Writing on the Wall Snapshots

We've finished the first part of Writing on the Wall - three hours on TUC Commons collecting writing from around 100 students. The prompts were intentionally general so that we could get a wide variety of thoughts and feelings: How do you feel about UC? What makes you feel welcome? What makes you feel unwelcome?

Some snapshots of the time are below:

Tynisha (RAPP XX) contemplates what to write on the wall.

As the wall starts to fill, Anthony (XXV) and other students start writing on the bottom.

Some of the several pieces of "RAPP Love" on the wall. :)

The wall got filled on all four sides by a wide variety of thoughts and feelings. In the background, you can see Latoya, Lisa, and Mykea (all XXIV).

Keisa and friend finishing up the wall before we moved it.

Writing on the Wall was organized by the African American Cultural and Research Center, Ethnic Programs and Services, Hillel, and Student Activities and Leadership Development.

United Black Student Association Week 2010

From the Facebook Event:

The end of the School Year is upon us and its time to end it the right way! Join us for this year's highly anticipated*** UBSA Week*** June 1st-5th. Several Great activites are planned including our Featured Event **The Great Kickball Classic** which will be held on Friday, June 4th at 2:00PM! Remember THERE IS NO US WITHOUT U! Peace and Love!

***TUESDAY, JUNE 1ST***
"Fade 2 Black" Program
3200 CRC, 7:00PM

***THURSDAY, JUNE 3RD***
"UBSA Banquet"
470 Annie's Law (Teachers College), 7:00PM

***FRIDAY, JUNE 4TH***
"Final Friday" Event
TUC Plaza, Noon-2:00PM

"The Great Kickball Classic"
Sigma Sigma Commons, 2:00PM-4:00PM

***SATURDAY, JUNE 5TH***
"Community Service"
Location: TBA, Noon-2:00PM

"Learn From The Past, Build For The Future"

The Collegiate Slave Program

From the Facebook Event:
This Thursday, May 27, 2010 the United Black Student Association presents "The Collegiate Slave"!

Please join us in the AACRC at 7pm as we look into the reasons behind why there is a lack of involvement on campus in our African American athletes outside of their respective sports, and what we can do to better the relationships between the two.

Thoughts and opinions will be shared amongst our atheletes and student leaders.

Come out and support YOUR United Black Student Association!

Some Background on Logos

Since we unveiled our new logo on Sunday, I thought it might be nice to give a little background on the history (as I know it) of RAPP logos.

Above is a poor remake of the original RAPP logo. To my knowledge, this logo has been used since the inception of RAPP - it's visible on the t-shirts of RAPPs I and II, the committee who created RAPP and the first group to go through RAPP respectively:
Based off of t-shirts in the official group photos, it looks like the original logo was in use from RAPP I&II (1986-'87) to RAPP IX (1993-'94).

The next logo was short-lived due to unfortunate placement of hands on the logo. I unfortunately don't have a digital copy and haven't been able to recreate it, but it can be seen in the group photo of RAPP X:

This logo is seen on RAPP t-shirts for only two years: RAPPs X (1994-'95) and XI (1995-'96).

The RAPP XII (1996-'97) group photo shows a chalkboard design with the letters for RAPP on it. I have been unable to verify whether this was used as a general logo for the program or only for the shirts.

The next logo stuck around for many years, from RAPP XIII (1997-'98) to RAPP XX (2004-'05). It brought back the globe+peace sign image and had people dancing around it:

With RAPP XXI (2005-'06) we saw the most recent logo, which continues the globe theme. It's my understanding that this logo was designed by UC alumna Lisa Link. It has been in use for five years. I'm excited about the radically new direction our new logo takes us, but I'll admit I'm sad to see my trusty old friend "head in the box" go!

The Writing on the Wall

This Friday the AACRC, EPS, Hillel, and SALD are all collaborating on a two-part program called the Writing on the Wall.
Part One:
From noon to 2PM on the TUC Plaza, come write on the wall. Record things you've overheard, things you've done, or things you've seen that have impacted our UC community. What has made you sad or unwelcome in our community? Or, conversely, what have you seen/done that has made you proud to be a Bearcat?
From 4pm to 5pm in 419 TUC, come see the wall in total and discuss what you see there? Are we truly a just community? What has helped make us so and what has held us back?

This interactive program is bound to be thought-provoking and informative. Come to either or both parts!

The New RAPP Logo!

It's finally here! The new RAPP logo!

The RAPP Rebranding Committee made public for the first time the winning design that will represent RAPP - kicking off our 25th year with a new look!

