Saturday, December 31, 2011

Conversations with K-College, First Generation, Low Income Students - Part 2, Feb 11th!

The Ohio Chapter of the National Association for Multicultural Education, TRiO, and the Ohio College Personnel Association are partnering to bring an academic year long series of conversations inviting dialogue around issues face by first generation, low income students in order to hear their voices more clearly and have better insight as support professionals on how to empower these students..

The second dialogue of the series features a panel of high school students.  It will be held Saturday, February 11th, 12PM-2PM, at Columbus State Community College.

For more information or to be a panelist, contact Kimberly Brazwell at kbrazwell@cscc.edu or 614.287.2426.

Rebecca will be travelling from Cincinnati to Columbus that day for the dialogue - contact her if you would like to carpool!


Friday, December 30, 2011

Beyond the Circle: Arizona Ruling Hits Latino Studies Program

Via CNN, posted there on Wed December 28, 2011:

Arizona ruling hits Mexican-American studies program



Public schools in Tucson, Arizona, face millions of dollars in penalties after a ruling that the district's Mexican-American studies program violates state law.

An administrative law judge found the program's curriculum was teaching Latino history and culture "in a biased, political, and emotionally charged manner," and upheld state officials' findings that it violated a state law passed in 2010. The Tucson Unified School District had appealed a decision by the law's principal backer, then-state schools superintendent Tom Horne, to shut down the program.
Horne left office at the end of 2010, but his successor, John Huppenthal, backed Horne's ruling in June. Huppenthal said Tuesday's ruling shows "that it was the right decision."

OSU Program: "The Challenges of the Arab Spring Revolution in Egypt" - Jan 9th!

From OSU's Office of International Affairs:


Egypt and the Arab Spring Revolution
Monday, January 9, 2012
12-1:30 p.m. -- "The Political Economy of Egypt and the Arab Spring: International Support Packages"
Gouda Abdel-Khalek, Minister of Supply and Domestic Trade - Egypt

Mershon Center for International Security Studies
1501 Neil Ave., Columbus, OH 43201
To RSVP for this event, email Ann Powers at powers.108@osu.edu by Thursday, January 5, 2012.
5-7 p.m. -- "The Challenges of the Arab Spring Revolution in Egypt" 
Karima Korayem, Professor of Economics - Al-Azhar University, Egypt

With discussion by Gouda Abdel-Khalek, Minister of Supply and Domestic Trade - Egypt, and Hassan Aly, Professor of Economics

Barrister Club, 25 W. 11th Ave., Columbus, OH 43201
(Located across 11th Avenue from Drinko Hall and above Panera Bread)
To RSVP for this event, please visit the Eventbrite registration page.

Featured Speakers
Gouda Abdel-Khalek is minister of supply and domestic trade in Egypt, and professor of economics at the Faculty of Economics, Cairo University. He served as minister of solidarity and social justice in the previous Egyptian administration, and was one of the country's major opposition leaders.
In addition to serving as advisor to various national organizations in Egypt, Abdel-Khalek has served as an international consultant for the United Nations (ECA, ESCWA, UNDP and UNU), the Population Council, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and The World Bank. He holds a PhD from McMaster University (Canada), and his research interests include globalization and financial crises, macro policies for poverty reduction, economic reform, and industrialization policies.
Abdel-Khalek was also a Fulbright visiting research scholar at Johns Hopkins University, a visiting professor at UCLA and USC, and he has received numerous awards, including the State Prize for Achievement in Social Sciences (2004), Fulbright Visiting Research Scholarships (1988-89 and 2002-03), and the University Research Award (1985).
His publications include many articles, book chapters and books on various international economic subjects. Among his books on Egypt areThe Political Economy of Income Distribution in Egypt (Holmes & Meier Publishers, 1982), Stabilization and Adjustment Policies and Programmes: Egypt (WIDER, 1988), and Stabilization and Adjustment in Egypt: Reform or De-Industrialization (Edward Elgar, 2001).

