News & Announcements: April 2009

MU Diversity News

Islamic Center holds open house

Clare Becker, Columbia Missourian -- Maha Khan gives Alice Kraatz, 3, a traditional henna design during the Islamic Center of Central Missouri's Open House on Sunday in Columbia. The open house included information about Islam, traditional foods and presentations on Islamic culture.

Students hope Day of Silence serves as a lesson

Megan Ogar, Columbia Missourian -- Students made their presence heard on the MU campus Friday, not by shouting or protesting loudly, but by remaining completely silent. As part of the National Day of Silence, these students brought attention to the bullying and harassment lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) students can face, this year focusing on transgender students.

Belgian theater troupe brings Rwanda documentary to MU

Jehan Roberson, Columbia Missourian -- Over a period of 100 days in 1994, an estimated 800,000 members of Rwanda’s Tutsi tribe and moderates of the Hutu tribe were murdered during a genocide that became one of the bloodiest events in Africa.

Students get out and about: Gay rights are march’s focus.

Janese Heavin, Columbia Tribune -- About 50 University of Missouri students marched through campus yesterday in hopes of encouraging straight students to come out of the closet with their support for gay rights.

MU allies participate in pride march

Sangeeta Shastry, The Maneater -- Over the past few days, Ally Week focused on the issues faced by the LGBTQ community on campus and how the rest of the community reacts to those issues.

Organization holds die-in at Speakers Circle: Stand Mizzou raises awareness about Darfur conflict.

Amanda Wysocki and Kiki Schmitz, The Maneater -- Amid the religious activists and environmental groups at Speaker's Circle Wednesday afternoon, several students laid down holding signs to raise awareness about the ongoing conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan.

Professor to visit MU to discuss immigration issues

Jason Scott, Columbia Missourian -- Jon Inda, an associate professor from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, will visit MU on Thursday to speak about immigration issues.

Students, staff gather for Day of Silence

Angela Case and Kelsey MacDonald, The Maneater -- About 500 MU students and staff members participated in National Day of Silence, an annual event that aims to raise awareness of the bullying and harassment Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer and Questioning students suffer every day.

Campus religious leaders approve bylaws, code of ethics

Daniel Everson, The Maneater -- The Association of Campus Religious Advisors voted Wednesday to approve a new set of bylaws and new code of ethics.

Drag kings, queens make it reign

Theresa Berens, The Maneater -- The lights were low Saturday night in Bengal Lair as performer Amanda Lay entered the stage in a pale blue party dress and white platform heels adorned with feathers.

MU guest lecture focuses on identity of black female adolescents

Michael Schrantz, Columbia Missourian -- Adolescence can be hell. It is the time when children become young adults, and with that transition comes a level of self-realization.

Triangle Coalition protests evangalist Brother Jed, harassment of LGBT individuals

Joshua Nichol-Caddy, Columbia Missourian -- A crowd of about 200 gathered at Speakers Circle on Friday to witness a silent protest organized by Triangle Coalition, a group of MU lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students and their allies.

Police departments promote sexual assault awareness

Lyndsie Manusos, The Maneater -- In lieu of President Barack Obama's declaration of April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the Columbia Police Department and the MU Police Department will to aid the movement to create awareness.

Lecture to focus on identity issues for African-American adolescent girls

As part of a lecture series hosted by MU's sociology department, Scripps College's Sheila Walker will discuss on Friday the roles race, gender and class play in forming adolescent African-American girls' identities.

Study abroad offers chance to share

Theresa Berens, The Maneater -- On a train ride back to Prague, Czech Republic, from a trip to Munich, Germany, senior Anne Flaker learned the importance of her bilingual ability. She shared a car with an elderly man who spoke no English, while she spoke nearly no Czech. They soon discovered they could communicate with one another in Spanish. The gentleman began to share his life story.

