URI Multicultural Center

16th Annual Diversity Awards

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:07:00 +0000

Check out videos from the 16th Annual Diversity Awards here! Ceremony hosted on Tuesday, April 16th, 2013 in the Memorial Union, Ballroom.

PHOTOS can be viewed from this link.

Student Ary Gallery - NOW OPEN!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 18:01:00 +0000

Drop by the Multicultural Center, Hardge Forum to see our newly opened Gallery featuring student works of art and winners of our first annual Diversity Student Art Competition! Pieces will be on display until the end of the spring semester.

Super-Size...My Health: Re-evaluating Perceptions on Public Health

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 14:26:00 +0000

As a part of the University of Rhode Island Honors Colloquium on Health, Politics, and Money, Roberta Friedman presented a lecture this Tuesday evening on "Creating Optimal Defaults to Prevent Obesity." Friedman, the Director of Public Policy at the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University, stated that 2 in 3 adults are obese in the United States. 1 in 3 children are now obese. She mentions food swamps, areas saturated with fast food establishments, and America's raging portion distortion.

When news hit the public about Mayor Bloomberg's soda ban on large sugary drinks in restaurants, theaters, and stadiums, the response was electric. The NYT reported a whooping 60% opposition from city-goers. People don't want to be told what they cannot do. Like adolescents, if you forbid something, it only makes them want to do it more. In our society, bulk and wholesale triggers our minds to think, "SAVINGS!" The larger the portion, the more for our money.

A slightly similar initiative in the name of public health sparked about two years ago when the FDA started plastering cigarette boxes with graphic images and factoids of diseased lungs, corpses, and all the possible detriments that could result in smoking. The hope was that it would make smokers reconsider their actions. This initiative was quickly banned.

In a country that lives by its free market and freedoms, I don't think we have business placing bans on soda sizes--even if it's for the good of the people. If Mayor Bloomberg's plan were to be enacted nation-wide, eventually I think it would be accepted as background noise. People would complain in casual conversation, like they do for rising gas prices and movie tickets, but it wouldn't deter people from continuing to consume. Would it make people reconsider buying a cup of cola when they buy their buttery popcorn for the new Iron Man 3? Possibly. Would it decrease rates of obesity? Probably not significantly. I applaud the efforts; however, I think our public health initiatives should take form in a different manner.

There are certain things that society inherently knows. This is the result of strategic branding. Recently a Dior mascara ad was banned because a rival company challenged its false advertisement. The actress, they argued, was retouched so that her lashes seemed artificially separated and thickened. A cosmetic company PhotoShops their advertisements... Can anyone really say that they find this shocking? Everything fed to us has already been processed in some manner. Even reality TV isn't quite reality. But we still buy, watch, and wish we had those lashes, that body, that flawless skin. This is all incorporated into our assumptive world. Aggressive and strategic branding has shaped what now exists.

So what if we made public health equally acceptable and even cool? If you really think about it, all health-related adverts are generally dry and fact-driven. When they come up, we change the channel. But when a Doritos commercial appears with a dog being sky-rocketed--which I'm pretty sure has nothing to do with what you get when you buy a bag--we watch. It's funny. Sex and humor sells. Am I saying we should make a healthy lifestyle sexy? Not necessarily. (Although if you think about it, balanced diet and lifestyle does boost confidence and improve holistic health. Who doesn't find this attractive?) I am, however, suggesting a reevaluation of how we market and educate about eating better, active lifestyles, vaccinations, and all things public health. Maybe even stick in a little gallow humor.

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Holly Tran, Staff Writer

Confessions of a College Student "Going Green"

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 13:18:00 +0000

I have been trying to go green for quite some time now and somehow it just never happens. I seem to be the type of person that wastes a lot of things. I don't go for the essential stuff that I seem to need, instead I exceed the limit of items that I might require. When it comes to wasting I can't compare myself to anyone. I have wasted plastic, food, water, and money.

Plastic: I don't drink water all the time, but when I do, it has to be bottle water. Each day at home I would open a bottle of water that I never finish and the next day the bottle would be in the trash. So when the bottle wasting became something I noticed since I'm trying to go green I decided to use a recycling bin to store all the plastic bottles in. At the end of every week when I decide to clean my room and take the trash out, it dawns on me that I’m living on the 4th floor. This means that I would have to carry the trash and recycling bin all at once outside. The area for the trash and recycle is not even near my building. So when I got sick of going up and down the stairs with two sets of bins, I decided to get rid of the recycling bin. Everything inside of it became part of the trash bin. I closed my eyes to going green because I was tired of taking two bins up and down the stairs

Food: I love to eat junk food and when I came to college it was like a dream come true. There are two dining halls that serve the ultimate junk foods. When I go to Hope or Butterfield to eat I get more food than I can even consume. At the end of my breakfast, lunch, or dinner I end up throwing away all the food I got. I tell myself that I will decrease the portion of food I get to eat, but each day it gets worse. I have a fast metabolism so I feel as though I can eat everything. Take my first semester of school for example; since I lived upstairs in Butterfield Hall, one of the dining halls on campus. Every day I would go down for lunch and I would get a plate and fill it up with chicken nuggets, wings, fries, and whatever else is being served in the entree area. Then I would get two slices of pizza and I would make my best friend get me two more. The only reason I tell her to get it is because there is a sign in the pizza area that says “2 slices per person." Once I start eating I would feel empty so I would eat the four slices of pizza and three chicken nuggets. By the time I get to everything else I'm already full and I end up throwing away whatever else is left on the plate. After class I would go back to Butterfield or Hope and do the same thing again; in fact I did it about six to seven times a day.

Water: My water wasting habits goes along with my plastic wasting habits. Each plastic bottle that I throw out usually still has water left over in it. Each day I would open a different water bottle without even finishing the one from the previous day and if I open one and someone touches it, it automatically goes in the bin. See the thing is, I have never been the type to waste water unless it was in a bottle. When I came to college I noticed that my best friend had some water wasting habits. As she brushed her teeth she would leave the faucet running. Every time she did that I told her that she was wasting water and that she needed to stop. One Saturday morning I went to brush my teeth and I had a million thoughts running through my mind that I didn't realize what I was doing. After I was done brushing my teeth I decided to open the faucet to rinse my mouth, but it was already on. So the whole time I was standing there brushing my teeth, I was wasting water. Each day I would notice that the same thing was happening. My best friend’s water wasting habits had gotten to me.

Money: I don’t know how you can go green for something that already happens to be green, but all I know is that my money wasting habit is ridiculous. I guess it's all because I'm not the one waking up in the morning and going to work to make the money that I spend. My stepfather is the one who supplies me with money. The minute he calls me and tells me that he has put money in my account I would go online to shop before we even get the chance to hang up the phone. One day I ordered two pairs of combat boots. I didn't even like one of the pairs, but I just wanted to buy it because they were combat boots. Then I saw on the top of the sites page that if you spend seventy five dollars or more you get free shipping. Since I was only ten dollars away from free shipping I decided to buy something else. Then I decided to get on my favorite stores (Hollister) website and ordered four pairs of jeans. Three of them were for me and one was a gift for my cousin. Then I got on another website to order some shoes called Moccasins. I really wanted the shoes because it has fur inside which helps keep your feet warm. My friend who happened to be in the room also wanted them and being the nice person that I am I decided to order a pair for her. After the online shopping I checked my online bank statement only to find out that I overdraft my account in under an hour. It was the craziest thing, but it got me to realize that I waste too much money on unnecessary stuff.

I have personally been trying to work on my go green outlook, but for some strange reason I am addicted to wasting. Sometimes I really do believe that my habits are because of my best friend. In my opinion I never use to waste anything besides money. I chose to keep trying to go green and I am hoping that sooner or later I'll get a wake up.