Karima Korayem is professor of economics at the Faculty of Commerce (Girls), Al-Azhar University.
Korayem has served as a consultant to several organizations such as the UN, the World Bank, IDRC, and the League of Arab States. She has contributed to more than 60 international and national publications on development issues like poverty, income distribution, globalization, and economic policies.
Her books include Structural Adjustment, Stabilization Policies, and the Poor in Egypt (American University in Cairo Press), and Poverty and Social Exclusion in the Mediterranean (CROP Publications, with Maria Petmesidou).
She earned her PhD in economics at McMaster University, Ontario, Canada.

Hassan Aly specializes in the economies of the Middle East.  He researches constructing and assessing economic indicators in the Middle East.  He studies financial markets, labor markets, costs and benefits of social policies, and models of decision making at the firm level. 
Among other courses, Aly teaches "Economics of the Middle East," "Economic Development," and "Economics of Labor" on the Columbus and Marion campuses of The Ohio State University.
More information about Aly can be found on his departmental web page.


"Mirror, Mirror on the Wall..." Program - Jan 24th!

From the UC Women's Center:


Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
6:00pm - 9:00pm
571 Steger Student Life Center


You're Beautiful?
You're Amazing?
You're UNIQUE?
What does your mirror tell you???

Come out and tell us what YOU think is beautiful on 1/24/12 in YOUR Women's Center (571 Steger) at 6pm! We can't wait to talk to you!

*Free Food*
*Guest Speaker*
*Good times*

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Introducing "Beyond the Circle" to the RAPP Blog!

The RAPP Blog is over two years old and has had over 52,000 hits!  With that success in mind, we began exploring ways to further improve the blog and make it more interactive.  This quarter, I've been working to recruit and prepare a team of bloggers to unveil our new feature:  Dialogue-generating articles on social justice issues!

Thanks to a Facebook question sent to hundreds of RAPP community members, we selected the feature's name:  Beyond the Circle.

Folks who have been in RAPP or participated in RAPPORT meetings know we spend a lot of time sitting in circles engaging in dialogue.  This new feature will hopefully help people take dialogue around social justice issues outside of their current circle.  This new feature will also hopefully push people outside their usual comfort circle (okay, zone, but circle for this context) by challenging them to read new ideas and engage in reflection and conversation about potentially uncomfortable topics.

Coming soon will be bios and photos of the blog team.  For now,this quarter's Beyond the Circle team is shaping up to include:

Adam Voegele - Current RAPP XXVII member
DeVorah YisraEL - RAPP XXIV, Social Justice Leagues 2011 & 2012, RAPPORT Intern
Brice Mickey - RAPP XXV, Social Justice Leagues 2011 & 2012
Laura Perez - Current RAPP XXVII member
Marjorie Bledsoe - RAPP XXV, Social Justice Leagues 2011 & 2012, RAPP Public Ally
Matt Miller - RAPP XXVI, Social Justice League 2012
Matthew Woodruff - RAPP XXVI, Social Justice League 2012
Wil Pierce - RAPP XXV, Social Justice Leagues 2011 & 2012

Many thanks to all the folks who have worked to get this feature up and running!  Please keep an eye on the feature and send feedback to me at rebecca.lehman@uc.edu.

The Facebook question that got us the name!

Teach for America - Next Application Deadline Jan 6th!

From Teach for America:
Poverty should not be destiny, but right now it is. A child’s academic success should not be determined by their zip code, and it is up to us as active citizens to change that. 
At Teach For America we believe we can close the achievement gap and solve this problem. Be a part of something great, take that bearcat pride and be a part of history.
 What role will you play? Apply www.teachforamerica.org. 
Next application deadline: January 6th, 2012!

Professor Angela Harris Lecture "The Occupy Wall Street Blues: Why Americans Have Trouble Talking about Inequality" - Jan 11th!

