News & Announcements: October 2009

Diversity News

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.

Tibetan monks visit Columbia

Tibetan monks began their four-day Mystical Arts of Tibet event with chanting, dancing and a mandala creation during and after their opening ceremony Monday at Ellis Library.

Columbia Pagans discuss Samhain

With Halloween less than a week away, several Pagan organizations sponsored an event Sunday afternoon designed to better educate people about Paganism and how Pagans observe it.

LGBTQ community deserves full rights

Last Thursday, the Senate passed the Matthew Shepard Act, extending protections against hate crimes to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning community by making it a federal crime to assault someone because of sexual orientation or gender identity.

MU forum on race fights fear

College students questioned a professor’s nationality and suggested races “stick with their own kind” last night — but it was all mock interaction as part of a skit launching a discussion about race on the University of Missouri campus.

Belief in Brief: Birth of the Bab

The Birth of the Bab is a Baha'i holiday that commemorates the birth of one of the young religion's founders each Oct. 20 with prayer, devotion and community social gatherings.

Film screening to show story of Bosnian family in Columbia

A new documentary about a Bosnian family who moved to Missouri after surviving genocide in Europe will have a public screening this week in St. Louis.

Too many believe there is only one 'right religion'

A commenter on my blog, Hugh, sent me a short note concerning a commentary on my site, Ink and Voice. The column concerned the First Amendment, freedom from a state-sanctioned religion, but the ability to practice our own personal beliefs, and comments made by some well-meaning but ill-advised senators.

Belief in brief: Diwali

he Hindu community in mid-Missouri and around the world is reveling in joyful celebration this week as they mark Diwali and their new year in a five-day festival that began Saturday and ends Thursday.

Gender identity impacts the workplace

I've never thought of myself as someone who purposefully performs gender. I act, talk, dress and behave, for the most part, like a woman is expected to — but I've never really specifically identified as a woman.

Kansas City art museum gets major American Indian donation

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art's new American Indian galleries will be receiving a gift of 34 rare objects from a Kansas City couple that have been patrons of the museum for decades.

Belief in brief: Reformation Day

Before the calendar flips to November, many Protestants churches will celebrate Reformation Day. This festival day, traditionally observed on the last Sunday in October, commemorates the nailing of Martin Luther’s “95 Theses” to the door of a Roman Catholic Church in Wittenberg, Germany, on Oct. 31, 1517.

MU organizations collaborate for alternative religious guide

The Chancellor's Diversity Initiative and Multicultural Center are partnering to create a new publication providing information about alternative religions. "As far as I know, there is nothing like this that exists on campus," Chancellor's Diversity Initiative spokeswoman Rebecca Calvin said. "There's a definite need for a reliable campus religious calendar and guide."

U.S. House passes LGBT hate crime bill

A bill to expand the federal hate crime statute to include crimes committed because of a person's sexual orientation and gender identity passed in the U.S. House last week and is expected to be signed into law.

University tensions addressed by Difficult Dialogue

Kourtney Mitchell faces racism on a daily basis. "I definitely experience quite a bit of racism in my own life," said Mitchell, 23, a staff member at the Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention Center. "Everything from straight out institutionalized racism to just very blunt on the street racism."

Minority Student Leadership Summit empowers students

Students gathered at the Missouri United Methodist Church at 9 a.m. Saturday for the first Minority Student Leadership Summit held at MU. The summit was broken into three separate sessions, with two or three workshops to choose from per session. Session options included "You as a leader," "Your Leadership Toolbelt" and "Taking leadership to the next level."

Student groups question MUPD hate crime report

Two hate crimes were recorded in the 2009 Campus Safety and Crime Report released by the MU Police Department. MUPD Captain Brian Weimer said the department records all incidents reported and provides information through Clery reporting, media and similar sources to ensure the community can make wise choices.

Gay rights advocates march on DC, divided on Obama

Thousands of gay and lesbian activists marched Sunday from the White House to the Capitol, demanding that President Barack Obama keep his promises to allow gays to serve openly in the military and work to end discrimination against gays.

Church movie discussions spark dialogue, foster understanding

Candy corn and East African doughnuts fueled powerful community dialogues recently for two Columbia congregations. The snacks were served during movie showings, which some churches are using as a means of sparking provocative discussions in an informal gathering rather than a traditional worship service.

Minority Student Leadership Summit empowers students

Students gathered at the Missouri United Methodist Church at 9 a.m. Saturday for the first Minority Student Leadership Summit held at MU. The summit was broken into three separate sessions, with two or three workshops to choose from per session. Session options included "You as a leader," "Your Leadership Toolbelt" and "Taking leadership to the next level."

Students travel to Washington for National Equality March

A coalition called Show Me No Hate offered a charter bus to members of the Missouri lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning community so they could participate in the National Equality March on Sunday in Washington.

MU theater troupe looks at affirmative action

Yelling echoed through the hallways of MU's Corner Playhouse one Wednesday afternoon. To an outsider, the scene looked like a heated argument over affirmative action, but for the people engrossed in the debate, it was just another rehearsal.

Benefit reaches new level

For about 90 minutes yesterday morning, Sarah Byland watched as people rappelled down the 10-story Tiger Hotel near its southeast corner.

Bunraku Bay performs with 300-year-old troupe

The Bunraku Bay Puppet Troupe, led by MU Japanese Studies Coordinator Martin Holman, is the only North American group of performers practicing Ningyo Joruri, a traditional form of Japanese puppetry. Performers from the Imada Puppet Troupe, a 300-year-old group that has hosted and mentored students from MU for the past five years, joined them on stage.