Islam Awareness Week addresses common misconceptions

Shannon Montanez, The Maneater -- The Muslim Student Organization sponsored its annual Islam Awareness Week last week with events to create appreciation for the Muslim religion. The group started the week off by setting up a "Taste of Islam" on Monday on Lowry Mall. The group passed out samples from the International Café and publicized the week's upcoming events.

LBC hosts Black Love Week

Sangeeta Shastry, The Maneater -- The Legion of Black Collegians' Black Love Week started Sunday, and the group has events planned every day to "change the way we view black love." Events include a financial seminar, a movie night, a game night, a fashion show, luncheons, a relationship seminar, health screenings and a field day with a three-on-three basketball tournament.

MU, community team up against sexual assault

Trevor Eischen, The Maneater -- Students and community members unite to fight against and prevent sexual assault this month as part of the National Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

RHA adopts non-discrimination policies

Krissy Tripp, The Maneater -- The Residence Halls Association added three non-discrimination policies to its constitution Monday night: gender identity, age and disability status. The legislation by member Doug Cowing, President Robert Wood and parliamentarian Michael Crawford passed internal and congress Monday night.

New student center name debate dredges up Brady's past

Zach Toombs, The Maneater -- In September 2006, a group of MU students founded a movement called "Not My Brady" that contended Thomas Allan Brady, a former MU dean and the namesake of Brady Commons, held racist, sexist and homophobic principles. But an examination of Brady's original statements show that the blog might have incorrectly quoted him.

CPD releases racial profiling numbers

Abby Rogers, The Maneater -- The Columbia Police Department released its racial profiling statistics for Columbia in 2008. The statistics showed white people were stopped more often in traffic stops, but cars with black people were searched more often, and arrested more.

Gender inclusion referendum passes

The Maneater -- Official results from the Missouri Students Association referendum show that the gender identity clause passed with 82 percent of the vote, with 2,780 students voting.

Equal needs should mean equal treatment

Lindsay Eanet, The Maneater -- A few years ago, my grandfather sent me a video of a Japanese cast performing "Fiddler on the Roof." At first I was just really puzzled, seeing a production without a shaggy, pasty Tevye as its lead. But now I just find it incredible -- the Japanese Tevye plays the part with finesse.

Students conscious of racial balancing act

Katy Bergen, The Maneater -- Months after the United States elected its first black president, some believe that, in terms of equality, universities still have a long way to go to make black students feel comfortable.

Men speak out against sexual violence

Katie Harris, The Maneater -- Columbia residents and MU students joined together Wednesday night at Men Speaking Out Against Violence, which was held at Ragtag Cinema, to make their voices heard. The event coincided with National Day to End Sexual Violence.

Human rights activist Angela Davis met with protests

Krissy Tripp, The Maneater -- Flyers advertising human rights activist Angela Davis's trip campus lined the hallways, but next to -- or even stapled directly on top of -- those flyers, were protests.

Angela Davis speaks about civil, human rights at MU

Vannah Shaw, Columbia Missourian -- A piece of textbook history stepped onto stage at Jesse Auditorium on Thursday night.

LGBTQ community celebrates Pride Month

Simone Francis, The Maneater --April is full of events to promote awareness, learning and understanding of the LGBTQ community on campus. Fluidity President Emily Colvin said the April is referred to as Pride Month.

Black Parents Association hosts college prep workshop

Julie Vaughan, Columbia Missourian -- Parents and students will have the opportunity Thursday to learn about admission processes, financing and other aspects of getting prepared for a college career.

Black Man's Think Tank encourages discussions on race

Jehan Roberson, Columbia Missourian -- MU's Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity hosts a monthly forum called the Black Man’s Think Tank, which allows people to voice questions and concerns or discuss issues affecting the black community locally and nationally.

Discussion held on same-sex partnerships

Brendan Gibbons, The Maneater -- Next week, MU students and the City Council will vote on separate issues affecting the LGBTQ community in Columbia.