Above is the new RAPP logo - though note it's very versatile. We can swap "Challenge. Debate. Educate." for other mottos and have or not have the program name at the bottom.

A little bit on the logo: The R is left open to demonstrate the openness of the program. The letters are all connected to represent the connections made between people through RAPP. The second P is still present but slightly off place with the other letters, which shows how we're built upon and connected to our past.

One of the things I loved about the design presentation was this connection of the new logo to our mission statement!

Below, some snapshots from the UnVeiling! event:

The committee unveiled the logo through a trivia game then demonstrated some of the "RAPP swag" folks could make at the event.


Jojo shows off his new RAPP keychain, made via shrinky-dink.
Amber shows off her RAPP frisbee!
Lauren works on her own RAPP frisbee.
Kelly shows off her new RAPP t-shirt!

Introducing RAPP XXV!!!

Now that they've officially completed the program, I'm excited to unveil to you our most recent group of RAPPers!

RAPP XXV "graduated" 57 members - 33 in the Tuesday group and 24 in the Wednesday. Overall, the year had a retention rate of 84%!

RAPP XXV Whole Group Photo

RAPP XXV Tuesday Group Photo

RAPP XXV Wednesday Group Photo

RAPP XXV Wednesday Banquet

Wednesday night we ended the RAPP XXV year with the Wednesday group banquet. It was a night full of reflection, laughter, a few tears, and food.
Here are a few snapshots from the evening (click on picture to see it in full):

Our two amazing Peer Leaders - DeVorah (right) and Kimmins (left) - presented each other to the group.

Some of RAPP XXV Wednesday watching a presentation.
One of my favorite snapshots of the night - a hug between Jourdi and her presenter, Chelsea.

Sarah was particularly bright during her presentation.

Fatima gave a big smile while her presenter was talking about her.

Public Meeting Tonight: Ohio Will Not Be the Next Arizona

From the UC chapter of the Campus Antiwar Network, the local chapter of the International Socialist Organization, and the Cincinnati Interfaith Workers' Center:

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer's signing of radically anti-immigrant legislation (SB 1070) sparked defiant demonstrations for May Day, as people of all ages, races and immigration statuses came together to oppose a law that would encourage racial profiling and the harassment of anyone "suspected" of being undocumented.

Anti-racists are invited to a public meeting Friday, May 21st to discuss opposition to laws that require police to question a person's immigration status. Arizona House Bill 1070, which passed last month, actually mandates that officers demand proof of citizenship or residence of anyone they suspect of being in the United States illegally. This is an undisguised license for racial profiling that will lead to the arrest of innocent people who cannot prove their status, the ripping apart of families, and other abuses. Similar bills championed by Butler County Sheriff Rick Jones and other bigots must not be allowed to take effect in Ohio.

The event will take place at the University of Cincinnati in McMicken Hall Room 127 at 7:00pm. This will be a forum to hear personal stories, relate to the national struggle, and plan future actions, particularly an immigrant rights rally Saturday the 29th – details TBA.

3 speakers will be featured:

Dan La Botz is a Cincinnati teacher and prominent socialist, labor union activist, academic, journalist, and author. He was a co-founder of Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU) and has written extensively on worker rights in the United States and Mexico. He is currently running for a seat in the United States Senate for the Socialist Party of Ohio (http://www.facebook.com/l/2bfaf;danlabotz.com).

Shaun Harkin is a Chicago activist who helped organize the historic May Day marches in 2006 and 2007 and a member of the March 10 Committee there. He is also a contributor to http://www.facebook.com/l/2bfaf;SocialistWorker.org and the International Socialist Review; his articles have also appeared at CounterPunch and Znet.

As well as a local activist directly involved in the Immigrants Rights movement.

This event is sponsored by the Cincinnati branch of the International Socialist Organization, the Cincinnati Interfaith Workers' Center, and the University of Cincinnati branch of Campus Anti-war Network.

For more information:iso.cincinnati@gmail.com

RAPP XXV Tuesday Banquet

Last night marked the official end of the RAPP XXV Tuesday process. Our group came together for a final evening of reflection, celebration, and eating together. I was impressed by the meaningful presentations each member gave and greatly enjoyed the humor and sentimentality of the night.

A few snapshots of the evening...

Dinner was a build-your-own-taco buffet.

Our special guest "dignitaries" were Mrs. Patty Hudson of SALD and Dean Bowen. It was great fun having them and great fun kicking them out. :)



One of my favorite snapshots of the evening was this one of Dy'Mand and Anthony reacting to a funny part of a presentation!

New Logo UnVeiling!

