First Year Student Reflections 2021 by Avila Publications

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2021 STUDENT REFLECTIONS Unexampled Courage: The Blinding of Sgt. Woodard and the Awakening of America First Year Experience Truman Lecture Series

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2021 STUDENT REFLECTIONS Unexampled Courage: The Blinding of Sgt. Woodard and the Awakening of America First Year Experience Truman Lecture Series

Introduction Lyrics from Woody Guthrie’s song, The Blinding of Isaac Woodard: “It’s now you’ve heard my story, there’s one thing I can’t see, How you could treat a human like they have treated me; I thought I fought on the islands to get rid of their kind; But I can see the fight lots plainer now that I am blind.”

ach year, Avila selects a common reading for our first year students. Typically, students have the summer to read the selected book and respond with an essay prior to the start of class. However, this book was different. We waited to give the book to our students until classes began in August due to its sensitive and difficult content. The Common Reading Program Committee began looking for a book that had a focus on President Harry S. Truman because the year of 2021 represented the 50th anniversary of Harry S. Truman giving Avila University the rights to have a lecture in his name. As we searched, we were alerted to book by Richard Gergel titled, Unexampled Courage: The Blinding of Sgt. Woodard and the Awakening of America. We knew this would be a massive undertaking. This is a difficult book to read and process. We knew it could trigger expected or unexpected feelings and we wanted to help students work through these feelings. Richard Gergel who is a judge in South Carolina learned of the story of Sargent Isaac Woodard because Woodard’s story connected with Judge Waties Waring. Gergel was the predecessor of Judge Waring and found the story of Woodard in the courthouse archives. The story involved the brutal beating of Woodard by a police officer in South Carolina as he returned from WWII. The beating left Woodard, a heroic veteran of WWII, blinded. Woodard’s story moved Waring and Truman. It was Woodard’s story of racism and discrimination that propelled Truman and Waring to change their perspectives on civil rights in America. This, in turn, had an impact on many of the laws in our country. This book was not the story of Sargent Isaac Woodard but the story of Truman and Waring. The perspective draws from civil rights legislation in the United States and ultimately helps set the stage for Brown vs. Board of Education and desegregation in the United States. As stated in our mission, Avila prepares learners who will contribute to the global community and our values state the importance of the worth, dignity and potential of each human being as well as right relationship with self and others. Justice for all is a topic of global concern and importance. Topics related to racism and social justice were studied throughout the fall semester by our first year students. This publication serves as the culmination of multiple experiences shared among our first year students (Appendix A) on issues of racism and social justice. Within this publication are the Culminating Projects of several of Avila’s first year students. It is our hope that through the curriculum in First Year Seminar, students develop individualized and educated thoughts and opinions on the subjects studied and will become change agents for the world. Some of the experiences that led to these culminating projects are outlined in this introduction.

The University dedicates the Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecture to the selected book and on October 25, 2021 Avila was honored to welcome Richard Gergel, United States District Judge and author of Unexampled Courage: The Blinding of Sgt. Woodard and the Awakening of America (Appendix B). Due to the pandemic we were not able to welcome the greater Kansas City community but we enjoyed a smaller audience of Avila students, faculty, staff, trustees and donors. Gergel showcased his research that evolved into the book that shared the details of Sargent Isaac Woodard’s horrific experience of racism as he returned home from WWII. Gergel also shared how this event changed the perspective of Harry S. Truman which led to significant changes in the on-going pursuit of racial justice. Other highlights of the semester included three particular events that seemed to greatly impact our first year students. Sara Eckinger, Director of Student Support Services, shared her expertise and conducted Bystander Training. She shared that when harm is being inflicted upon another you have choices for action depending on your level of comfort… direct, distract, delay, and/or delegate. Secondly, the wonderful Jabraan Pasha, MD, helped us lean in to discover our own implicit biases and how we can reduce these biases within ourselves. Lastly, Kaliyah Meriwether, Coordinator of the Buchanan Initiative for Peace and Nonviolence, helped us to understand what we can do as individuals to create positive change. Students are encouraged to be creative with The Culminating Project in First Year Seminar. Students can write a traditional essay or create a unique personal project such as the creation of a poem, song, piece of artwork, etc. The project helps students explore the complex issues surrounding the topics of racism and social justice and explore their role and responsibility in the issues through a peaceful and nonviolent means. These projects are a direct reflection of the multiple experiences in First Year Seminar including the classroom curriculum as well as the common reading and the Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecture. I hope these experiences and this publication can help move us closer to being a better community for all races and ethnicities. I also hope it can move us closer to the Avila mission and values by contributing positively to our global community and underscoring the importance of the worth, dignity and potential of each human being as well as right relationship with self and others. Peace, Paige Illum, Ph.D., CSJA Director of Student Engagement and Success Adjunct Faculty Avila University