MSA seeks department name change

Amanda Wysocki, The Maneater -- The Missouri Students Association passed a resolution stating their supporting adding the word "Asian" to the title of the German and Russian studies department.

Student reports harassment

Amanda Wysocki, The Maneater -- The MU Police Department reported a case of persistent harassment of a student that occurred throughout March.

Discussion held on discrimination, same-sex partnerships

Brendan Gibbons, The Maneater -- Next week, the MU students and the City Council will vote on separate issues affecting the LGBTQ community in Columbia.

Veterans look to receive transfer credit at MU

Evan Spaulding, The Maneater -- As the U.S. military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan continues, many veterans are returning home to start their civilian lives and attend college, including at MU.

Off Campus Diversity News

Traveling exhibit has relics from POW life WW II captives

Jodie Jackson Jr., Columbia Tribune -- Untold stories, tucked away in the margins and footnotes of history books — or simply neglected beneath the settled dust of World War II — are brought to life by a mobile museum that visits Fulton tomorrow. The “Bus-eum” tells the story of German and Italian prisoners of war who were interned in Missouri.

Fair Housing Symposium in Columbia educates against housing discrimination

Andrew Van Dam, Columbia Missourian -- More housing discrimination complaints are filed in Missouri than in any other Midwest state.

Today's Question: How should Columbia deal with hate groups?

Jewels Phraner, Columbia Missourian -- An anti-gay group is scheduled to stop in Columbia to protest the City Council's unanimous approval to create a domestic partnership registry. Westboro Baptist Church members have announced they will stop in Columbia on May 14 on their way to St. Louis to protest an Elton John concert, but it's not uncommon for Westboro protesters not to show.

Columbia African American Association offers high school scholarships

Claire Hanan, Columbia Missourian -- Vanessa (Brown) Haywood, a member of Hickman High School's class of 1979, says her mother impressed upon her the importance of an education when she was younger.

Columbia church ministry seeks "safe place" for homosexuals

Matthew Reinig, Columbia Missourian -- A group of more than 25 gathered at Missouri United Methodist Church on April 16 to watch a DVD sermon by the Rev. Adam Hamilton on homosexuality and discuss its translation to faith. The sermon, which was viewed on a large projection screen, was titled "When Christians Get it Wrong: In Dealing with Homosexuality."

Anti-gay group plans city protest

Sara Semelka, Columbia Tribune -- Columbia has caught the attention of Westboro Baptist Church, an organization known for picketing the funerals of gay people and members of the military with signs claiming that soldiers and gay people burn in hell because God hates homosexuality and America.

Passion trumps attendance in march against racial stereotypes

Claire Constant, Columbia Missourian -- These words flowed across the front of a large poster held by Lana Mims, one of five Community About Raising Excellence members who participated in a march against racial stereotypes on Tuesday.

Cambodian New Year adds religious diversity to Easter weekend

Zachary Siebert, Columbia Missourian -- Easter weekend has always had a singular feel around Boone County. Church parking lots and sanctuaries are conspicuously fuller than usual. Families and loved ones gather together dressed in their best, and children can be found running wildly, basket in hand, in search of pastel eggs. Traditions such as these help make this a joyful time of the year, but the hallowed Christian holiday wasn’t the only sacred event celebrated in Boone County this weekend.

Gay West Point alumni seek end to "don't ask, don't tell"

David Crary (AP), Columbia Missourian -- As a cadet at the U.S. Military Academy, Dan Choi faced an ethical dilemma. The academy's honor code was clear, beginning "A cadet will not lie." Yet as a gay man, Choi felt bound by the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy to be untruthful about who he was.

March against racial stereotypes set for Tuesday

Claire Constant, Columbia Missourian -- Members of Community About Raising Excellence, part of the Legion of Black Collegians, plan to march against racial stereotypes Tuesday.