I have personally been trying to work on my go green outlook, but for some strange reason I am addicted to wasting. Sometimes I really do believe that my habits are because of my best friend. In my opinion I never use to waste anything besides money. I chose to keep trying to go green and I am hoping that sooner or later I'll get a wake up. I have stopped drinking bottle water to avoid throwing out plastic bottle so now I just stick to filling up a Brita which filters water from the tap. I went to see the school nutritionist about how I should eat and since then my food wasting has reduced. I have begun to respect food as I am aware that there are some countries in the world that lack food. I brush my teeth in the shower and not at the sink so I can avoid running the faucet. My money wasting habits barely exist now since I have been cut off.

My advice to anyone going green is to first write down a list of things that you believe you waste and what method you plan on using to reduce the wasting. I would suggest asking people for help. For example, if you waste food a lot, you might want to sit down with a nutritionist and talk about your eating habits, if you waste money a lot you might want to see a financial adviser or find a way to budget yourself. You just have to seek out your resources.

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Mammy Jallow, Guest Writer, is currently a sophomore at the University of Rhode Island majoring in Health Studies.

Candidly Speaking: Insights from a Former Freshman

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 16:45:00 +0000

My first semester of freshmen year is what I like to call haunting. Two days before move-in day nothing in my life was out the ordinary, and then suddenly I came down with the stomach bug. Being as sick as I was I couldn’t move into my dorm on move in day. I had missed the experience of being welcomed as a freshmen. The day before classes began I moved into my new dorm. The day was already bad as it had been raining while I was moving in.

Once I was checked in and handed my code to the door, I made my way upstairs to the fourth floor of Butterfiled. I opened the door to my room and saw my best friend Olivia standing there. As I looked around the room I noticed that our third roommate had taken over most of the space. I was left with the top bunk and little closet space. I didn’t let any of this bother me. I was just in love with the fact that I live on top of one of the dining halls. Little did I know that I would spend all my waking time in there?

After getting settled in my best friend and I printed out our schedules along with a map of the campus. We highlighted the location of each class and went to bed. The next day we woke up, got ready for class, and made our way out the door. We circled the campus a couple of times before we found any of our classes. Even though we had a map we still got lost as neither one of us knew how to read the map.

We both had every class together and we both hated our classes. We are both wanting nursing majors and found three of our courses to be challenging. As the semester progressed we found ourselves moving backwards. We were struggling in three of our classes and instead of studying or getting tutored we went to Butterfield to eat, socialize, sleep, and watch Netflix all day long. We didn’t look forward to anything but the weekend. Most of the time we didn’t attend class. We would wake up and ask each other “Are you going to class today?” and of course the answer to that question was always” NO.”

As the semester came to an end we tried to pull through with our classes, but it was too late. We were failing two out of our six classes and there was nothing we could do. Our GPA suffered terribly and we were very close to academic probation. Leaving URI at the end of the first semester we came up with a master plan to not let our second semester be as disastrous as the first. I can truly say I learned my lesson on the importance of attending classes and studying.

Going into my second year of college I am hoping to not get the stomach bug on move-in day. My best friend and I have already printed out our schedules and this year we don’t need a map to find our way around. Our classes are a little less hectic. We are only taking four classes as oppose to six. We’ve already spoken to people who have taken the courses that we are going to be taking in the fall. We came up with a study schedule and times to go to the Academic Enhancement Center (AEC) for tutoring.

My advice to the incoming freshmen is for starters: Avoid making the dining hall the one place you go. Try to attend all of your classes and if you miss a day or so find a reliable classmate who has all the information covered in class or go see your professor about it. There are some courses that are very hard to catch up in so missing class often will cause nothing but failure. Avoid procrastinating when you have work that needs to be done by a certain time. I know that most people’s parents tell them to put their education first and I think this is very true. Once you see your opportunity almost slip away you learn to do everything differently.

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Mammy Jallow, Guest Writer, is currently a sophomore at the University of Rhode Island majoring in Health Studies.

(Almost) Welcome Back

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 17:09:00 +0000

When I step outside, I can smell the looming onset of fall. I can hear the jubilant chatter amongst students about the classes they're in and about the amount of reading they will have to do for the first week of school. I can see the rise in noise level as the semester progresses and students begin packing to the library in hoards to cram for exams...

  Okay, so may be actually being able to smell the coming of a new semester is debatable, but one thing is for sure--September is inching its way closer. With each new academic year, we have much to look forward to: New faces, classes, opportunities, and ideas. At the Multicultural Center, we're gearing up for our first major event of the fall semester: Diversity Week (Monday, October 1st - Friday, October 5th). We're excited to bring you over 60 stimulating workshops, events, and seminars--this year, with a focus on health care. Be sure to keep an eye out for more information as the time draws closer.

  Step inside our building in the fall and you'll notice a few design renovations. We won't spoil the surprises just yet. Be sure to also utilize all of our new resources including our Talk2MCC texting feature. Have a question or looking to book an appointment to come in and speak with us? Text it to 265010!

  Finally, with the new semester, you'll most likely make new friends. Have us be one of them. Add us on Facebook and show us some love. But as fun as liking our posts and commenting on our wall can be, face-to-face conversation will never get old. Feel free to stop by our Main Office and introduce yourself. We'd love to show you around and orient you to the resources available. Until then, enjoy your summer! We greatly look forward to getting to know you.

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Holly Tran, Staff Writer

Nearing the Finish Line

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:13:00 +0000

In middle school, many of us looked up to the taller, more popular high school-ers and wanted to be them. By the time high school came around, our vision became focused on college life. Senioritis kicked in and no longer could we pay attention in lecture. It was as though our brains went into automatic and like a contagion, a mass of daydreaming, excited soon-to-be college acceptees.

Today marks the last day of classes for the University of Rhode Island. In less than a month, we will see the Class of 2012 walk the stage. Now, how do you spot a senior? If you peek into the library's 24 Hour Room, you'll see a mass of students hyped up on caffeine and feverishly flipping through notes and typing long, double-spaced essays.

These students are not seniors.

Look through the window to the Quad on a warm sunny day. See those students sun-bathing on the grass? That's your graduating class. By this time, most Class of 2012-ers have pretty much mentally checked out. Engage them in conversation about their future plans and what they have in store for after May, and a few will tell you about their acceptances to graduate school, a full-time job they landed, or plans for a backpacking trip across the globe. A handful will also candidly admit to you that they have absolutely no idea what they will do post-graduation and insert a muttered remark about finding a job.

As these young adults are busy shifting the pieces in place for their path ahead, we'd like to offer our parting gift: Advice.

"Good luck with the world." -Anonymous Freshman

"Don't live with your parents! Move out. Good luck finding an apartment! ...and don't get married the next day." -Francisco Vargas, Junior

"Find a job, fast." -Anonymous Senior

"God speed." -Anthony Mam, Graduate Student

Congratulations, Class of 2012! We know you'll all do great things.

Have you RSVP'd yet?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:23:00 +0000

In case you've been hiding under a rock for the past few weeks, here's a quick blog post invite for our 14th Annual URI Diversity Awards! This year we're excited to celebrate the achievements of many talented individuals--names we all know and respect. Who are they? Join us Tuesday, April 10th to find out! Reception starts at 6:30PM. If you haven't already, please e-mail Mailee Kue, Assistant Director, at maileekue@uri.edu to reserve your seat for dinner. For those of you who are more tech-savvy, feel free to text us at 265010, starting the message with "talk2mcc: " and text in your information.

We're also enthusiastic to let you know that this year's keynote speaker will be
Dr. John J. Ramos, Sr., Former Superintendent of Bridgeport Public Schools!

Questions? Post a comment or contact us via your favorite platform. Thanks, and stay tuned for more updates. Hope to see you there!

