August 3, 2009

 

Diversity: Providing Life-Changing Education

In May, we said farewell to the Class of 2009 and wished them success as they began their new endeavors, graduate/professional school and employment.  They left a legacy of activism from the political arena to community involvement.  They listened to and respected differing opinions, built coalitions and supported the efforts of their peers.  They challenged themselves and others to view the world through various lens and seized the opportunity to study abroad.  To the Class of 2013, we welcome you to the University of Notre Dame and ask that you retrieve the gauntlet that has been passed to you.

In the Fall 2009 issue of Out of the Shadows, MSPS International Research award recipient Barbara Vi Thein Ho shares her reflection on a semester in Uganda.  Barbara was the first awardee of this initiative funded by the Target Campus Grant.  Throughout the semester we will feature articles written by Savannah Breen, Cassondra Montoya and Terry Howell, who also were abroad during the 2008 -2009 academic year. We wish safe travels to Erin Ramello (Toledo, Spain), David Rivera (Santiago, Chile) and Khai Thomas (London, England).  Erin, the second Target International Research awardee, will research Ethnography of Spanish Culture: A Look at How Spaniards Relate to Others through Conversation. 

MSPS would be remiss if we did not strongly encourage student development during one’s matriculation at Notre Dame. MSPS selected Brigitte Githinji, Dana Lee, Chris Lim and Franco Zarama to attend the 2009 National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE) in American Higher Education in San Diego, California from May 26 - 30 with Micky Manguson and me.   The Southwest Center for Human Relations Studies of the University of Oklahoma sponsors the conference.  The students will serve as an advisory committee for the office this year as well as share their respective highlights in the Shadows and on the office website (http://www.nd.edu/~msps ).

September 2009 Events:  

Student Activities Night	Tues., Sept. 1, 2009	Joyce Center
Interrace Forum	Wed., Sept. 2, 2009	CoMo Student Lounge
La Fortune's Open House	Thurs., Sept. 3, 2009	La Fortune
MSPS Picnic	Thurs., Sept. 10, 2009	Field House Mall (rain site: La Fortune Ballroom)
MSPS/Goshen College Cincinnati Freedom Center Trip (reservations required)	Fri., Sept. 25, 2009 & Sat., Sept. 26, 2009	Cincinnati, Ohio

In October celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, Cheech Marin, art collector, actor and comedian, will talk about his Chicano Art Collection and receive an honorary award from the Institute for Latino Studies.

You may contact MSPS by emailing msps@nd.edu or calling 631-6841 as well as visit the MSPS website for more details. 

Lastly, please welcome two new MSPS staff members:

Raé Lundy, Ph.D. candidate, is the MSPS Graduate Intern.  Raé will coordinate the Breaking through Barriers Program and diversity initiatives. 

Marcée M. Turner, Ph.D. candidate, is the new MSPS Graduate Assistant. Marcee will handle the office website, publications, and event videoing.   All announcements for the website should be directed to her at mturner4@nd.edu.

Peace,
Iris L. Outlaw
Director
Multicultural Student Programs and Services