From the UC Law Center for Race, Gender and Social Justice:

We here at the Center wanted to remind you about Professor Angela Harris' visit to the College of Law, which is coming up in less than two weeks.  Professor Harris recently joined the law faculty at the UC Davis School of Law, after serving for more than 20 years on the law faculty at Boalt Hall (UC Berkeley).  

An influential and highly regarded scholar of law and critical race feminism, Professor Harris is this year's Chesley Distinguished Visiting Professor and will be teaching an upper-level short course during the week of January 9, 2012, called "Social Equality and the Law."  

As part of her visit, she will also present a public lecture on Wednesday, January 11 from 12:15-1:15pm, in room 114 at the College of Law, called "The Occupy Wall Street Blues: Why Americans Have Trouble Talking about Inequality" (for more info, go here).  

Professor Harris is an amazing speaker whose work over the years has consistently grappled with difficult and cutting edge issues involving intersectional (economic, gender, race, sex) equality.  We realize that this lecture is happening before the beginning of the spring semester, but If you're going to be  around, we hope you can make it to her public lecture on January 9.  

Hope to see you on January 9 -- and feel free to email us at uclaw.justice@gmail.com if you have any questions and/or would like a reading list.  

All best,

Professors Houh, Kalsem, and Williams (Center co-directors)
Kamiikia Alexander (Class of 2012)
Anna Lammert (Class of 2012)


Wednesday, December 28, 2011

UC President's New Year's Greetings

From the Office of the President:


President Gregory H. Williams thanks the UC community for the great achievements of 2011 and gives best wishes for 2012. 

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Kuna Karuma Africa Event - Jan 14th!

From the Cincinnati Museum Center:

Celebrate the contributions of African culture to the world! Join us during African Culture Fest weekend for an enchanting experience filled with authentic cuisine from southern Africa and live entertainment.

Museum Center transforms into an African village to set the ambiance for this unique evening.Admission includes entertainment by Asili Performing Art Theatre, music by Lady J and Jazz Renaissance, and African cuisine. Cash bar provided.

Proceeds from the event support Museum Center's efforts to provide free multicultural programming to the community.

Time: 7:30 to 11 p.m., Saturday, January 14th, 2011


Dress: "After 5" or African Attire


Cost: Tickets purchased in advance are $15 for Members, $20 for Non-Members, or at the door $20 Members, $25 Non-Members


Friday, December 23, 2011

African Culture Fest - Jan 14-16!

From the Cincinnati Museum Center:


Travel the world with our annual culture fest celebrations, where you can sample food, music, arts and more from cultures around the world! Next up, African Culture Fest on January 14, 15 and 16. It's our largest, and only three-day culture fest in the Passport to the World Series. Don't miss it!
African Culture Fest
January 14, 15 & 16, 2012

Sample authentic goods and food from a bustling African marketplace, listen to skilled narrators tell their tales, watch exciting performances by African drummers and dancers. Activities reflect Africa’s diversity. You can even visit an African village featuring full-size huts and work on traditional African crafts. 