Columbia woman brings personal experience to Islam Awareness Week

Temia Griffin, Columbia Missourian -- Instead of a lecture, Lily Tinker Fortel pulled out a chair, sat in the audience and held a personal conversation about the misconceptions and negative portrayals of Iran and the Muslim culture.

Fresh Start

Julie Halpert, Newsweek -- My daughter, Alyson, began checking out colleges in her junior year of high school. On one of our first visits, she and I were finishing up an interview with the dean of admissions when she asked if I could step outside so she could have a moment alone with him. Later that night, I asked her what she had said to him. "I asked him if the college was gay-friendly," she said, "because I am." That was when I first learned that my daughter, then 16, was a lesbian.

Minority drivers more likely to be searched by Columbia police

Jonathan Randles, Megan Wiegand, The Columbia Missourian -- Black and Hispanic drivers were more than twice as likely as white drivers to be searched following a traffic stop by Columbia police officers in 2008, according to data released by the department Thursday.

Analysis: Missouri not likely to follow neighbors in allowing same-sex marriage

Andrew Denney, The Maneater -- Less than a week after Missouri's neighbor to the north, Iowa, opened the door to legalized same-sex marriages, Vermont became the fourth state to allow the practice. But it is unlikely the Show-Me State will join in on the changes anytime soon.

Quinceañera brings culture to Columbia

Wendy Narez, Columbia Misourian -- As the sound of a triumphant march blares from portable CD player speakers, a procession of 12 boys enters the activity center at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, pacing their steps to the sound of the music. They range in ages from 9 to 17 and are practicing a "vals," which is a choreographed waltz.

Local churches honor the women of the Gospels

Matthew Reinig, Columbia Missourian -- Christians believe it was nearly 2,000 years ago that Jesus Christ was betrayed with a kiss by Judas Iscariot in the Garden of Gethsemane, led away by Roman soldiers and eventually condemned to death.

Columbia Jews commemorate Passover

Temia Griffin, Columbia Missourian -- Jewish residents of Columbia will have multiple opportunities to participate in seder meals and Passover celebrations next week.

Vermont legalizes gay marriage with veto override

Dave Gram (AP), Columbia Missourian -- Vermont on Tuesday became the fourth state to allow same-sex marriage when lawmakers voted to override a veto by the governor. It is the first state to legalize same-sex marriage with a legislature's vote rather than through a court ruling.

Today's Question: Should gay marriage come to Missouri?

William Powell, Columbia Missourian -- The Columbia City Council voted unanimously Monday to establish a domestic partnership registry.

Council backs partner registry

Sara Semelka, Columbia Tribune -- In front of a packed house in the Columbia City Council chambers last night, with audience members wearing rainbow stickers as a sign of solidarity with the gay community, the seven council members voiced support and voted unanimously for a city domestic partnership registry.

Domestic partnership registry unanimously passed by Columbia City Council

Jessica Cherry, Columbia Missourian -- Seats at Monday's City Council meeting were filled with members and supporters of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community wearing rainbow stickers that were passed out before the meeting.

Council approves domestic partnership registry

Victoria Guida, The Maneater -- City Council unanimously passed the creation a domestic partnership registry Monday, a cause for celebration for the majority of the people present.

Missourians react to Iowa court's ruling on same-sex marriage

Joshua Nichol-Caddy, Columbia Missourian -- A statewide ban on same-sex marriage was deemed unconstitutional by the Iowa Supreme Court on Friday.

Iowa Supreme Court legalizes gay marriage

Amy Lorentzen (AP), Columbia Missourian -- Iowa's Supreme Court legalized gay marriage Friday in a unanimous and emphatic decision that makes Iowa the third state — and first in the nation's heartland — to allow same-sex couples to wed.

Iowa court rules gay marriage ban unconstitutional

Amy Lorentzen (AP), Columbia Missourian -- Gay marriage advocates began celebrating early Friday after the Iowa Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling finding that the state's same-sex marriage ban violates the constitutional rights of gay and lesbian couples.