necessary to demean and remind others of historical oppression through offensive words and actions? Can we instead embrace the privilege of free speech and the desire to care for all members of our community? Can we learn more from one another rather than pushing each other away through actions that I know so many of us regret in hindsight?

Perhaps exploring these questions and sharing our discoveries along the way can be our commitment to each other in the year ahead. We are excited to launch the UConn Faith and Expression Challenge this year. The Bias Action Group that was formed last year will meet next week. Additional opportunities for engagements can be found on the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice @UConn website.

We look forward to the journey ahead and our continued commitment to a caring community.

All our best,

Eleanor JB Daugherty, EdD
she/her/hers
Associate Vice President and Dean of Students

Dr. Frank Tuitt
He | Him | His
Office for Diversity and Inclusion
VP | Chief Diversity Officer

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 during the month of November:

Heritage Month Celebrations:

Native and Indigenous Heritage Month (November): November is Native American Heritage month (also known as “National American Indian Heritage Month” and “Native American and Alaskan Native Heritage Month”). First recognized by President George H.W. Bush in 1990 and commemorated by every president since, this month honors the cultures, histories, and legacies of America’s first inhabitants and the Tribal nations that continue to thrive here today. It celebrates the traditions, languages, and stories of hundreds of Native nations and works to ensure that their histories and contributions endure. This month also acknowledges the painful history Native and Indigenous Peoples in the United States have faced, one marked by unjust federal policies and state-sanctioned campaigns of violence, displacement, assimilation, and terror. It recognizes that the effects of this history are still felt today, as evidenced by the disproportionate effect the pandemic has had on Native and Indigenous communities and serves as a call to action to address persistent inequities.

UConn recognizes Native and Indigenous resilience and strength every day of the year. We acknowledge through the Land Acknowledgement Statement that our university sits on lands taken through violence, displacement, assimilation, and terror. We encourage reading this statement before any event held in UConn’s physical or digital spaces. UConn also serves as a vibrant hub for research, scholarship, and outreach among scholars, students, and Indigenous community members through the Native American and Indigenous Studies Initiative (NAISI). NAISI aims to become a center for the renewed presences of Indigenous Peoples in Connecticut, New England, and the entire Eastern region of the United States. We also honor the cultures, histories, and legacies of Native and Indigenous peoples through the Native American Cultural Programs (NACP), which provides programming, initiatives, resources, and trainings for the Native and Indigenous Peoples who make a home at UConn. Native and Indigenous students also find community at UConn through the Native American and Indigenous Student Association (NAISA).

We invite the entire UConn community to join us in commemorating Native American Heritage Month through the following events:

• • Wednesday, November 9th: “Demystifying Thanksgiving” talk with author Chris Newell (Passamaquoddy) at 6:00 PM in the ODI Commons (SU 103)
  • Tuesday, November 15th: “Chicken and Power: Life, Death, and Dismemberment in the Aftermath of American Genocide” talk with David S. Lowry (Lumbee) at 6:30 PM in the ODI Commons (SU 103)
  • Thursday, November 17th: “Minoritized Languages of the North Atlantic” at 6:00 PM in the ODI Commons (SU 103)

Two more events will be announced soon on the NACP website and Instagram.

Cultural Holidays: November holds several significant cultural and federal holidays:

Día de los Muertos (“Day of the Dead”) (November 1-2): Día de los Muertos remembers lost loved ones, as well as ancestors, through food, music, and gatherings—it is a joyful celebration of their lives, rather than the mourning of their deaths. Originating in Mexico, it is celebrated worldwide by those with Mexican heritage. Traditions vary, but common traditions include una ofrenda (an altar) with flowers and food for the dead, individual offerings, and candles lit to help guide spirits back to their families. The students of the Mexican Student Association (MexSA) will put together una ofrenda in the PRLACC programming room, which will be on display the whole week. They will also hold several events during the week; follow the MexSA Instagram account for details.

National First-Generation Day (November 8): Since 2017, schools and universities across the country have dedicated this day to celebrating first-generation students, faculty, staff, and alumni. November 8th was selected to honor the anniversary of the signing of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, which increased federal funding and resources to help level the playing field for communities underserved in higher education. Notably, HEA ushered in the federal TRIO programs that increase access, retention, and completion for low-income, first-generation, and underserved minority populations. UConn has two TRIO Programs: Student Support Services, which supports this mission, and McNair Programs, which prepares first-generation, low-income, and historically underrepresented students for M.S. and Ph.D. studies in STEM disciplines.