An African Film Festival will run throughout the Festival in our Newsreel Theater:
The First Grader - Kenya
Taking advantage of a 2002 Kenyan law that guaranteed free education for all, 84-year-old Kimani N’gan’ga Maruge, a veteran Mau Mau freedom fighter, shows up at his local one-room school, walking stick in hand. The sympathetic principal reluctantly turns him away, but Kimani returns the next day, and the day after that. Eventually, she allows him to stay and he ends up joining a class alongside six year-olds.
Aderra - Ethiopia/South Africa
A heart-wrenching story exploring an Ethiopian refugee’s struggle to survive in the city of Johannesburg. Life in South Africa is dangerous and earning money is difficult. Marlam quickly discovers that Johannesburg is not the promised city of gold.
Africa United - Rwanda
The extraordinary story of three Rwandan kids who walk 3000 miles to the Soccer World Cup in South Africa. Using a sackload of ingenuity and sass (and a World Cup wall chart for a map), the pint-sized protagonists set off through the endless horizons of Africa in pursuit of an unlikely dream.
Anchor Baby - Nigeria
Married, undocumented couple Joyce and Paul Unanga have been ordered to leave the country by the U.S. immigration. They decide that they will leave, but only after Joyce, who is five months pregnant, delivers her baby in the U.S. to guarantee automatic U.S. citizenship for their child. Ignoring the deportation order, the couple goes into hiding. But Paul is caught and deported leaving Joyce to fend for herself, struggling on her own to accomplish their dream.
Black Girl
Diouana, a young Senegalese woman, moves from Dakar, Senegal, to Antibes, France, to work for a rich French couple. In France, Diouana hopes to continue her former job as nanny, and looks forward to a cosmopolitan lifestyle. However, upon arrival in Antibes, the couple begins to treat Diouana more harshly and she is forced to work in the capacity of a servant.
Faat Kiné
Set in present-day Dakar, Senegal, Faat Kine provides a critical look at modern, post-colonial Senegal and the place of  women in that society. It gives a clear glimpse into the life of the Senegalese  middle-class and presents present-day Dakar in all of its contradictions of  poverty and wealth, tradition and modernity.


Thursday, December 22, 2011

CSCC Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration: Educate. Inspire. Empower. - Jan 10th!


Columbus State Community College's 21st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration:

Educate. Inspire. Empower.

11:00AM
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Conference Center Ballroom, WD 435

Featuring keynote speaker:

Dr. Michael Eric Dyson
named by Ebony magazine as one of the hundred most influential Black Americans, is the author of sixteen books, including Holler if You Hear Me, Is Bill Cosby Right?and I May Not Get There With You: The True Martin Luther King, Jr.  Dr. Dyson is University Professor of Sociology at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

Additional Celebration Participants:
  • The Columbus State Gospel Vocal Ensemble, directed by Emma Easton
  • Metropolitan Singers from Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center, directed by Dameon Jones
  • Clip from the film: If I Had Sneezed  from Dr. King's last public address made in Memphis, Tennessee
This event is FREE and open to the public.  For more information, call (614) 287.2426



Interdisciplinary Seminar in Tanzania - Spring Quarter 2012!



Humanitarianism: Design Thinking Across Disciplines – Spring quarter seminar with study tour to Tanzania

In this honors seminar, students from across colleges and disciplines will combine research into humanitarianism, social responsibility and the principles of design thinking into the development of a project that will benefit a non-profit organization doing work in impoverished communities in rural Tanzania.

In spring 2012, we will explore how the fields such as engineering, nursing, medicine, education, business, liberal arts, design and more are all critical in the development of effective and inspiring humanitarian design projects. Together, we will explore the social, cultural and technological issues inherent in the field of humanitarian design and work collaboratively to create and implement projects that will have a positive impact on communities in need. The course culminates in a required trip to Tanzania immediately following spring quarter 2012.

Application required. Deadline – January 9, 2012. Although this program is facilitated by University Honors, UC undergraduates who are not in the UHP are welcome and encouraged to apply, provided the student has a cumulative university GPA of 3.4 or above (graduate students and alumni not eligible).



Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Cincinnati Mayor Mallory's Young Professional Kitchen Cabinet - Applications due Dec 31st!


Cincinnati Mayor Mallory's Young Professional Kitchen Cabinet (YPKC) 2012 Application is out.  This is a great opportunity for Young Professionals to get involved by directly linking up with the Mayor and other YP’s who are engaged in improving the city. 

The mission of the YPKC is to execute initiatives and recommend policies designed to attract and retain young professionals to Cincinnati. Founded by Mayor Mark Mallory in 2006, the YPKC is composed of highly motivated young professionals with a passion for improving Cincinnati. Application is due Dec 31.  

Application can be found on the home page of www.mayormallory.com and the direct link is below:
 



Change the World: WorldFest Logo Competition



From SALD:

A contest is being held to re-brand WorldFest for 2012 and students are invited to submit designs. The deadline for submissions is January 13th, 2012.

