News & Announcements: November 2009

Diversity News

Race and Civility forum addresses difficulty of talking about race

Despite differing opinions and emotional personal experiences on the matter of race, people left the third Race and Civility discussion with a sense of hope that change is a possibility.

Nobel Prize laureate speaks on violence in Northern Ireland

Students gathered Friday in Ellis Auditorium to hear Nobel Peace Prize laureate Betty Williams speak about her efforts to end the violence in Northern Ireland and enrich the lives of children. Williams' crusade against violence began in 1976 when she witnessed the deaths of three children in Belfast, where she lived during the Troubles, a period of violent conflict between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland. The children had been riding in a car driven by a member of the Irish Republican Army who was fatally shot by the British Army, sending the car careening out of control and killing the children inside.

BODYTALK creates outlet for students to discuss sexual health

Senior Joseph Beeman began an online magazine, BODYTALK, this semester as a way to regularize discussion of sexual health and sexuality. "The focus of the 'zine is to normalize conversations about sexuality, bodies and reproductive health and just to create a safe space where anyone can contribute about any experience and just get their voice heard," Beeman said.

Guest Column: Rooted aims to help students find faith

When incoming students first step on the University of Missouri campus, they generally experience a range of emotions, from excitement and happiness to shock and awe. New students gain exposure to a brand new world filled with countless opportunities to get involved. What many students then feel is simply a natural emotional progression. We are talking about confusion, consternation and a general feeling of being completely overwhelmed.

Veterans Week continues at MU

Student veterans at the University of Missouri are celebrating Veterans Day this week by collecting goods for their older and less advantaged military peers

Students crumble mock Berlin Wall

Fists pounded the drywall, cheering erupted and the whole crowd counted down the last 30 seconds before students tipped the wall over and moved to the other side.

Berlin Wall timeline details an icon's history

On Nov. 9, 1989, the world watched, stunned, as a human deluge surged through the checkpoints of the Berlin Wall, marking the beginning of the end for the Soviet Bloc.

Fulton college events celebrate anniversary of Berlin Wall dismantling

With a population of about 13,ooo, Fulton lays claim to an internationally known moment in history — and an 11- by 32-foot block of stone to go with it. Less than a year after the end of World War II, Britain’s wartime prime minister, Winston Churchill, blazed into Fulton to deliver a speech in which he coined a phrase now embedded in language and cultural memory.

VIDEO: Miss Africa Mizzou

On Sunday, the African Students Association of MU hosted the Miss Africa Mizzou 2009. The pageant represented the countries of Liberia, Tanzania, Nigeria and Eritrea. The contestants performed talents and performances that are native to their respective cultures. The performances included modern African dance and attire. Sophomore Stephine Nwaneri, or Miss Nigeria, was crowned the winner.

Miss Africa Mizzou crowned

The African Students Association crowned Stephine Nwaneri the first Miss Africa Mizzou on Sunday.

Vigil, office closings mark Veterans Day

A vigil honoring Boone County veterans began this morning on the Boone County Courthouse grounds and will continue through tomorrow morning in observance of Veterans Day.

Columbia celebrates veterans

It’s an intriguing dance, but with rigid movement. Two men in uniform, rifles rested upon their shoulders, take six parallel steps and stop. A sharp spin on the heel has them about-face, and with a hastened nod they uniformly lower their rifles and switch shoulders. The motions continue in a perfect square, and the dance goes on.

Doctor seeks justice in health care

The debate over health care reform needs to transform into an honest conversation about what’s really happening, a nationally recognized speaker told a Columbia audience yesterday.

Today's question: Do you support same-sex partner benefits at MU?

President Barack Obama extended insurance benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees this summer through the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act.

Woman in wheelchair makes MU history during sorority recruitment

With 1,299 other women at MU, Gabriella Garbero went through sorority recruitment in August. When it was over, she accepted a bid from Kappa Kappa Gamma.

Difficult Dialogue discusses issues of race and civility

MU Difficult Dialogues explored why race is so difficult to talk about Thursday night. “I think the difficult thing is trying to talk objectively about something that can’t be talked about objectively,” MU senior Erin Horth, 20, said.

Stagnant gender gap ranking pathetic

On Wednesday morning, my TweetDeck was scattered with posts about the 2009 Global Gender Gap Index. Most of them essentially had the same theme, echoing @lisaling’s: “Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden lead in gender equality. Where's U.S.? 31st! Pathetic.”

Tibetan Buddhist monks visit MU, create mandala

On Monday afternoon, three Tibetan Buddhist monks in saffron robes were hunched over a table on the second floor of MU's Ellis Library. They were creating a pattern of intricate shapes and symbols called a mandala out of colored sand.