As we reported earlier here, the finalists for the RAPP logo contest were exceptional. Voting finished last week and the committee knows the secret of the year - who won!

Want to be first in on the secret? Come to UnVeiling! this Sunday, May 23rd. 3:00-4:00PM we'll be in the 6th floor open space in Steger Student Life Center.

We'll announce the winner and we'll have some fun with the new design - not only will you be the first to know the logo that will take us into our 25th year, you can also be among the first to sport said logo around campus and Cinci!
(pic - advertisement for the UnVeiling! on the RAPP Office window)

Black Arts Collaborative presents The Last Poets

From the Facebook Event:

At 4:00 pm there will be free food from Island Fryday's and a panel discussion about Social Inequality with The Poor People's Economic and Human Rights Campaign and The Last Poets.

This event is of great importance to networking as well as discussing incredibly important topics on social inequality. If you are trying to start up an NGO or group that serves to help our communities then these are the people to ask for pointers. To put the icing on the cake we will bring in the revolutionary Black Power Movement trio THE LAST POETS to do a performance.

These 3 incredible poets (Abiodun Oyewole, Umar Bin Hassan, and Jalal Mansur Nuriddin) started performing on milk crates and now are featured on marquee event stages at the Apollo and all around America empowering the Black Community as well as any ear that has had the pleasure of listening.

Putting first hand effort in recording Black Creative Expression onto wax during the Black Power Movement, these inspiring, soulful, and spiritual artists will be here at 4:00pm on Thursday May, 20th to perform and provide insight to social inequality in the United States.Location-AACRC (African American Cultural and Research Center at the University of Cincinnati). No cover charge.

Celebrating the Legacy of Malcolm X

C.Y.P.H.E.R., Black Arts Collaborative and the United Black Student Association are collaboratively sponsoring UC Malcolm X Day to honor and recognize the lasting legacy of Malcolm X (El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz).
12-2PM in MainStreet Cinema: Make it Plain:The Documentary on Malcolm X
4-6PM at the AACRC: Malcolm X: By Spike Lee
7PM at the AACRC: Discussion on What does Malcolm X's legacy mean to College students today? (Dinner Served at this event)

For more details, check out the Facebook Event.

2010 Terence L Jones Diversity Award Winners

The Terence L Jones Diversity Award was established in the mid-1990s in memory of RAPP VII member Terence L. Jones, who passed away in 1991.

It's presented to the outstanding RAPP members who have contributed to the success of their group over the academic year. Members are selected for this award based on their commitment to the program, their genuine contribution to the RAPP process, and their continued encouragement of their peers' development.

This year we asked the members of RAPP to help select the award winner by nominating/voting for each other at the last meeting of winter quarter. We facilitators listened to the group - and agreed with their selection.
Marjorie Bledsoe was awarded for her efforts in the Tuesday group.

Meagan Lauer was awarded for her efforts in the Wednesday group.

Also receiving recognition this year through the awards process are:

• Katie Meyer of RAPP XXIV Sunday was selected as a C-Ring finalist. This presitigious award is for the top graduating woman at UC who is strong both academically and in working to improve the lives of women and girls.
• Nancy Paraskevopoulos was awarded a Just Community Award. Recipients of this award are selected based on their demonstration of commitment to supporting the priniciples and spirit of Just Community through their activities and participation at the University. Nancy is the only student receiving the award this year -- all other selected honorees are faculty and staff.
• Lane Hart was awarded the Omicron Delta Kappa Sophomore Leader of the Year award. This award honors students who have excelled in collegiate leadership as well as have exemplary academic achievements.

Congratulations to all these amazing RAPPers!

SALSA! Latin Dance Workshop

SALSA: Latin Dance Workshop

WHEN: Thursday, May 20
WHERE: TUC Great Hall
TIME: 7:00pm - 9:00pm (7:00pm Lessons; 8:00pm Live Band)

**FREE Admission**

The Office of Ethnic Programs & Services and the Residence Hall Association presents...The SALSA: Latin Dance Workshop is a program dedicated to introducing and instructing the University of Cincinnati students, faculty, and staff in the art of salsa, merengue, and bachata dancing. There will be dance lessons provided by local Salsa Dancers and a special live band performance by SALSAVIVA.

ReSize! Event

The Body Acceptance Committee (the folks behind the annual Body Acceptance Week) are hosting "ReSize!"
Bring an old item of clothing that doesn't fit, and they'll give you the supplies and expertise to make it into something new and fashionable!
From the Facebook event:
Stop trying to change your body to fit into that special outfit. Accept your body for what it is and bring in that pair of jeans or shirt to repurpose it into something that you can use or wear. All supplies are provided to personalize your garment of choice.