The contest is open to all full-time UC students, and there is a 150$ award for the winner!


Last Years WorldFest Logo Design


WorldFest is a celebration of the cultural diversity on the campus of the University of Cincinnati. WorldFest takes place during spring quarter, and will host a variety of fun programs and activities aimed at experiencing different cultures and increasing cultural awareness.

For more information and contest details please visit the SALD website.

Cincinnati Museum Center Winter Solstice Festival - Dec 22nd!

From the Cincinnati Museum Center and The Bimah:

The Cincinnati Museum center will host a Winter Solstice Festival on December 22nd in the Union Terminal Grand Rotunda from 11AM-2PM.

The recognizes holidays of different faiths and cultures that occur late fall through winter.  These holidays include Hanukkah, Diwali, St. Nicholas Day, Kwanza, and Spring Festival (lunar new year).  Included in the celebration is the construction of a giant Lego menorah, sponsored by the Chabad Jewish Center which will also be presenting Chanukah crafts, snacks, and a special presentation by the Chabad Hebrew School Choir.

The event is free and open to the public.  Parking is available for $6.


Japanese Language & Culture Experience - Fall Semester 2012



Japanese Language and Culture Experience
Fall semester 2012 study abroad in Japan, taking place two-weeks prior to the beginning of fall semester classes.

This honors seminar and study abroad experience is designed to give students basic Japanese language skills and introduce them to the cultural and professional environment of Japan.  In today’s global economy, it is essential for young professionals to understand the impact of cultural differences on business and industry.  The course will take place in over a two-week period.  It will consist of 36 hours of language instruction as well as daily site visits to companies and historical and cultural sites in Japan.

The University of Cincinnati has offered an International Co-op Program (ICP) in since the mid-1990’s.  Through this program students complete over 300 hours of Japanese instruction followed by a capstone six-month co-op experience in Japan.  The decision to participate in the ICP is a tremendous investment with a variety of “unknowns”.  This study tour program is designed to give co-op students a small taste of the Japanese language as well as ’s history and culture in a protected environment.  Students will also have the opportunity to visit ICP employers and meet with ICP students currently co-oping in Japan.

For many students, this study tour will be their first exposure to a foreign country.  After this first exposure, some may decide to pursue a longer study abroad or co-op in , or another location, later in their studies. 

Application required. Deadline – January 2, 2012.  Although this program is facilitated by University Honors, UC undergraduates who are not in the UHP are welcome and encouraged to apply, provided the student has a cumulative university GPA of 3.4 or above (graduate students and alumni not eligible).



Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Minding Their Own Business – UC Research Examines a Growing Immigrant Population’s Self Employment in the U.S.


From UC News:

Minding Their Own Business – UC Research Examines a Growing Immigrant Population’s Self Employment in the U.S.


UC research on Nigerian immigrant self employment will be presented at the annual meeting of the American Anthropological Association.

Date: 11/14/2011 12:00:00 AM
By: Dawn Fuller
Phone: (513) 556-1823
Photos By: Dottie Stover

UC ingot   For a growing immigrant community in the United States, setting up shop means blending tools of the trade from home with discoveries made in the new country, and there’s a strategy that’s threading through an array of small businesses.
Leila Rodriguez
Leila Rodriguez

Leila Rodriguez a University of Cincinnati assistant professor of anthropology, presents her research, “Traces of Home, Legacies of Culture: Business Development Among Nigerian Immigrants in New York City.” The study will be highlighted Nov. 20 at the 110th annual meeting of the American Anthropological Association in Montreal.

Rodriguez says she became interested in exploring the Nigerian business community because Nigerians do not have educational or language barriers like other immigrants who turn to self-employment when they cannot enter the U.S. job market. Through her research of these small business owners in New York, she discovered that many of them were entrepreneurs in their native country.