Being the Change

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 19:31:00 +0000

The Jubilee Project was the result of three young men, Jason, a consultant, Eddie, a videographer, and Eric, a student at Harvard Medical School, who united over their passion for cinematography and social justice. Through their short films, they aim to raise awareness for a myriad of causes, while also raising money through sponsors who donate an amount of money for every single view garnered for that video. When their project first started out in 2010, their video shot in the New York subway station raised over $700 for Haiti earthquake relief. Today they have over sixty videos (and growing) bringing light to causes they believe in.

The Jubilee Project is an incredibly beautiful idea for an incredibly beautiful cause. The fact that a common idea could unite people from such diverse areas in an effort to essentially change the world, is inspiring. What’s great is that the videos they produce fit the current generation. They’re fun, emotional, relatable, and uplifting. Recently, they partnered with Harvard’s class of 2014 to create a parody video on “Jizz in My Pants,” raising funds for prostate cancer research. Through watching their videos, hundreds of thousands of people are inadvertently contributing to that cause. When they share that video through their social links, they increase awareness and also the impact of change.

“Be the change you want to see in the world.” Jason, Eddie, and Eric have wholly embodied Ghandi’s famous quote. If we each could embrace what we each love and add in what we are passionate about, we can change the world. Instead of feeling as if there is so much pain and anguish that is beyond our aid, we can take steps to do what we can. While it may not alleviate the entirety of the global situation, it has the potential to at least impart something that would not have happened without that action. As they say, doing good is contagious; but doing what you love is contagious. Love is contagious. And it has the ability to change the world…one life at a time.

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://jubileeproject.bandcamp.com/track/peaches"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;Peaches&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; by New Heights Band&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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Holly Tran, Staff Writer

Note: "Peaches," the song used in the featured musical short, can be purchased for a donation of choice (but at least $1). All proceeds go towards the American Society for Deaf Children.

Doctors Make Mistakes

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:37:00 +0000

Doctors are humans. Humans make mistakes...however, when you excise the center of those two statements and are left with "doctors make mistakes," the vibe changes. Brian Goldman brings up a prominent point that even those who are not physicians, understand. We have this stigma in society that doctors are omniscient beings that know everything and are supposed to be flawless. It’s as if the granting of a medical degree is a badge that for some reason screams out, “I am perfect.” That stigma is far from the truth. Mistakes are made every minute of every day in the health care system. Physicians are distracted, sleep deprived, miss symptoms, make a wrong diagnosis, and every day, people die. The passing of a patient, especially one’s first, is something no physician, or any human being for that matter, ever forgets. It’s like a heated metal bar searing a burn on one’s heart. Although with time the pain may alleviate, the scar is always visible, keratinized tissue that never goes away. With that scar, comes the heavy veil of guilt, self-inflicted punishment followed by a downward fall into the belief that one is incompetent or a quickly narrowed vision catalyzed by the belief that if by doing more, studying more, listening more, working more, one can forgo all future mishaps—and sometimes, these reactions are coupled. But even more taboo than making the mistakes, is actually talking about them. Let’s be honest—how many of us would immediately choose to undergo a surgical procedure from a physician who we knew had in the past, operated on the wrong side of the patient? How many of us would instill complete trust in a physician who we knew had made an incorrect diagnosis—not once, but several times? We place physicians on an idolized pedestal that they cannot get off of. There are culturally-built barriers that make it socially unacceptable for doctors to say, “I made a mistake that impacted another’s life, I feel terrible, and I need to talk about it.”

For some reason, humanity is expected of physicians, but when it comes to the reverse perspective, physicians are not humans.

Humans make mistakes. We accept that.

Physicians make mistakes. Is this the same to swallow as the first?

We need to redefine medical culture. We need to abandon the idea of a perfect system with perfect health care professionals because change and growth cannot ensue in an environment where the two paths are either that of absolute success or absolute failure.

In a study reported by U.S. News in 2009, over 21% of medical students suffer from depression with a 6% prone to suicidal thoughts. The fact that these figures exist indicate a problem in our health care system. When we have the individuals taking care of us at the detriment to their own health, perhaps it’s an indication that maybe something needs to be re-evaluated.

Recent steps to address the topic: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp058183

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Holly Tran, Staff Writer

The Importance of a Global Perspective

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:31:00 +0000

So often we find ourselves complaining about the status of own health care system. We become severely angry when we wait for hours in order to see a doctor, angry when an individual who just came in, is escorted through the double doors to be admitted. This is not to say that our health care system is perfect—no system is without its flaws—but in comparison that of others, it is exponentially better. In western African in the country of Cameroon, Prudence lost her life because 1) the midwife did not know that sitting and bouncing on her enlarged belly would rupture the uterus, 2) her family did not have enough money to convince the local physician to treat her, and 3) her value as a woman was not enough to be saved. And so for three days she laid while her deceased fetus rotted inside of her. And when the Kristof and WuDunn team by chance saw the young woman and offered donations of their matching blood type (for the surgery) and money (for the equipment and services), the physician left out the back door out of spite for the family (since he was certain they had money to pay up earlier). The attending nurses berated the family for their lack of action and inability to pay. When she finally underwent the operation the the following day, Prudence fell into a comatose state, her insides severely infected from the stretch of time while she lay untreated. Three days following, Prudence passed away.

The sad part of this is that it’s not uncommon. In many developing countries, gender inequities exist that allow women to be mistreated by their own husbands. Practices of female genital mutilation (alternatively known as female genital cutting or female circumcision), is a procedure done with intention of keeping women "pure" and more marriage-material. Often times it is done without anesthesia or sterile tools by the hands of mothers in the community when a female is young or right before she goes into labor. There are varying degrees of the mutilation in which the clitoris and sometimes labia, are cut and removed. The procedure is done while the female is forcefully pinned down by family members and requires the female to be tied from legs to hip for about 6 weeks, ensuring that the edges of the cut heal together. Following that stretch of time, a small hole is often formed with a twig or small rock to allow release of urine and menstrual blood from the now fused wall of flesh. The subsequently formed layer of fused genital tissue is then cut open when a woman has intercourse with her husband and at the time of giving birth. Tremendous pain is associated with the entire practice and places the woman at severe risk for infection, psychological detriment, and mortality--especially when she is mutilated prior to giving birth. The resulting loss of blood is incredibly dangerous.

Maternal health, or the lack thereof, is attributed to a number of factors--including biology, education, and the social status of women. A step in breaking the cycle of tradition, is to offer equal access to education. Enlightened women have a better chance of staying in school and are able to better defend their health and that of their future generation's. Enlightened men have a better understanding of health and the consequences of their actions. While there are a handful of NGOs and federally-funded programs actively working to change the status quo, there are an equally high number of individuals who, after learning about what transpires in the world, want to be an agent of change.

          WorldTeach is a non-profit organization that is some-what hybrid of the Peace Corps and Teach for America. It provides individuals with an opportunity to volunteer their time as teachers in developing countries. Its distinct difference is its time commitment. Volunteers may choose to apply for positions during the summer, a semester’s span, or a year. As Kristof points out, WorldTeach provides an opportunity for young adults/college students to make a difference within the constraints of their own academic endeavors. This is not to say that the Peace Corps and Teach for America does not have equally appealing benefits; however, while the Peace Corps requires a 27 month commitment that most students cannot make until after they graduate. WorldTeach is equivalent to a study abroad program offered in many universities and has the potential to provide perspective to those who are willing to open their hearts and minds. Such programs, with great value, should be promoted and supported just like popular study abroad trips or alternative break trips. It’s one thing to read about what’s happening across the globe, but it’s another thing to see and experience it up close, and be able to do something about it—even if it’s a seemingly small contribution.

          World Teach does require its volunteers to offer a certain contribution based on the country and period of their commitment, but the costs associated are about equal to that of a university-based study abroad program. It would be great to see offered funding support from educational institutions for students who wish to support such a cause. It’s programs like this that bridge that knowledge gap between us and the rest of the world.

