Daniel W of RAPP XXV has spoken about how his study abroad experience was life-changing. He's currently working to help others be able to have similarly impactful experiences.

Daniel went to South America through the organization CIEE, which provide study abroad opportunities all around the world and for a variety of time lengths. Daniel is currently working as a recruiter for CIEE, so he can answer a wide variety of questions about the opportunities his program provides.

UC International works with CIEE and many other organizations to provide international learning opportunities for students - get credit for an amazing experience!

Youth Empowerment through Hip Hop Education

Dr. Ernest Morrell, UCLA Graduate Professor and author of "Critical Literacy and Urban Youth" and "Linking Literacy and Popular Culture," will facilitate a round table discussion at the AACRC on "Critical Literacy, Academic Achievement, and Youth Empowerment in Urban Schools using Hip Hop Culture."

Tonight, Thursday March 4th

7PM

AACRC

Refreshments provided by C.Y.P.H.E.R.

Commitment during Cold Times

We started winter quarter off with a pep talk about the challenges winter quarter presents. It's a tough time in many ways. Environmentally, it's dark out, it's cold and snowy, the weather's unpredictable but generally terrible. Groupwise, winter is when things get more uncomfortable. Avoidance of difference through politeness falls way to genuine and honest sharing of differences. The facilitation team turns the heat up with more demanding activities. The group usually hits some conflict.
Plus, there all of the other demands of life - school, family, work, and other commitments.
With that in mind, I want to take a minute to note folks who faced these challenges head on and still managed to be at every meeting this quarter:

Rachel Berman
Mahsino Blamoh
Amber Easterling
Simone Epperson
Craig Erickson
Courtney Fancher
Lauren Fink
Sarah Hejma
Jay Khan
Chelsea Korte
Meagan Lauer
Martha Maberry
Brice Mickey
Dy'Mand Montgomery
Calena Neal
Bridget Nickol
Wil Pierce
Danielle Thomas
Tiffany Thompson
Dion Webb
Maggie Yoder
Anum Zaheer

Many thanks are also due to our Peer Leaders, who've had strong attendance despite the many things they're involved in and that this is their second time around with the demanding RAPP Commitment:
Tad Miller
Nancy Paraskevopoulos
Krystal Smith
Kimmins Southard
DeVorah YisraEL

(pic - Dan B of RAPP XXIV receiving his perfect attendance certificate)

Pictures from The Vagina Monologues

Last night UC students put on a standing room only reading of The Vagina Monologues.

The above photo is from Kelly of RAPP XXV - before the show, before the big crowd all squeezed in (which included over a dozen RAPPers), she asked RAPPers in the house to come onstage for a picture.

Front row: Kelly (XXV), Kenzie (XXV), Nancy (XXIV, PL XXV)
Back row: Patrice (started XXIII), Kimmins (XXIII, PL XXV), Rachel (XXV), Mimi (XXV), Sarah (XXV), Anthony (XXV)

It was a RAPPtastic night - with the stage and audience full of RAPPers. Unfortunately, I don't have the best camera, I don't know how to use it well, and I hate blasting people with the flash. This adds up to some dark, grainy, blurry pictures. Still, I'm putting the best-of-what-I've-got below.

Kimmins S (RAPP XXIII, Peer Leader with RAPP XXV) performs the monologue "My Angry Vagina"

Kenzie A (XXV) performs "Not-So-Happy Fact"

Nancy P (XXIV, Peer Leader with RAPP XXV) performs "My Vagina Was My Village"

Kelly C (XXV), Athina W, and Yewineshet G (XXV) perform "The 'Wear and Say' Lists"

Sarah H (XXV) performs "Hair"

Rachel B (XXV) performed the "Introduction Piece" with Becky James and Kat Crumley

Patrice B (started in RAPP XXIII) performs "The Vagina Workshop"

Jaime R (started in RAPP XXIV) performs "The Woman Who Loved to Make Vaginas Happy"

Many thanks to Kim F, Brandy T, Ann B, and Courtney B from the UC Women's Center and all the students and staff who performed and attended for bringing this great show to campus!

President Williams' Book Talk

The Center for Access & Transition and Diversity Education are sponsoring a talk from UC President Gregory Williams on his book Life on the Color Line: The True Story of a White Boy who Discovered He Was Black.

The event will involve readings by President Williams, audience Q&A, and book signing.

Tuesday, April 6th
12:30-1:45PM

2133 French Hall

(pic-copied from UC Magazine)

RAPP Rebranding - We Need Your Feedback!

For many reasons, we're working in RAPP to develop a new logo for our future. We've had many great logos throughout the years - we're seeking another excellent logo for our 25th year and beyond!

The RAPP Rebranding committee is working hard to ensure that we get a logo that represents RAPP and RAPPORT well to the UC community and everywhere else RAPPers go. One of the keys we're looking for is for the new logo to come from our community. How will we do that this time?

We're having a contest!

To get ready for the contest, our committee is seeking feedback from RAPPers and our supporters. If you've been involved in RAPP in any way since our creation in 1986, your feedback is valuable!

The rebranding committee has created a survey and will conduct it through Wednesday, March 10th. It has five questions and should take five minutes or less to complete.

You can find the survey HERE.

Information gathered from the survey will be used in the creation of a detailed call for submissions.

(pic-one of RAPP's previous logos, the "peace on earth" logo)

-Rebecca

Pictures from the Student Leadership Conference

RAPP's mission is fighting oppression through individual awareness and collective action. Seeing as we're just over 1/2-way through our RAPP year, we're still quite focused on the first part of that (the individual awareness) though we've started rolling the group slowly toward the latter part.

Many RAPPers come to the group with leadership experience, many don't. Whichever group they fall in, a lot of RAPPers strengthened their leadership foundation this weekend by attending the 25th Annual Student Leadership Conference - a great place to be to get ready for effective collective action.

Students listening to keynote speaker Dr. Jame'l Hodges.

Nloh (XXIV), zina (XXV), and Taylor (XXV) at lunch.

Brenna (XXII), friends, Courtney E (XXV), and Coya (XXIV) at lunch.

Kristin (XXV) taking notes on Dr. Hodges speech.

Katie & Nicole (both XXIV) enjoying lunch before the keynote.