Supported by funding from the National Science Foundation, Rodriguez spent a year in New York City where there’s a high percentage of Nigerian immigrants, conducting surveys with 85 Nigerian business owners and face-to-face interviews with an additional 45 entrepreneurs. Their businesses included small restaurants, groceries, legal services, video and clothing stores that primarily served the African and African-American community.

“What I found is that when they move to the U.S., they have this knowledge about an African business model,” says Rodriguez. “But over time, they’ll start adapting more western business strategies, and pick and choose what’s useful from both cultures.”

Rodriguez traced their business-related social networks, including suppliers, employees and customers. She says recent migrants logistically are going to build their networks within the Nigerian community, depending on Nigerian suppliers, but eventually, she says these business owners will explore suppliers that could be less expensive. “When I asked about how they hire their employees, some business owners said they just put a sign in the window. But others preferred hiring family, because they felt that those employees would do a better job out of family obligation.”

“However, they preferred not to have that social closeness with their customer base,” adds Rodriguez. “They were concerned about how it would reflect on them if they tried to collect money, for instance, from a member of their church – if the church member claimed he or she was unable to pay.”

In summary, she says she found that as they hung out their business signs in the U.S., these entrepreneurs weren’t just letting go of their old business strategies and developing an entirely new plan. Instead, they became very strategic and conscious about the social distance they wanted between them and their suppliers, customers and employees.

Rodriguez says contemporary African immigrants, like the Nigerian community, are being called the new “model minority” by scholars, a term once applied to Asians emigrating to the U.S. The “model” status is due to the fact that the Nigerian population tends to be well educated and wealthier than other populations emigrating to the U.S.

Rodriguez says that Nigerians represent the largest group of African immigrants in the U.S., with the population nearly doubling between 2000 and 2007, according to the American Community Survey. As of 2009 there were more than 216,000 Nigerians who reported emigrating to the U.S. – about 14 percent of the total African population that had immigrated to the U.S. in that period. The first wave of migration started in the 70s, after Nigerian students began attending American and European universities following Nigeria’s independence from England in 1960. Although Nigerians and Africans (1.5 million) make up a small percentage (4 percent) of the overall immigrant population in the U.S., the population of Nigerians is growing.

In addition to the UC Department of Anthropology, Rodriguez is an affiliate faculty member of the Department of Africana Studies and Department of Latin American Studies Program, all in the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences (A&S). She is also coordinator of the new Taft Global Humanities Research Group in A&S, which is blending interdisciplinary research and teaching around the multiple dimensions of globalization.

HSGA Holiday Food Drive Benefits Freestore Foodbank



The Health Sciences Graduate Association (HGSA) is holding a holiday food drive to benefit Cincinnati's Freestore Foodbank until Friday, Dec. 16.

The Freestore Foodbank serves more than 300,000 people in need annually in over 20 counties across Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky.

They are currently in need of nutritious, nonperishable canned and packaged foods which have not expired (no glass) and personal care items. Monetary donations will also be accepted.

Donation bins are located in the Medal Sciences Building by the first floor elevators, in the Vontz Center's main lobby, the Metabolic Diseases Institute main lobby and the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center's 7th floor atrium.
 
Examples of items needed:
  • Canned meat products (tuna, chicken, ham, spaghetti with meatballs, chili with meat and beans, beef stew, etc.)
  • Canned fruits and vegetables
  • Dried or canned beans
  • Fruit juice
  • Jelly
  • Macaroni and cheese
  • Pasta
  • Peanut butter
  • Rice
  • Whole grain cereal
  • Personal care items (soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste/brush, feminine hygiene products, disposable diapers)
For questions or more information, contact Meaghan Waltmann at waltmamd@mail.uc.edu.

Midwest BLGTA College Conference - Feb 10-12 in Ames, Iowa!



Campus climate surveys over the past few years have provided student affairs professionals with a glimpse into the lived experiences of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Queer students in the college environment.  