“I have decided to stick with love.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Avila Community Values

e Excellence in teaching and learning e The worth, dignity, and potential of each human being e Diversity and its expression e The development of the whole person e Right relationships, with God, self, others, and creation e Service with the dear neighbor

Acknowledgments This publication is dedicated to those who have experienced racism and racial injustice. As an institution of higher education, we must confront racism and commit to ending all forms of racial injustice. As an institution founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph, we value the worth, dignity and potential of each human being; diversity and its expression; and right relationships, with God, self, others and creation. The first year experience takes commitment and collaboration from both Avila and our outside community. This is an opportunity to thank all of these dedicated people. A special acknowledgment and many thanks to Richard Gergel, United States District Judge and author of Unexampled Courage: The Blinding of Sgt. Woodard and the Awakening of America. Thank you for sharing the story of Isaac Woodard and for your countless hours of research to learn more about how Woodard impacted our nation. A heart-felt thanks to Bill and Jean ’76 Buchanan and the Buchanan Initiative for Peace and Nonviolence. Your generous spirit and support helped the issues of social justice permeate through the curriculum of first year seminar. Avila is forever grateful to you! The Truman Lecture would not be possible without the support of our presenting sponsors Joe and Sue Fahey, Kevin and Connie Fahey and the J.M. Fahey Construction Company. We appreciate and value your support of this event. Truly, none of this would be possible without your interest and dedication. Thank you to the Avila University Common Reading Program Committee led by Dr. Paige Illum. Members were Dr. Sue Ellen McCalley, Dr. Abigail Lambke, and Dr. Natalie Cobb. We appreciate your time and dedication! A special thanks to Dr. Stephen Caliendo who suggested the book due to its connection with President Truman and issues related to social justice which is a cornerstone of Avila University. The Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecture Series Committee was committed to developing a meaningful program while also being safe in light of the on-going pandemic. The committee not only worked on the details for the Truman Lecture but also an interactive workshop titled, “Moving Forward” and a dinner featuring Black-Owned Kansas City catering businesses. A huge thank you to the Truman Lecture Series Committee including, Bailey Carr, Dr. Charlene Gould, Molly Fisher, Dr. Paige Illum, Kaliyah Meriwether, Shawna Pena-Downing, Darren Roubinek and the leadership of Dr. Sue Ellen McCalley. A special thanks to Kaliyah Meriwether for her development and facilitation of the workshop and to Shawna Pena-Downing for organizing the dinner.

Many thanks to Maggie Mohrfeld, Vice President of Advancement; Darren Roubinek, Senior Director of Marketing & Communications; Molly Fisher, Events & Engagement Manager, and Bailey Carr, Senior Director of Advancement & Alumni Relations for their countless hours of dedicated work to make the Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecture a success. Also, to Maureen Reardon, Creative Services Manager, and Mary Sommerhauser, Graphic Designer, who designed this reflection book with wonderfully creative and on-target project management skills. The members of the Office of Marketing and Communication, the Advancement Office, the Theatre Department, Information Technology Services and Campus Services helped implement a series of stellar Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecture events. Thank you for your excellent attention to detail and expertise in your respective areas. The efforts of our First Year Seminar Instructors were evident and appreciated as we welcomed our largest first year class and navigated through difficult curriculum and stretched outside our own comfort zones. Many were first time instructors which made the experience even more challenging. You all led students through multiple experiences and helped make First Year Seminar meaningful for each individual student. You also were willing to take a leap of faith to teach during a pandemic that created challenge and change within the classroom experience. Thank you for working to make a difference for our first year students! Thank you to Dave Armstrong, Jason Baldwin, Bailey Carr, Sara Eckinger, Darby Gough, Dr. Paige Illum, Dr. Andy Jett, Kaliyah Meriwether, Ryan Meyer, Anna McDonald, Alicia Murillo, Shawna Pena-Downing, Casey Reid, Darren Roubinek, Melissa Shipman, Paula Tarwater, Maya Tilmon and Megan Stone. We also thank those who helped educate our first year students in unique and meaningful ways though the First Year Seminar curriculum. Sara Eckinger shared her expertise by conducted Bystander Training to share with students what they can do when harm is being inflicted upon another. The wonderful Jabraan Pasha, MD, who helped us understand what implicit bias is all about, how we can counter implicit bias and how we can work through our own biases. We are also grateful to Kaliyah Meriwether, Coordinator of the Buchanan Initiative for Peace and Nonviolence, for helping us understand how we can move forward with the information we learned in First Year Seminar to create change. Finally, many thanks to Arica Maurer for returning to Avila to help students understand that social justice problems can be solved to create a more peaceful world and one of the most effective ways to make a positive change is through a nonviolent, well-informed, logic-based approach to problem solving. Lastly, thank you to all of the Avila University first year students. You took a leap of faith! Avila is proud of you! We thank you for your commitment and continued learning of issues related to racial discrimination and social justice. You did this even when it was difficult. We challenge you to live the values of Avila University as you learn more about how you can contribute to our global and local communities. Thanks to our presenting sponsor