World Freedom Day (November 9): World Freedom Day is a federal holiday that commemorates the fall of the Berlin Wall. Established in 2001 by President George W. Bush, it celebrates freedom within democracy.

Veterans Day (November 11): Veterans Day pays tribute to all those who served in the United States Armed Forces. It is separate from Memorial Day (the last Monday of May), which commemorates those who died while serving in the US military, and Armed Forces Day (the third Saturday in May), which honors those currently serving in the US military. Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day, which celebrated the cessation of hostilities during World War I that went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. In 1954, this holiday was changed to “Veterans Day” to include veterans from all American wars.

UConn honors members of the US military and their families. The Office of Veterans Affairs and Military Programs (VAMP) will hold a ceremony honoring all those who served at 11:00 AM on November 11th. This event will be held at the Ultimate Sacrifice Memorial (at the University Flagpoles across from Wilbur Cross). If it rains, VAMP will hold the event in the Wilbur Cross Reading Room. All are invited to join.

VAMP also provides student support services specifically for veterans, active service members, and their families who are attending UConn. Their services include certifying VA educational benefits, assisting students in their transition to life at UConn, providing supplemental programs and activities to student veterans, and directing veterans to fully confidential mental and behavioral health assistance. VAMP works closely with the Center for Students for Disabilities, which has a wealth of resources for veterans regardless of ability status, and the Center for Career Development.

Transgender Day of Remembrance (November 20): The Transgender Day of Remembrance memorializes those who lost their lives to acts of anti-transgender violence. It raises public awareness about hate crimes directed at transgender and gender-diverse people and ensures that their lives are not forgotten. This is a day for expressing love and respect in the face of hatred or indifference. This day also helps raise awareness about issues the transgender and gender-diverse communities continue to face. UConn supports the transgender communities through the Rainbow Center, which provides spaces of refuge and community-building, as well as resources to help members of the transgender communities navigate life at UConn. Check their website and Instagram account for more.

Thanksgiving (November 24): Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November each year. It is a day for expressing gratitude that, for many, is marked by family traditions, seeing loved ones, and kicking off the holiday season.

Religious Holidays: November holds several significant religious holidays for members of the UConn Community:

All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day (November 1st and 2nd): These Christian holidays memorializes those who have died. All Saints’ Day commemorates all those who have reached heaven. Traditions vary by location and denomination, but it is celebrated by both Catholics and Protestants. Dates also vary; Western Christians celebrate on November 1st while Eastern Orthodox Churches celebrate on the first Sunday following Pentecost. All Saints’ Day is a holy day of obligation for Catholics. All Souls’ Day is celebrated by the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox churches, and some Anglican churches, though the three churches have doctrinal differences about this day.

Jain New Year (November 24th): Jains mark the New Year on the first day of the Hindu Month of Kartika, following the commencement of their Diwali celebration. This holiday marks the day that their founder, Mahavira, achieved moksha (salvation) in passing from his earthly life. On New Year’s Day, Jains gather in the temple and perform the Snatra Puja ritual to worship the 24 Tirthankaras who founded their religion (Tirthankara is Sanskrit for “Ford-Maker,” a figure who has succeeded in crossing over life’s streams of rebirths and has made a path for others to follow). Mahavira is the last of the Tirthankaras.

Martyrdom of Guru Bahadur (November 24th): This Sikh holiday commemorates the martyrdom of Guru Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru, who sacrificed his life to protect people—including people from faiths other than his own—from religious persecution. Guru Bahadur’s martyrdom reflects two important principals of the Sikh faith: standing up for faith—including faiths one does not agree with—and standing up for others.

Advent (November 27th through December 24th): In Christianity, Advent is a period of preparation for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas, as well as for preparing for Christ’s second coming. In Western churches, Advent begins on the Sunday nearest to November 30th. Eastern Churches begin Advent 40 days before Christmas.

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

Sincerely,

Frank, Anne, and Jeff

Frank Tuitt
Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer

Anne D’Alleva
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Jeffrey F. Hines, MD
Associate Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer, UConn Health