Are You “Woke”? Social Justice Fair on Monday, October 23, 2017

Students interested in social justice in their communities should attend the Social Justice Fair on Monday, October 23, in the Student Memorial Center.  The day’s events, which unfold in and around the Multipurpose Room, include:

  • 8-9am–A Social Justice Fair (on display throughout the day) where various social justice organizations will present their information
  • 9:00-9:10–Welcome and Introduction: What is Social Justice
  • 9:10-9:50–Action and Engagement Panel
  • 10-10:50–Campus Climate Survey and Discussion
  • 11-11:50–Social Justice Film Excerpts and Discussion
  • 12-1:00–Keynote and Free Lunch
  • 1-1:50–Action and Engagement Panel

Our Keynote Speaker, Anne Kirby, is an expert on creating community.  She is the founding member of the sweet core, The Candy Factory & Groundworks, Lancaster’s premier coworking space and home to over 60+ coworkers. She also manages The Arch, a new art collective in Lancaster.  She will be speaking on techniques for building strong community and encouraging collaboration as well as her own experience becoming involved in the political process.

We welcome all members of the Millersville Community to attend.  Attendance is free, but just register by sending an email to community.engagement@millersville.edu so lunches can be ordered!

Post your social justice events and follow the day at
#MUsojust.

If you are interested in getting involved, see the Civic and Service Organizations at Get Involved.  Some university and community organizations that welcome your participation include:

 

 

 

 

 

 

MU English attends Dr. Ibram Kendi lecture at Midtown Scholar

Current and former members of the MU English Department attended the Midtown Scholar Bookstore‘s Harrisburg Book Festival this weekend.  On Friday, Dr. Ibram Kendi discussed ideas from his book Stamped for the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, the 2016 winner of the National Book Award.  The Midtown Scholar was packed to hear the insights of the youngest scholar to win the National Book Award for Non-Fiction.

Ibram Kendi answering audience questions
Ibram Kendi answering audience questions

The evening began with Harrisburg Mayor Papenfuse welcoming everyone to the event, and thanking sponsors, including Millersville University’s English Department.  He also thanked event organizer and Bookstore manager, Alex Brubaker, who is a Millersville University English and Philosophy double major graduate.  Alex was instrumental in bringing the excellent line-up for this series to the region.

Kendi spoke about his ideas and read from his book for about 30 minutes, and then took many questions from the very engaged audience.  Kendi identified racist, assimilationist, anti-racist ideas and how these make an impact on our progress as a society.  He warned about the negative consequences of not addressing the racial inequities that plague American and other societies.  Kendi provided insights into the history of racist ideas that included polygenesis and other concepts set forth to attempt to justify social inequities.

Millersville English community discusses the Kendi lecture
Millersville English community discusses the Kendi lecture

The audience was keen to explore the history and terminology that Kendi put forth.  Kendi stayed after the lecture to sign copies of his book.  Many in the audience stayed around to discuss the ideas and their import.  This type of intellectual interchange can be the heart of university experience.

Kendi will be coming to Millersville in March.

~Jill Craven