          For those who are weary for the culture shock, alternatives include literature. Read. Everything and anything that breaks down the walls separating self from external life. We are a species divided only by the divisions we put up. Strive for a life without borders and a constantly changing perspective.

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Holly Tran, Staff Writer, is currently a junior at the University of Rhode Island majoring in Biological Sciences.

The Meaning of Valentine's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 21:02:00 +0000

Valentine’s Day: what a holiday. I feel like that’s the best way I can put it seeing as when I think about this holiday, I just feel this overwhelming feeling of indifference. And no, before you start thinking I’m just one of those people, who “just hatin cuz he ain’t got no Valentine...” Within my limited experience as a young adult, I have experienced Valentines alone, and I have experienced Valentine's while in a relationship. And either way, my feelings are the same and can be summed up easily with an “ehhh.” It feels like one of those whatever days, like if you enjoy celebrating Valentine's, then go right ahead; and don’t let anybody stop you. If not . . . then whatever, just go about your business and continue your living your life like you would any other day.

The best analogy I can think of when it comes to Valentine’s Day is it’s like taking a survey. You go down the list, reading questions and filling in those little bubbles based on whether or not the question applies to you. Valentine’s, and all holidays for that matter, is the same thing. You live life day-to-day, just going about your business and “doing you,” and when a holiday comes up that applies to you, you celebrate it. If not, you just continue doing you, living life day-to-day. . . For those who haven’t yet figured out what the term “Doing you” or “Do you” means, it’s basically another way of saying be yourself. With that being said, how ridiculous would it be if every time you were filling out a survey, and came across a question that doesn’t apply to you, you just start flipping out? Think about how many women there would be sobbing with their #2 pencils in their hands. Or how many guys there would be lying to themselves about how they are happy that survey question doesn’t apply to them. Or think about if other countries were just annoyed every time an American holiday was to occur. Like for example, “Damn those Americans, hoggin' all the ground hogs!!! How is the rest of the world going to figure out if there will be six more weeks of winter or not?!?”

I am currently in a relationship, and my girlfriend loves Valentine’s Day, which is basically the only real reason why I celebrate it. I mean she knows how I feel about the day, but if it makes her happy, then why not? But I’d think if we didn’t celebrate it, my feelings for her wouldn’t come into question. And even if they did, there’s fifty-million other holidays (birthdays, New Years, ChristmaHannuhKwanza, etc.) on which I can express my feelings for her or whoever I choose. Aside from every other day, which I’d say are much better, because then it comes as a surprise and shows you authentically wanted to do something special for that person. But I don’t know, that’s really just how I see it or interpret things, and what do I know? I mean I’m sure there’s an army of females out there who were brainwashed before they entered elementary school into believing that they have to find their Prince Charming if they ever want to be happy who probably disagree with me.

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Stefan Correia, Staff Writer, is currently a junior studying Public Relations at the University of Rhode Island.

The Tube's Effect on Women

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:08:00 +0000

This is an amazing monologue from the movie film, The Network. This speech was revealed to me on twitter by a very enlightened young woman named Ann. The character speaks on the power of the “Tube”, and its effects on society. The “Tube” is television, but I’m speaking of the media, in general. One thing I think we all are guilty of is not considering how much the media has shaped us. The way we talk, what we eat, what we wear, even our mannerisms are not original, but things we subconsciously took from television, movies, music, family and friends, who have also picked up traits from these media outlets. We’ve pretty much become reflections of what we see on TV, and it has even altered the way we think and interact with one another. Sadly, we all think we’ve reached a level of enlightenment where the media doesn’t effect us, which is erroneous (my favorite word).

The worlds in films and television are not reality, where everything is seemingly perfect. The hero always wins. The guy always gets the girl. Men & women are always handsome and beautiful. I think “Reality” TV is the worst thing that has ever happened to black women especially, because of the way black women are portrayed. I was wondering, one day, why women seem more susceptible to the media. Some people might say “it’s the fundamental difference between the two sexes physiologically”. That fundamental difference being: women are “weaker minded” than men. I would disagree, because males & females are exactly the same, in terms of brain function and learning ability. The physical disparities between males & females are where the differences end. All the differences we see and complain about now, regarding the opposite gender, are differences taught to us by society. Women, through the media, are taught to be inferior; weaker minded & subordinate to men, while men are taught to exude a certain level of machoism & superiority towards women. Masculinity & Femininity are social constructs perpetuated by the media and reproduced by us, putting women at a subordinate position to men. Black women are the most oppressed people in the world, facing oppression by white men, who oppress everyone, and black men who oppress their women. African sisters have been attacked mentally by the system of white supremacy we all live in, and, sadly, have been physically attacked by black men. In terms of domestic violence, our promiscuity and lack of participation is a potential failure at raising the next generation.

Shows like Love & Hip-Hop and Basketball Wives are portraying black women in such a negative way, yet we all tune in to watch. These shows do entertain, but they also give off the illusion that all black women act like the characters we see on these shows. Some black women on reality TV are rude, inconsiderate, materialistic, self-centered and famous, because of their celebrity husbands. This perpetuates the misconception that only women with rich or important husbands can be important themselves. The media has made black women see themselves as inferior; from their naturally curly hair, to their fuller lips and their darker complexion. The media has given us the idea that all these things are negative and unattractive. Sadly, black men feed into this by preferring lighter skinned women to darker sisters. The standard of what we have considered to be “beautiful” was established by white men. The black man’s attraction to lighter skin, or straighter hair, is not natural, but a result of our time living under white supremacy. The constant attack on the female psyche and body has left women mentally wounded and susceptible to all the negative images of themselves on TV. This gives us an opportunity to gauge how strong black women are, even though they have been oppressed for hundreds of years, still thrive and do their best to raise good children under seemingly impossible circumstances.

Women must break this mold of subordination. Men & Women are partners on this earth, and neither one is better or worse than the other. I only ask that women try not to adopt more “masculine” traits, in an attempt to break this mold. Masculinity is not the “correct” behavior to embrace for anyone, especially a woman. I know men are not perfect. We are fifty percent of the problem. Understand, though, that this is a vicious cycle. Men continue their behavior because women allow it and vice versa.

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Kabir Lambo, Guest Contributing Writer
Visit his blog via: http://sorry4theblog.com/

The Mathematics of Thanks

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 17:56:00 +0000

Last night as I walked into my evening exam, I couldn't help but feel a rush of euphoria. It didn't have anything to do with my excitement for the exam, but a realization that we really have it good.

Today, a brisk and drizzly Wednesday, marks the brink of Thanksgiving break for many students, faculty members, and all community members alike. There's an accumulation of vibrant red and orange leaves along the edges of pathways and a distinct smell to the air that provides a foreshadow of winter. Many lecture halls are calm, speckled with the few students who have yet to begin their break. On a few select academic building windows and bulletin boards, are festive signs wishing all a Happy Thanksgiving. Amidst general conversation amongst classmates is mention of the well-publicized Black Friday and familiar plans--most commonly involving food, food, and more food. To the economy, Thanksgiving marks the stretch of time where profit margins begin to spike into the gains. To most others, Thanksgiving marks the tradition of spending time with family, jubilant chatter over a palatable meal, and that warm, fuzzy feeling that comes just around this time.

But as we all know, things change. As we age and mature, we learn that there is no standard structure to family. The dynamic of family changes. The roles of primary care taker morphs and may even transition from one person to another within one's lifetime. As the events of life play out, even well-loved or well-dreaded traditions may have their skipped pit-stops on the journey, and eventually, may even cease to be an observed and celebrated landmark. People need to work, plans fall apart, family members may not be so harmonious when in the same room. Life happens. And we do the best that we can given the circumstances on our plate.