The Roundtable for Research on Black History, Life, and Culture Series

To understand the impact that professional and social support might have on attracting, promoting, and retaining African American tenure-track female professors at one predominantly White university (PWU), fourteen African American female professors were asked about their perceived support in the areas of teaching, researching, and serving during their employment at a Midwestern PWU.

Black Studies Studies Program Position Announcement

The University of Missouri seeks an Associate Professor or Professor to serve as Director of the Black Studies Program. Nominations and applications are being accepted for this tenured position. Qualified candidates are expected to be eligible for a tenured faculty appointment in a relevant department.

Clothesline Project speaks for the silent

The Clothesline Project, an exhibit of T-shirts made by victims of sexual violence, perpetrators and their relations and friends, was displayed Monday in Lowry Mall. The exhibit was meant to draw awareness to the issue of relationship violence.

The Minority Student Leadership Summit

Free to all students. Register in advance.
A one day activity that offers minority students at the University of Missouri the opportunity to learn more about themselves as individuals and explore THEIR Mizzou Experience and develop tools to be successful in college and beyond! Through workshops, presentations, and speakers, this Summit will teach students how to become the architects for their own college experience bridging the gap between where they are from & who they are, to where they want to go and the person who they want to be. Students who attend this free summit will explore their identity, learn more about effective leadership, and be challenged to develop a plan to make change and to take their leadership to the next level!
MUMC Conference Center - 204 S. 9th Street
Sponsored by the following MU offices: Academic Retention Services, Cambio Center, Multicultural Center, Chancellor’s Diversity Initiative, Center for Leadership Development, Missouri Students Association (MSA), Legion of Black Collegians (LBC) and Gaines-Oldham Black Culture
For more information and to sign up: leadership@missouri.edu
Registration Form
Summit's Flyer

‘Little people’ seek tolerance

Mark McGimsey got over the teasing at an early age, but the occasional stare still has the power to annoy him. At 47, McGimsey has more important things to think about: a wife and two children, but also the physical problems that accompany his dwarfism. And, frankly, there’s nothing funny about his scoliosis, pinched nerves, metal rods in his spine, multiple knee surgeries and the future operations he faces because of his stature.

Diversity award nominees sought

The Columbia Values Diversity Celebration Committee plans to honor one individual or family and one group whose work in the community reflects the values and teachings of Martin Luther King Jr.

Be yourself, athlete says

As an NFL football player, Esera Tuaolo pretended to be a hard-drinking, womanizing macho man living the good life.In reality, he was a homosexual drowning his identity in booze and living in fear of being caught.

Ex-NFL player Tuaolo speaks as part of Coming Out Week

In a highlight event of Coming Out Week, former NFL player Esera Tuaolo spoke Wednesday at Bengal Lair. Tuaolo came out as gay in 2002 on the sports program, "Real Sports," after a nine-year NFL career.

Column: Guerrilla Girls fight sexism one museum at a time

People are running around in masks and pseudonyms trying to right the wrongs in the world. Are they superheroes? They're known as the Guerrilla Girls and their tastes are little bit more high-brow than comic books.

Nominations being accepted for 13th annual Columbia Values Diversity Awards

If you have some ideas about who deserves the 13th annual Columbia Values Diversity Awards, now is the time to nominate them.

LGBTQ Resource Center, Triangle Coalition celebrate Coming Out Week

Former NFL player Esera Tuaolo is coming to MU to speak for Coming Out Week in celebration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning History Month being hosted by the LGBTQ Resource Center.

Coming Out Week offers acceptance

Throughout the week, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning community will be trying to make it easier for people to come out in honor of Coming Out Week. A variety of events, from crafts to informative panels, are being held until Friday to coincide with National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11

Our generation needs to stop discrimination on the basis of sexuality

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning Resource Center is celebrating Coming Out Week this week, which should hopefully be an exciting and liberating time. Unfortunately, not all people who fall into this category will feel comfortable or safe coming out to their peers. And we only have ourselves to blame.

Outrage should transcend race

Let's play the game in which one of these things is not like the other: Kanye West, Taylor Swift and Roman Polanski. If you are unfamiliar with what Roman looks like, I suggest you Google him.

Andrea Cooper discusses prominence of rape in Greek Life

Rape, depression and suicide awareness speaker Andrea Cooper left campus with one final // NOTE: on raising awareness: Sexual assault is more prominent in the Greek community.

Mother tells painful story about daughter's rape, suicide

Andrea Cooper uses her daughter's tragic death not only to help college students but also to help her recover from Kristin Cooper's rape and subsequent suicide.

New class at MU helps veterans transition to classroom

As a Marine, Keith Widaman worked on convoy security and weapons repair in Kuwait, helped with humanitarian work in Haiti and disaster relief in Bangladesh, was part of a counter-piracy effort off the Somali coast and trained police in Iraq.

MU strives to be fully accessible

For most college students, everyday activities like going to class and taking notes on a lecture are simple tasks. But these jobs can be more complicated if a student is in a wheelchair or trying to take notes on a lecture they can't hear.

Columbia celebrates Pagan Pride Day

Chanting in a spirit circle as part of their opening ceremony, attendants of the Mid-Missouri Pagan Pride Day summoned the directions, the god and the goddess Sunday.

Luetkemeyer holds ceremony for female pilots

U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer is holding a ceremony to honor female military pilots. The Republican from St. Elizabeth is holding an event this morning to recognize two of the 300 remaining survivors of the Women Airforce Service Pilots. Those women flew planes from the factories to bases where they would be deployed in the Pacific or the Atlantic. Members of the unit were given the Congressional Gold Medal.