"The Beauty of India" - Free Henna Tattoos Program

The Office of Ethnic Programs and Services is hosting the program "The Beauty of India: Henna Tattooing" on Tuesday, May 18, from noon to 2PM. Come to the EPS office at 555 Steger Student Life Center for a free henna tattoo and some information on the artform.
For more info and reminders, check out the Facebook Event.

Mentoring Opportunity for African-American Students

From Tamika Odum, sociology instructor and Program Manager at the UC Women's Center:

As you may have heard, the College of Arts and Sciences developed a mentoring program for African-American students on campus two years ago. The program is called PR1ZE Faculty/Staff Mentoring Program and we received $10,000 from the Diversity Council to expand the program.

Initially the program was set up to serve African-American students in A&S only to help increase the retention and graduation rate. Students are connected with faculty or staff in their departments or fields of interest.

With the new funds, we would like to expand the program to other African-American females in other colleges. IF you think you can benefit from mentoring with a faculty or staff member, please let me know. I’m sending a personal invitation to you to join us for lunch on May 19th; this will be an opportunity to learn more about the program.

Lunch will be provided by Chick-Fil-A so RSVP is very important. Please RSVP by Monday May 17, 2010 to Tamika.Odum@uc.edu. If you have questions please let me know.

Poet Li Young Lee at the UC Annual Symposium

From the Charles Phelps Taft Research Center site. Also check out the Facebook Event:

2010 Annual Symposium

May 13–15, 2010

Li-Young Lee
Reading and Lecture on Poetics
Friday, May 14, 2010
4 p.m.
Taft Research Center

Li-Young Lee is the author of four critically acclaimed books of poetry including his most recent, Behind My Eyes (Norton, 2008). Earlier volumes include Book of My Nights(BOA, 2001); Rose (BOA, 1986), winner of the Delmore Schwartz Memorial Award; The City in Which I Love You (BOA, 1991), the 1990 Lamont Poetry Selection; and a memoir entitled The Winged Seed: A Remembrance(Simon and Schuster, 1995), which received an American Book Award from the Before Columbus Foundation. Lee's honors include fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Lannan Foundation, and the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. In 1988 he received the Writer's Award from the Mrs. Giles Whiting Foundation.

"What characterizes Lee's poetry is a certain humility…a willingness to let the sublime enter his field of concentration and take over, a devotion to language, a belief in its holiness."—Gerald Stern

Sponsored by the Taft Research Center, the George Elliston Poetry Foundation, the UC Office of Student Affairs, and the UC Diversity Council

All events held at Taft House, Stratford Heights 2625 Clifton Avenue (513) 556-0675 www.artsci.uc.edu/taft

Taste of Asia: China & Thailand

The Office of Ethnic Programs and Services is hosting "Taste of Asia: China & Thailand" On Thursday, May 13. The culinary experience lasts from 12noon to 2pm and will give you the chance to sample a variety of traditional foods from China and Thailand.

From the Facebook event, where you can RSVP:
Come join us for a clash of Asian cuisines. Sample a variety of dishes from spring/egg rolls and crab ragoon to pad thai and mongolian beef. Don't worry vegetarians are covered (there are a variety of vegetarian selections). There will be plenty for everyone so bring your friends. RSVP so I know how many chickens to catch and how many pounds of string beans I need. :=)

Logo Design Contest - Finalist Presenatations

A small crowd came out Friday for the RAPP Rebranding Contest Finalist Presentations. Once the Rebranding Committee selected our seven finalists, we asked them each to prepare a presentation on their submission. We were impressed on Friday by the excellent presentations from all seven finalists - they conveyed the ideas behind their designs as well as the flexibility of their logos and demonstrated the use of the logos on things such as letterhead and t-shirts.

You can see most of the attendees in this photo, but not all!

The order of presentations was selected on site by pulling names out of a cup. George Hakim presented his design first.

Shaheen Miro presented his submission second.

Third was Valerie Schuster.

Emily Thompson presented fourth.

Laura Plikerd was fifth to present her design.

Amar Singh presented next.

Jennifer Zellner closed out the presentations with her design.

After the presentations were done, all present submitted thoughts on their favorite and second favorite by secret ballot. Those who are interested in voting but couldn't be at the event can do so by email - contact Rebecca at lehmanrl@uc.edu and vote by Wednesday morning!

The final decision - selected by the Rebranding Committee and through voting feedback - will be announced at the Unveiling on Sunday, May 23rd, at 3:00PM on the 6th floor of Steger Student Life Center.