MU Diversity News
Jennifer Faddis, MU News Bureau
Spanish, Bosnian/Serbo/Croatian, Vietnamese, Arabic and Somali are the top five foreign languages spoken by school children in Missouri, according to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. It may sound surprising, but the numbers of non-English speaking students are on the rise. Now, a new program through the University of Missouri-Columbia College of Education has been granted $1.3 million from the U.S. Department of Education to prepare 100 Missouri teachers to teach English to students who do not use it as their native language.
Katie Krawczak, Columbia Missourian
Decades before Amiri Baraka was ousted as poet laureate of New Jersey, he was LeRoi Jones, founder of the Black Arts movement, a 1960s revolution in African-American culture.
Tara Grimes, The Maneater
Although the expectations of students hoping to hear a Nobel Prize winning author and playwright were met Monday night, many of those who said they hoped to get a copy of his book signed left disappointed.
Gwen Daniels, The Maneater
Filipino barbecue, flag-decorated cakes and dancing were all abundant during the barbecue celebration as the Filipino Student Association kicked off the year.
Kyle Daly, The Maneater
The sound of beating drums and the smell of grilled hamburgers enticed the senses of all who came to Peace Park on Sunday afternoon during Columbia’s fifth Pagan Pride Day festival.
Sarah Alban, The Maneater
The word “breakfast” draws its meaning from the first meal of the day ending a night of fasting. Last Saturday, Muslims and Jews came together in Gwynn Lounge for the third annual Interfaith Break Fast, breaking a day of fasting with a nighttime vegetarian potluck.
Allie Blood, The Maneater
Representatives from the Chancellor’s Diversity Initiative presented MU’s annual diversity report to the Faculty Council on Thursday. Interim Chief Diversity Officer Roger Worthington said the initiative aims to increase minority faculty recruitment, but council members said the university was not competitive enough.
Esten Hurtle, The Maneater
Sunday’s Hispanic Heritage Month Potluck Picnic was celebrated with party games and food as a way to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins on Sept. 15, and to welcome back returning Hispanic and Latin American faculty and staff to the university.
Bryan Daniels, News Bureau
Researchers examining trends in state politics have found that during the 1990s, African-American officeholders had difficulty translating election to public office into positions of authority such as committee chairs in state legislatures. The findings, said a University of Missouri-Columbia faculty member who participated in the study, provide somewhat of a "mixed picture" of political gains by African Americans.
Bruan Daniels, News Bureau
Felon exclusion laws impact not only individuals, but also communities, according to a University of Missouri-Columbia law professor. By their suppressive nature, the legal statutes, which vary from state to state, have devastating socio-economic, political and legal effects on African-American communities nationwide, he contends.
Aarik Danielsen, Columbia Missourian
For many Americans, national identity is connected, in large part, to the country’s religious heritage and practice. But do Americans know enough about religion to be good citizens? Unfortunately, Stephen Prothero says, the answer is no.
Sean Sposito, Columbia Tribune
Patrick Campbell returned home from a yearlong tour of duty in Iraq to find that his credit was ruined. The National Guard medic, now a law student at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., said $15,000 in student loans he’d attempted to defer had become delinquent.
Annie Nelson, Columbia Tribune
It’s not unusual for tempers to flare at the University of Missouri-Columbia’s Speaker’s Circle when confrontational evangelist George Smock is ridiculing women passing by, saying they look like prostitutes, or telling homosexuals their sexual orientation is a sin and they will burn in a lake of fire for it.
Erica Zucco, The Maneater
The Legion of Black Collegians used their first meeting on Wednesday as an opportunity to educate potential members on the government’s mission statement, goals and experiences unique to the organization.
John Pullega, The Maneater
A fee of $3.19 was charged to all MU undergraduate students at the beginning of the fall semester to be allocated to various minority groups on campus. MU’s Department of Student Life passed the diversity fee over the summer amid questions over its legality, efficiency and constitutionality.
Off Campus Diversity News
Abraham Mahsie, Columbia Tribune
The presence of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on U.S. soil is too much for some Iranians living in exile in Missouri. "We’re going to express our objection today," said Iranian-American Azam Shahriary this morning from a taxicab en route to the United Nations building in New York. Shahriary left Iran in 1978 when her husband was accepted into Lincoln University in Jefferson City. The couple lived in Jefferson City and Columbia before recently moving to St. Louis, where their two U.S.-born sons attend college.
Associated Press, Columbia Tribune
Helene Marshall gingerly inspected the white plastic packet of honey on the hotel breakfast table. Peeling back the top, the 64-year-old former wind chime designer dabbed at the pale liquid with a teaspoon, bringing just a bit of it up to her lips. Then she gagged.
Yoji Cole, Diversity Inc
After the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, many American Muslims encountered increased hostility in the workplace, both overt and subtle. But that has changed in the last few years, as more corporations have become increasingly aware of the need for religious inclusion.
City of Columbia Human Rights and Cultural Diversity Programs
In an effort to increase community education on human rights and cultural diversity issues, the City of Columbia's Human Rights Commission is requesting funding proposals from local organizations to enhance human rights educational activities and programs in our community.
Jamie Kanki, Columbia Missourian
The evening began with a simple chant: “Om ... Om ... Om.” Thomas-Ashley Farrand led a group of about 30 people Tuesday night in a mantra to open his presentation on the power of Sanskrit at the Unity Center of Columbia.
Nathan Stephens, Columbia Tribune
As one Trib Talker did last week, I, too, would like to thank the Tribune for publishing the photo of me consoling my son on his first day of kindergarten.
Associated Press, Columbia Tribune
Some Hispanic groups called for Gov. Matt Blunt’s chief of staff to be fired yesterday for a remark they said was offensive but that the governor’s office said has been misinterpreted.
Taylor Rausch, Columbia Missourian
You can’t blame George Frissell for Americans’ lack of religious literacy. Since 1987, Frissell has been teaching a comparative religion class at Hickman High School. The class started 20 years ago when a handful of Hickman High School students asked if the school would offer a class on religion and philosophy. Now, 80 students each year pass through the doors of teacher George Frissell’s “Classical Ideas and World Religion” classroom.
Sean Sposito, Columbia Tribune
As the Korean Baptist Church makes an expensive effort to expand, church members are finding themselves at odds with Columbia city officials. "The property needs to have a sprinkler system," Water and Light Department Director Dan Dasho said of the I-70 Drive N.W. congregation
Janese Heavin, Columbia Tribune
Eyes forward, backs straight, three striking young ladies ascend the stage and offer flower petals to Shiva in exchange for blessings. The pleats on their skirts spread into fans when they walk. Raven braids adorned with citrus blossoms hang like drapery down their backs. Faces are like those of porcelain china dolls, painted with creamy mocha makeup.
Ryland Devero
A Missouri state representative has proposed legislation that would require sex offenders to register e-mail addresses and electronic identities, such as instant messaging screen names, with state law enforcement.