Unfortunately, this data has indicated that many (a range of about 1/3-2/3) of LGBTQ identified college students have experienced harassment on their campus and/or fear for their safety (Rankin, 2005; 2003). 

 If you are looking for ways to bring a deeper understanding and appreciation of difference and all members of your campus community, we encourage you to send your residential assistants, professional staff, graduate and undergraduate students to the 20th annualMidwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Ally College Conference (MBLGTACC), hosted by Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa on February 10-12, 2012.

MBLGTACC is the longest and largest regional conference aimed to foster leadership skills and community for not only college-age Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer and Ally (LGBTQA) students, but individuals of all ages and identities. Participation in the conference provides an opportunity to gain valuable skills that empower participants to network across universities, build collaborative relationships, and create their own path in the fight for LGBTQA equality, visibility, and community.  We hope that you will encourage members of your campus community to attend and bring the spirit of the conference back to your campus!

Please visit our website to learn more about this year's conference!
MBLGTACC2012.org

Click here to Register!
Interested in presenting at MBLGTACC2012?  Propose a workshop!





Monday, December 19, 2011

Save-the-Date: 27th Annual Student Leadership Conference - Feb 25th!

This conference is for all students! 

The conference will include energetic opening and closing sessions, lunch, a keynote speaker, and nearly three dozen educational programs about community service, philanthropy, student organization funding, public speaking, event services, professional development, and more.

Student Activities & Leadership Development (SALD) is home to more than 300 university student organizations, Student Government, University Funding Board (UFB), NightWalk Safety Board, Student Activities Board (SAB), Club Sports, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Racial Awareness Program (RAPP), Programs and Activities Council (PAC), and other diversity and leadership education.

Nicole M. Ausmer, PhD
Conference Co-Chair
Assistant Director
Student Activities & Leadership Development


Russell William Best
Conference Co-Chair
Assistant Director
Student Activities & Leadership Development




Wednesday, December 14, 2011

2012 Social Justice League is in Effect!

We are very excited about the 2012 Social Justice League, and would like to introduce our members for the year!

AJ Eaves-RAPP XXVI, RAPPORT Track
Allison Furterer-RAPP XXVI, RAPPORT Track
Brice Mickey- RAPP XXV, Individual Track
Bobby Filbin-RAPP XXV, Individual Track
Cassie Baxter-RAPP XXVI, RAPPORT Track
DeVorah YisraEL- RAPP XXIV, Individual Track
Jasmine Hines-RAPP XXVI, RAPPORT Track
Jasmine Land-RAPP XXVI, RAPPORT Track
Jojo Azevedo-RAPP XXIV, Individual Track
Kevin Weber - RAPP XXVI, RAPPORT Track
Matt Miller-RAPP XXVI, RAPPORT/Individual Track
Matthew Woodruff-RAPP XXVI, Peer Leader Track
Mieshia Barnes-RAPP XXIV, Peer Leader Track
Marjorie Bledsoe-RAPP XXV, Individual Track
Rachel Berman-RAPP XXV, Individual Track
Tyler Thompson-RAPP XXV, Peer Leader Track
Wil Pierce-RAPPXXV, Peer Leader Track

The Social Justice League has several learning tracks designed to engage participants individually in a way that ensures optimal learning experiences for each person. Each track has specific guidelines that participants fulfill during their experiences, including:

·         Facilitating workshops  
·         Attending RAPPORT meetings
·          Blogging
·         Taking on leadership roles within RAPP and RAPPORT as Peer Leaders
·         Interning/Facilitating with RAPP and RAPPORT 

The Social Justice League was started in 2010 as a way to provide a structured post-RAPP experience and provide a space to work intentionally on developing skills and knowledge in social justice education.  It has also re-invigorated the RAPPORT program - increasing participation in meetings and improving the curricular structure of RAPPORT.


The Social Justice League provides motivation for RAPP graduates to stay connected with RAPP and RAPPORT, a tangible benefit and sense of progress, and a sense of structure and direction that many RAPPORT participants previously stated they missed from the RAPP experience.