At times, we may find ourselves reminiscing about the younger years, what we "used to do." We'll make a few comments about how it was so much easier back then when there were no worries--no bills, no stress, no complicated variables. And we may even let out some steam amongst friends over coffee or a competitive bout of Halo. It's seldom, however, that we tell ourselves, "Life is good." It's seldom that we think about all the variables around us, that keep us going.

My definition of "family" has endured many revisions over the past several years. I equate family to groups of friends or even those that I meet, who I feel I can connect to. These are people who, even if we ever moved to the opposite poles of the planet, can come back together after a stretch of time, and pick up where we left off. For those who prefer literal definitions, these are the specific cohorts in your life that make each day interesting. They are the people who see the best, the worst, and all the sides of you in between. They are the ones who inspire you, who encourage you, and make you stop once-in-a-while in order to catch your breath. They are the ones who make true the phrase, "Home is where the heart is."

As a college student, I, like many others, will face days where we begrudgingly trek to class, running on a maximum of four hours of sleep--the result of a mixture of procrastination and well-intent of being studious. We'll have points where we pull out our hairs over course material, frustrate ourselves over a lengthy paper that seems impossible to write, and crash on the couch wondering why we even put ourselves through this torture each and every semester. And we sometimes forget the times when we experience the thrill of solving that math problem or having a concept suddenly click. We sometimes overlook the progress we make as students--from where we were, to where we are.

As I sit typing these words on a Wednesday afternoon, my classes done for the day, and my Thanksgiving break about to begin, I think about the causes for my frustration this semester, and I think about all the elements in my life that make it possible to wake up each morning and keep going. I think about the quirkiest, most caring people in my life, and how fortunate I am to be sitting here, right now, a student of this university, expressing my thoughts to you. For all this, and all that I acknowledge in my heart, I am grateful. And for what it's worth--despite what message society may place upon the holiday season, the material appeal or the cookie-cutter traditions, I believe the underlying message is everything and nothing at the same time. The holidays? They're a neon sign; a physical flag to get you to slow down, even if for just a little bit, in this fast-paced lifestyle. To not only rest, but to spend time--time amongst people or by ourselves. Time to realize that it's not so bad as it seems. Time to appreciate all the variables in our lives that we never calculated would end up in the equation. Variables that add up beautifully.

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Holly Tran, Staff Writer, is currently a junior at the University of Rhode Island pursing a major in Biological Sciences.

The Evolution of Social Media

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 19:07:00 +0000

Ever since the social networking website myspace.com was created mid-year 2003, social networking websites have continued to grow in number and popularity. Nowadays people have a variety of networks to choose from. Just about everyone from college professors, to employers; I’ve even seen grandparents with Facebook pages. In the age where just about everyone is on some kind of social networking website, what does the future hold?

As time advances so does technology. And with technological advances social networking websites continue to expand and become more in depth. What started out as an easy and entertaining way to keep in touch with friends now seems to be transforming into a way to define a person and broadcast their life. Think about it. How many people do you know on facebook or twitter who update their statuses every time they sneeze. Not very many of my friends do this anymore, or at least those whose statuses I haven’t blocked from my news feed, but there was a point in time when several of my friends on facebook would put their daily schedule’s as their statuses.

To me this just seems like you're begging to be stalk victim. Why would anyone need to know your entire day’s schedule? Realistically all your closest friends probably already know what your day looks like, and if not, couldn’t they just call you? Well thanks to a recent update on facebook, anyone can call your cell phone number provided you add it to your page. Oh, and I’ve actually seen facebook pages with the person’s phone number right under their profile picture. If you think that’s just a tad bit ridiculous, well it doesn’t stop there. Due to a previous update, you can now tag where you physically are in your facebook post and include directions on how to get to your location. Once again, anyone who posts their current location or phone number on the internet is just begging to be a stalked, kidnapped, or something in between.

My first thoughts when I first saw that facebook had added these stalker options was who in their right mind would willing put so much personal information on semi-public thread? Is privacy valued at all anymore? Or is everyone just so thirsty for attention that they are willing to post anything just to get anyone to look at them? In my opinion these social networks that make it public as to where an individual currently is, their phone number, age, work place, school, and much more are only beginning to fulfill the prophecies foretold by George Orwell’s 1987 and Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451. But then again, that’s just my opinion.

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Stefan Correia, Staff Writer, is currently a junior undergraduate student at the University of Rhode Island studying Public Relations.

Welcome to the Future of Diversity

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:09:00 +0000

A recent viral YouTube video shows the making of Japanese candy commercial featuring the cast of the AKB48 band. But here's the jaw-dropper--the center band member, Eguchi Aimi, a beautiful young woman who embodies the similar expression and poses as her group, is not real. She's a virtual being, a composition that results from select bodily features of each of her group members. Coverage for this story even noted Aimi's features as the "perfect" pickings from her peers. But in learning that one's "reality" isn't fully true, one can't help but 1) applaud technology's new abilities, and 2) feel an eerie sense that makes one develop a need to question the truth in everything seen.

That being said, if we are capable of creating a matrix within our lives, what exactly determines what goes into it? How do we discern what is real from what is created? And if we can, do we even want to know? Is this a situation where "ignorance is bliss"?

In a case where social standards place preference upon certain "norms," where is the distant future of diversity going? Are we becoming a large melting pot that will eventually simmer into a uniform creamy soup? Is this what we are aiming for? Will diversity continue to exist? This is the question that Diversity Week 2011 will seek to answer.

Let's take a step into a hypothetical situation. Now we know that the field of genetics has advanced enough that we are able to map out out genes and calculate our chances of developing a certain disease or illness; and we have even gotten to the point where we can grow bodily tissue in vitro. Let's take a spin on that and say that in the future, we can grow complete and fully functional organs that eliminates the need for organ donors. Need a new heart? We'll take a few or your stem cells and pop out a new thumper for you in 2-3 months. Is your liver failing? No worries, your new one just matured yesterday! Now what if instead of fixing, we also act proactively and eliminate the need to ever fix. Say we choose the attributes in our children that will allow them to thrive and be the best they can. You know what, I always thought that blonde hair was gorgeous even though I'm a brunette--let's make our daughter Caucasian, blonde with green eyes...but add in a splash of hazel. Make her tall and intelligent with a musical inclination. Genetic diseases? Why on Earth would I want to give her my husband's colorblindness?

See what happened there? If given the choice to put together our "perfect" child, who would choose to give them genetic disorders that as a society, we have deemed as an abnormality? Who would actively choose to bear a child with cystic fibrosis, dwarfism, Angelman syndrome, or cri du chat? While there are a few individuals who identify themselves with their genetic disorder, there are also the few who reject the notion that they choose to abort their baby or give their child up for adoption because of it. Returning back to the hypothetical situation, we come back to the case of societal-deemed norms. If these norms are so ingrained in us that the majority of females always seek the "tall, dark, and handsome" men to sweep them off their feet and males are so apt to fawn over females who are slim, full-chested, then what happens to everyone who doesn't fall into that category? Given the choice and ability to choose all the "perfect" attributes, would we unknowingly eliminate all the attributes that made us unique? Would we effectively erase diversity?

Will our conformity force us to redefine what makes us who we are? We are excited to present you a look into diversity in the future this fall as the focus of our 2011 Diversity Week workshop lecture series. Guest speaker, Dr. Michio Kaku, a theoretical physicist, will introduce you to his hypothesis on the world as we know it in the not-too-distant future.

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Holly Tran, Staff Writer, is currently a junior at the University of Rhode Island majoring in Biological Sciences.

Sugar, Fantasy, and a College Education

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 05:51:00 +0000

Ways to Pay Off a College Education:

1. Work Study
2. Part-time Job
3. Scholarships/Grants/Loans
4. Having a Sugar Daddy

Say what? If you think #4 was a typo, guess again. The Huffington Post reported a story this week about the web site, seekingarrangement.com, which markets "mutually beneficial relationships," and currently cites that it has had an increase in traffic from college females seeking rich men to help get them get through school. Known as "sugar babies," these "attractive, ambitious, and young" females are students or young adults working towards their dream. But in this economy, such a chase can be pain-stakingly difficult alone. Here's the solution--find a rich man. All you have to do is arrange to meet said person say, once a week (or more if you both agree), be each other's companions, go out for dinner, and maybe have intercourse.

A senior in college, Lola, is busy working two part-time jobs, studying for her GREs, and also finding the time to meet her client/Sugar Daddy/friend, B.K., a married man twice her age who slips her $150-$200 per interaction. Another female college student identified by her caramel colored mane, describes the interaction with her Sugar Daddy as a pool rendezvous. A much older gentleman, he's described as balding with leathery skin. After she lathers him with sun tan lotion, they waddle for a bit in the water before they both go to his bedroom. While she says her arrangement with her Sugar Daddy is a means to an end, another college Sugar Baby explicitly comments, "If this isn't prostitution, I don't know what is."

While the site's mechanism of business has critics clamoring about what exactly qualifies as prostitution--how since the site isn't explicitly marketing sex for money, rather offering rich, generous mentors, it isn't quite as such...or rather, since prostitution is the practice of engaging in sexual activity for the exchange of payment and Sugar Babies also provide companionship (and so forth), it's not just about sex. Many even go out on a limb to describe the relationship as modern dating--and Mercedes, a 22-year-old junior in college, agrees: "I don’t see how people can view this as exploitation. I could go out and work three jobs and still go to school and probably make decent grades, but is that really what I want to do? I make more money this way, and I have a lot more fun because I get to go out to concerts, go shopping, see movies and make money off of it. If instead of this I was just dating a rich guy, it’d be almost the same thing, and society wouldn’t look down on that. You know with a sugar daddy that they’re spending a lot of money on you and they clearly want something in return, but is that really any different than how it is with a boyfriend?"

Dating. B.K. describes his relationship with his Sugar Baby as "dating," while, mind you, he has a wife and children about 90-miles from where he and his Baby meet up for some alone time when she's strapped for funds. The New York Times describes the transformation of courtship in the last century, "In the early 1900s, courtship shifted from girls’ porches or parlors to a commercial venture: a date. Etiquette manuals of the time were explicit — boys were to pay for meals, entertainment and transportation, and in return, girls were to provide well-groomed company, rapt attention and at least a certain amount of physical affection. His money bought not only companionship but also her indebtedness." I will go out on a limb to say that this type of arrangement--Sugar Daddies and Babies--does not fit in the category of "dating." While social norms may have men feeling pressured to foot the dinner checks or shelling out dollars for expensive jewelry and flowers, the fact-of-the-matter remains that women do not, and should not, provide "rapt attention" and a "certain amount of physical affection" in exchange. Call me a romantic, but I do believe dating does involve some sense of emotional attachment--may that be adoration or even some degree of love.

While I won't go out on a limb and classify this type of arrangement as prostitution, I will redirect you to that moral fiber in your heart. You know that strange feeling you got when you first read this article? Yes, that's your moral fiber letting you know that something's fishy.

A female college Baby, when asked about her arrangement with her Sugar Daddies, admits that she uses a fake name when dealing with the web site and her clients. She confesses that only her roommate knows of her situation. This is her safety net. When she goes out to meet her clients, she makes sure that her roommate knows exactly where she's going, and they make sure to text throughout the day until she returns back to the apartment. Another Sugar Baby, a young women with dark eyes and skin, comments that her physical appearance is to her advantage, allowing her to play any role her Sugar Daddy desires--be it "Spanish, Indian, or Middle-Eastern mistress."

But this double identity is a dangerous one--especially for young women who, many of which, are still on a journey of trying to figure out who they are, what they want, and who they want to become. It creates a possibility for long-term psychological trauma. While a few young women have reported feeling "dirty" and "disgusted" with themselves after such interactions with their Sugar Daddies, others succumb to the high of fast money, new-found luxurious attention, and materialistic gifts; suggesting that this sought arrangement can quickly turn into an addiction.

All that aside, would you want your daughter snuggling with a man old enough to be her father or even grandfather, in order to foot her semester's tuition or monthly rent? Would you feel comfortable, if you were a Sugar Baby, telling your children or friends that you managed to put yourself through school by waitressing on the weekends, washing dishes in the dining hall in between classes, and sharing some body heat with your respective Sugar Daddies? Frankly, if young women feel the need to resort to sleeping with rich men in order to afford their college education, society must have a lot of missing screws and bolts somewhere.

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Holly Tran, Staff Writer, is currently a junior at the University of Rhode Island pursing a major in Biological Sciences.

More than Just a Name: The Heart of the 13th Annual URI Diversity Awards

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 18:59:00 +0000

On Tuesday, April 12th, 2011, a crowd of students, faculty, and staff gathered in the Memorial Union Ballroom to collectively celebrate the achievements of the 13th Annual URI Diversity Awards recipients.

A peach-toned program featured a short blurb about what the award means, "The URI Diversity Awards helps to develop campus community by honoring and promoting personal and organizational initiatives that advance institutional equity and inclusiveness." Although true, this blurb only could not adequately sum up the energy radiating from the room that night.

Beaming smiles carried a contagious element as nominees mingled, laughed, and shared stories over a catered three-course dinner. It was a climatic evening leading to the awards ceremony where fourteen students, faculty, and student organizations were recognized for their contributions to the campus culture.

The ceremony started off with a commendable speech from the Director of the Multicultural Center, Melvin Wade, and followed off with the first set of awards introduced by senior undergraduate student, Denise Dujon. Cue the video. A black screen flashed and a string of text swirled horizontally across the backdrop. Rhythmic music played softly as the first award recipient, Jason Almeida, told the story of how he created a network for disc jockeys. Slowly, audience members felt their heart grow warm and their lips curling into a smile. Something beautiful had happened. Besides being a witness to a quick awards ceremony, fellow peers and supporters were given the opportunity to not just see a name to a plaque, but also the person behind the achievements--their dreams, hopes, and journey to where they are now. In that brief moment, the room of onlookers were able to see more than a short bio, a bolded name, or a picture. They were able to see the passion, determination, and perseverance of an awardee whose intrinsic goals served as his life's motivation.

One by one, stories ran through the projector system. Audience members hopefully watched as Maxwell Edmonds told of his plans of working in Vietnam post-graduation, with plans of applying to medical school when he returned--cheerfully ending off with fingers crossed for his Fulbright scholarship application, and an amiable grin glowing on his face. Students sat transfixed to the screen as students from the Gay Straight Alliance described their round-the-clock protest in the University's 24/4 Hour Room, the prejudices they've seen, and the wholesome support that has come their way. And it didn't stop there.

As one sat through the procession, it quickly became clear that these names, these faces, were more than meets the eye. They were named the 2011 Diversity Award recipients for a reason, and it is with great hope that they will continue their endeavors, continue to inspire, and continue to change the lives in which they live and the world around them.

Please take this time share the few accomplishments of this year's Diversity Award winners, and show your support for the many who are actively taking a role in constructing not only their own, but also the community's future.

Congratulations to the 2011 Diversity Award winners!
>>READ MORE

Check out a copy of the program from the evening!

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Holly Tran, Staff Writer, is currently a sophomore at the University of Rhode Island.

Conquering Fear

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 13:50:00 +0000

Even though the Random Acts of Kindness theme was slated for February, I firmly believe that the results of such acts can last for a lifetime. That being said, I would like to share a random act of kindness I was fortunate to observe.