Stay tuned to learn about all the awesome things the Social Justice League will be doing in 2012!!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Dining Services Brings Local Food from Findlay Market to UC Students

From UC News:

Date: 12/7/2011 12:00:00 AM

By: Amy Browns Taylor
Phone: (513) 556-1713
Other Contact: John Hautz
Other Contact Phone: (513) 556-4723
Photos By: Amar Singh, DAAP '12



Nearly 1,200 students took part in the Harvest Market @ MarketPointe event at MarketPointe at Siddall.

UC Dining Services and Ohio’s oldest municipal market house, Findlay Market, collaborated on November 30 to prepare distinctive menus with locally-sourced food for UC students at a special dinner called Harvest Market @ MarketPointe.
MarketPointe at Siddall was transformed into a Findlay Market-like atmosphere.

Students enjoyed delectable food sourced from 11 Findlay merchants. Menu highlights included:
  • Kung Pao Pork Stir Fry & Steamed Rice
  • Grilled Italian Sausage & Roasted Pepper Panini
  • Espresso Rubbed BBQ Beef Top Round with Creamy Cole Slaw
  • Greek Orzo, Feta, & Olive Salad
  • Cincinnati Style Chili
  • Findlay Market Vegetable Soup
  • Tuscan Chianti Cacciatore with Toasted Garlic Bread
  • Spanish Paella with Fresh Market Seafood
  • Adobo Pork Loin Ciabatta with Chipotle Aioli
  • Apple Cider
UC Sustainability volunteers sorted food waste and 210 pounds of compostable waste was returned to Findlay Market’s composting system.

The event concept was discussed with 29 students who participated in University Dining Services’ Food Focus Committee meetings this fall and these students were invited to participate in an upcoming outing to Findlay Market. Twenty UC students and staff participated in this outing to Findlay Market on November 5, led by Rebecca Heine, Findlay Market’s Outdoor & Farmers Market Manager and a UC alumna. Heine gave a historical and current overview of the facility and a tour of the market’s composting vessels (called “earth pots”) and urban garden.
During this pre-shopping trip, students and Executive Chefs Kiril Gallovitch, Jonathan Hunt, and Cooper Thomas, met with Findlay merchants and farmers and began formulating the dinner including menus and how to return the event’s compostable waste back to Findlay’s in-vessel food waste composting system. Findlay Market is the only Class II composting facility in an urban area in the state. 
The chefs sourced the food for the event from the following vendors: Kroeger & Sons Meats, Mackie Quality Meats, Eckerlin Meats, Madison’s, Findlay Market Urban Farmers, LeGrand, Salatins, Gibbs Cheese, Silverglade’s, Colonel De Gourmet Herbs & Spice, and Skirtz & Johnston.
In addition to the special menu, MarketPointe was transformed into a Findlay Market-like atmosphere and included music by a regular Findlay musician, Darius, who has been playing the violin at Findlay since he was nine years old. Currently, he is in the 9th grade at the School for the Creative & Performing Arts.
“Findlay Market and UC have a history of working together. For this night, we were able to come together to highlight fresh local food for the UC community, and we have the potential to do even more exciting ventures together,” said Heine.
Nearly 1,200 students participated in the event, a 30% increase in participation as compared to a typical Wednesday evening at MarketPointe.

The goals of Harvest Market @ MarketPointe were to provide an exceptional culinary experience, support local farmers and businesses, introduce UC students to the historic market in their neighborhood, and to increase participation in sustainable practices. Compostable scrap waste, 210 pounds in total, was sorted by UC Sustainability volunteers and returned to Findlay Market’s composting system. The event resulted in a 30% increase in participation as compared to a typical Wednesday evening at the MarketPointe dining center.
UC Dining Services Director of Operations Ian Sroufe said, “It just proves when you put your energy toward what is right and good, the ball gets rolling, people get on the train, and we all ride into a better way of thinking, working, and living. This is only the beginning.”