My co-worker is an extremely amiable person. He has a vibrant personality and a genuine sense of honesty. A few months ago, the topic of blood donation had come up in conversation. As it turns out, the RI Blood Center was hosting its seasonal blood drive in the Memorial Union atriums. My co-worker had never donated blood before; in fact, the idea frankly frightened him. Nevertheless, he decided to accompany me to the Union. We registered and it was evident the trepidation still resided inside him. His first comment as we stepped inside the room--"It smells like death in here." Nevertheless, he sat and waited. We went through the paperwork, the iron content testing, and made conversation over provided snacks. Time tinkered by. There was a stage full of people eager to donate ahead of us and a showing of "Happy Feet" across the room.

When a turn was offered to us, he graciously declined. We sat and watched as throngs of students had a pint of blood or plasma removed from their bodies. He was on-edge. He was perfectly okay with leaving right then and there. But he just sat and waited. Watched as others before and after him donated their share. I checked my watch and took the next opening. I was short on time.

The hour hand neared seven o'clock and my co-worker finally stood up. He would be the last donation for the day. The expression on his face illustrated the thoughts running through his mind. He confessed his first-time-donator status to the phlebotomist, and she instinctively smiled and reassured him.

As I headed out, my co-worker was still lying on the bench-like table, his eyes glued to the ceiling.

He admits, post-donation, that although the process was not as nerve-racking as he has feared it to be, donating blood was not on the top ten of his favorite activities. Nevertheless, it was his courage and willingness to face his fears that were inspirational. My co-worker and very good friend, took a moment from his daily routine to step out of his comfort zone in order to do a great deed. This random act of kindness immediately touched three lives and indirected influenced many more.

Random Acts of Kindness

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:19:00 +0000

February is "American Heart Month;" in celebration, we are featuring a month of special posts designed to bring a little love into your day, a smile to your face, or an appreciation for your fellow person. It's time to shake off your snow-covered boots and de-ice those walkways. Send us your encountered or completed random acts of kindness (to multiculturalcenter.uri@gmail.com) and we'll share your ray of sunshine with the world.

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Love your heart. Learn more about what you can do to prevent heart disease:

http://www.goredforwomen.org/

Dissecting Methodology: A Review of "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother" by Amy Chua

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:02:00 +0000

Amy Chua's new book, "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother" recently made headlines with her essay published by the Wallstreet Journal. The essay, titled, "Why Chinese Mothers are Superior," caused an media sensation as readers bashed Chua for threatening to let her daughter use the bathroom until she perfected her violin piece--among other actions Chua admits to doing in order to raise her two daughters. At first glance, Chua's article may appear as a methodology on how to raise the perfect child and all the things not to let them do, but in a separate interview with The New York Times, Chua says the book is a memoir, reflecting on what she did and what she learned as a result of that. Stripping away the specific examples Chua states in her excerpt, the underlying message in her piece shows her belief that children need structure and guidance in order to grow up and eventually develop the ability to form their own decisions. Developmentally, children cannot fully think critically as adults or older individuals. They cannot rationalize through situations they have not yet experienced. A child's view point is limited to the present and the sliver of future. In her essay, Chua distinguishes two types of nurturing--Western and Chinese--although she does clarify that she uses these terms in the loosest sense. She defines the Chinese style as the strict way of raising children that leads to the stereotypical successful Asian prodigy. Western methods, she believes, generally cannot compare against that of the Chinese because parents try too hard to pad their children. They worry about their children's self-esteem and praise effort more than achievement. To view this idea with the lens of differentiation, I think Eastern and Western parenting styles are varied--although the variation stems from historical roots more than anything.

A refugee, my mother endured hardships I will never fully comprehend. Her journey to the United States is a story of strength and courage, and an inspiration to me. She had to work twice as hard, if not more, to first become admitted into a high school, and to eventually graduate with honors. Her resulting ideology is that education is the key to success. She believed that knowledge is the most power attribute one can possible have. Anything else that took up time or deviated from that effort to achieve a degree, was a waste of time in her eyes. Because she had to work harder than those who were born with English as a naive language in order to reach the same finish line, she understood the value of determination and perseverance. As a result, she raised me with a push to always do the best that I could. I saw this as strict. She would be very hesitant/suggestively against letting me go to a friend's house, attend sleep overs, or walk around town. She said my choral activities and wanting to join the tennis team in middle school was a waste of time. She said I was naive for wanting to do most activities that were generally the norm for children my age because I didn't know any better. I didn't know what was out there. This was very insulting to me because I felt that she was berating my abilities as a person to reason. She was belittling me. Internally, I argued, 'If you never let me go, how am I supposed to know what is out there?' In retrospect, she was concerned because she knew that I did not have the experiences she had. She wanted to protect me from the hardships she faced, the prejudices she encountered. Her parenting style was not a result of wanting to raise a prodigy child; it was a result of her experiences as an immigrant and how she grew up hundreds of miles away from her family surrounded by a foreign culture and language. Eventually, my drive was a result of my wish to make her proud and largely in order to prove myself to my peers and my teachers--which transformed into an internal drive to be the person I knew I could be.

Being raised the way I was, I can only attest to what I know. It would be unfair for me to say that I think one method of parenting is superior than another, and it would be equally unfair for me to hypothetically raise my own children based on how I was raised knowing my own background. My mother raised me based on what she knew, just as Amy Chua's parents raised her. How other children from a certain parenting style turn out do not indicate that the methodology in question is superior, nor does it indicate that it will rear universal results. There are a myriad of factors that play into how someone will develop--environment, family structure, personal beliefs, and social influence. As for those stereotypical Asian prodigies--that's all they are: Stereotypes. Ethnicity plays no part in determining a person's success. That depends on their will, drive, work. In fact, it is offensive to assume that if you're Asian, you known how to play the piano or violin and are somehow a math genius or a computer whiz. It creates a false identity for someone based on how they look based on a few select individuals popularized by media. Basically, it is unfair to the person encased in the stereotype. And taking Chua's excerpt for the labels that come with it, it is simply false to say there is a way to raise a stereotypical Asian prodigy. Parenting is a role of guidance, yes; but it does not call for an environment where a child is threatened to have his or her dinner denied, prevented from using the restroom, and threatened to have his or her favorite toy taken away. This methodology simply equates to: Do what I say, or else. Thus, the resulting product is not a "prodigy," but a creation of your own will.

It is difficult to adequately analyze or respond to Amy Chua's novel by only formulating opinions on a brief passage, but I sought to see both sides of the coin--one of basic structural meaning, and one of methodology with its decorative shell intact. One may leave the essay with a curiosity of where Chua takes her story, or one may argue that the book be removed from store shelves for its rash statements. Nevertheless, I think a definitive judgment on the novel would be greatly premature without first hearing Amy's full story. So let's hear your battle hymn, Mother Tiger. I'm all ears.

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Holly Tran, Staff Writer, is currently a sophomore at the University of Rhode Island pursing a major in Biological Sciences.

MCC eJournal Hot Off the Presses!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 16:30:00 +0000

The Multicultural Center's eJournal is now available for your reading pleasure! Check out what fellow students and faculty members have to say about community service! What's your take on the theme? How has community service impacted how you are as a person today? How would you define community service? Post your comments below!

Interested in contributing to the next edition? Send us an email and stay tuned for the next theme!

Related News: Due to inclement weather conditions the past few days, MLK Week events have been postponed until next week. Visit http://www.uri.edu/mcc/MLKweek/2011/URI%20MLK%202011.pdf for the updated schedule.

Thanks for reading!

Are you in a managed culture or are you being brainwashed?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 18:38:00 +0000

A young man or women leaves their home and travels across the country to go to college. After just a few months of being in a new location and meeting new people, values and experiences suggest there are different ways to behave and learn about the world. When employees enter into a new workplace the same cultural phenomena occurs (Robbins, & Judge, 2009). Brainwashing is having another person, group, or organization’s impose a set of beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors, forcibly if need be, with the aim of destroying an individual’s convictions and attitudes, while replacing them with their desired alternatives (Long, & Hadden, 1983). When individuals are invited into a structured environment, they learn attitudes, beliefs, and values that they then carry with them to display in often creative ways that answer the needs of their lives and their perceived careers (Leavitt, 1991).

To be socialized into a group or organization it does not happen through one or two events. Socialization is an ongoing process that involves relating to others through a social environment where individuals learn the display rules, unspoken values, norms, informal and formal hierarchy, and the required skills to succeed through the managed culture and circumstances (Hunter, 1956). Robbins and Judge (2009) state that while organizations will bring new hires into the managed culture of an organization with the aim of assisting employees in adapting to the profession and the environment itself. Brainwashing is not about learning to integrate information into a person’s behavioral possibilities. It is about limiting responses and attempting to decree that there is only one legitimate source of cultural information (Hunter, 1956). Since all differences in culture are socially constructed, any organization or group has to continually evolve with the cultural environment around them while educating the people that will advance the organization/group culture (Robbins, & Judge, 2009).

There is a big difference between a managed culture and that of brainwashing when it comes to socialization. Managed cultures educate those people interested and investing in by sharing who they are in relation to what they believe, operate (ethically, and industrially), and how they cooperate with other cultures (Robbins, & Judge, 2009). Individuals have to be brought up to speed if they wish to be perceived as professionals through their organization who anchors an individual with membership into an industry. Brainwashing can be as systematic and similar to a managed culture, but it is totally without the freedom to believe and process the information in any other way except those directed by its source. The only thing left to debate is what a person means by freedom and the consequences of not buying into a managed culture.

Peterson (2009) defines indoctrination as the willful and intentional action of a person to get someone to accept their beliefs without question or without seeking the truth from outside sources. Snook (as cited in Peterson) adds that the person introduces their beliefs without evidence and expects others to accept their beliefs. Indoctrinators may provide reasons for their belief but they do this in such a way that encourages others to ignore opposing beliefs or the person may not be able to engage in activities that will question rather or not the belief is truthful.

I believe that brainwashing is a form of socialization but not all processes of socialization involves brainwashing. For example, Charles Manson is known for his ability to brainwash his followers by first drugging them and next influencing their thoughts by disturbing their memories and facilitating aberrant behavior (Kent, 2008). Although this is a negative form of socialization, the court ruled that through brainwashing Manson persuaded his followers to accept his beliefs without question. Even when his followers were sober, they continued to live by his wishes and were responsive to his whims.

In examining the relationship between socialization and brainwashing, many may believe that brainwashing occurs through the use of some type of force. However, the Manson case demonstrated that people can be brainwashed without force (Kent, 2008). I believe the difference between brainwashing and positive socialization is that positive socialization involves the person’s awareness and willingness to change whereas brainwashing does not always include a person full awareness of potential outcome of brainwashing. Thanks for reading my post.

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Joseph Santiago, Guest Writer, is the Instructional Program Coordinator for the University of Rhode Island's GBLT Center, an independent writer, and the founder for Santiago, Inc., his own publishing company. Check out his website: www.worldvoiceproject.com

Listen to Joe's commentary here: www.uri.edu/glbt/images/SantiagoJ.mov

Works Cited:

Hunter, E. (1956). Brainwashing: The story of men who defied it. New York, NY US: Farrar, Straus and Cudahy. Retrieved from PsycINFO database.

Kent, S. (2008). Contemporary uses of the brainwashing concept: 2000 to mid-2007). Cultic Studies Review, 7(2), 99-128.

Peterson, Barbara. (2009). Reason-giving versus truth-seeking: Reconceptualizing indoctrination in education. Philosophy of Education Yearbook, 367-374.Thanks for reading my post.

Leavitt, H. (1991). Socializing Our MBAs: Total Immersion? Managed Cultures? Brainwashing?. California Management Review, 33(4), 127-143. Retrieved from Business Source Complete database.

Long, T., & Hadden, J. (1983). Religious Conversion and the Concept of Socialization: Integrating the Brainwashing and Drift Models. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 22(1), 1. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.

Robbins, S., & Judge, T. (2009). Organizational behavior (13th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

New Year, New Adventures, and a Whole Lot of Memories!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 15:02:00 +0000

Happy 2011, mes amis! It's a new year, and we are excited to push you to your creative limits! We begin with an extended deadline of the 1st Bi-Annual MCC e-Journal Publication. We understand the holidays can be a crazy time, and hope the new due date of Friday, January 14th, 2011 will give you some time to sit, think, and reflect. The theme and accepted formats still stand--additional details maybe obtained by referring to our original post HERE.

What other exciting opportunities do you have in store for us?!, you ask? Well, buckle up, because we're about to take you on a week-long journey filled with music, yoga, and engaging discussion--among other activities--in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! The celebration is URI's 25th annual event running from Monday, January 31st - Saturday, February 5th, 2011. We invite one and all to come join us in remembrance and celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s legacy. Please check out our SCHEDULE OF EVENTS and let us know what workshops you are looking forward to in the comments below!

P.S. Are you planning to bring your class to one of our events? Do you see a workshop that would be perfect for all of your facebook friends? Shoot us an e-mail or give us a ring at (401) 874-2851 to let us know so we can adequately accommodate you! Thank you!

Breaking Out of the Comfort Zone

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 14:19:00 +0000

       Last month a good friend of mine held a diversity forum for her Honors Colloquium course that focused on race. To my pleasure and the pleasure of my fellow PINK sisters, we were given the opportunity to collaborate with the forum facilitators.

       It was clear no one was comfortable enough to just pour their hearts out to one another at the start. Even the prepared questions prompted to dry responses. I even found myself answering questions just to fill the dead air. Despite their good intentions, the forum facilitators didn’t seem to be accomplishing much.

       It wasn’t until my friend Abeje, the group facilitator, asked us if we feel we have to change the way we act in order to fit into a society where the standards are based on white ideals. I personally can attest to a number of times when I’ve done things to appease people in my surroundings. Even things as petty as not wearing a shower cap when I walk to the bathroom so my suitemates (who happened to be white) wouldn’t see me.

That is when something started to click into my head. WHY is it that I can’t walk 15 steps to the bathroom in my shower cap? Why can’t my PINK sister walk to class with her hair wrapped? Why do we even buy UGGS? As we continued to share our experiences, the consensus of the ladies seemed to be that we do these things to ‘fit in’.

Sometimes I feel like society has turned its head away from the fact that prejudice still exist. And one of the most commonly used phrases I’ve heard to justify this is, “I don’t see color, I only see people”. As commendable as this may sound, it falls right into the same pool of prejudice along with the inventors of the Grandfather Clause and Jim Crow Laws.

       The fact is that WE ARE DIFFERENT. Different in color, culture, experiences, and the list goes on! So to void any acknowledgement of our differences is no less ignorant as exploiting them. The key is to ACCEPT and APPRECIATE the differences we all have as HUMAN BEINGS.

       I could honestly go on and on about how moving this forum was for me. But to prevent myself from going on a cyber rant I will the leave you with the moral of my story. We have more in common than we think. And if we could just look past the superficial and appreciate the person’s actual essence, society would be far better off. I truly believe that!

As a multicultural student, I strongly believe it is the small, persistent steps that matter. So break out of your comfort zone! Talk to someone new! Make it a goal to bridge the gap and close these cultural stereotypes we have of one another! You can’t change the mind of the world before you change the mind of your neighbor.

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Tyler Curry, Contributing Writer, is currently an undergraduate student at the University of Rhode Island pursing a study in Journalism.