J. Anthony Snorgrass, Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, or as Avila knows him, “Dr. J”, was extremely helpful. He served as a sounding board and all-around GREAT colleague as we navigated through instructor training and the development of the curriculum.

Celebrating the Worth, Dignity, and Potential in All Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Avila University The Office of Diversity & Equity leads and facilitates the development of institutional policies and protocols intended to create a more representative, equitable, and inclusive Avila University community. Our charge is to bring greater fairness, care, and belonging into Avila’s learning and work practices thus assuring all have opportuni-

ties to meet academic and professional goals; to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in research, teaching, public service, and training across campus; and to ensure accountability to all diversity, equity and inclusion efforts on campus.

The Center for Truth, Racial Healing & Social Justice at Avila University The Center exists in three dimensions – an interior physical space, an outdoor space, and a virtual space. The Center for Truth, Racial Healing & Social Justice is located inside Dallavis Hall alongside the Doorways to Social Justice project; the Avila Food Pantry; the Center for Digital Advocacy; and the Thornhill Gallery. The Center’s unique vision is to provide a safe and private place for students to gather, relax, reflect, meditate, pray, and hold honest conversations about societal healing, unity, and acceptance. Also, a place to challenge and understand intolerance in its many forms. This space will be used for respectful reflection and communication about issues pertaining to:

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Increasing awareness regarding privilege, power, prejudice, implicit or explicit bias, microaggressions, and blind spots.

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Extinguishing racism, ableism, xenophobia, misogyny, sexism, heterosexism, gender binarism, and any other form of exclusion or discrimination.

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Fighting stigma, stereotyping, social stratification/castebased discrimination, targeted police violence, prison population representation, housing/healthcare discrimination, voter suppression, and other forms of societally anchored bias.

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Heeding the call of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet to work to bring loving unity to a divided world through the belief that everything is connected, everyone is included, and everyone is sacred.

The Center for Truth, Racial Healing & Social Justice offers support, resources, engagement and guidance to students interested in organizing for social change. Students convene to discuss local, national, and international issues; advocate and stand in solidarity with marginalized populations; host speakers, panels, and campus events; and form groups to explore issues of identity and justice. For more information on the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion or The Center for Truth, Racial Healing & Social Justice at Avila University, visit www.avila.edu/about/dei-office/

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4 Introduction 5 Acknowledgments 8 Student Reflections & Projects 23 Photos from The Truman Lecture Series & First Year Seminar 27 Student Reflections & Projects 40 Appendix A: Avila First Year Students 41 Appendix B: Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecture Program 42 Appendix C: Anticipation Guide Perspectives

Student Reflections & Projects e Anna Isaacs Scenarios Direct

Adorne I squeezed by someone as they stood in the middle of the hall. Kids seemed to forget proper etiquette when it came to standing in the halls. No wonder the teachers got annoyed with us. We barely understood how to make room for others. As I pushed my way through the crowd, I heard a murmur around us. Did you see her? She looks like she’s from the eighties. I rolled my eyes to myself. Since when did gossip become such a big thing? All it ever did was hurt people. Judging by the harsh words followed by the laughter, I sincerely hoped I wasn’t at the end of this rumor. I never thought of myself as a better person because I skip out on all the gossip. I mean, it wasn’t like I never dipped my toes into it. Every once in a while, a new wave of gossip crashed into our school halls. You could run from it, but the waves of a tsunami were disastrously easy to succumb to. I never actively sought out the gossip. It just happened to arrive at my feet. I’d try to turn away, but when it’s constantly hitting you in the face and begging that you pay attention to them, it seemed so much harder. Through the sea of sweaty high-schoolers, I saw my locker. I let out a sigh of relief. Finally, I thought to myself. I weaseled my way through a group of lowerclassmen, keeping my head down. Before I knew it, I bumped into a solid figure. “Oh, sorry,” I muttered as I looked up. Standing in front of me was Gabriela Labeikovsky—my best friend… and the school’s biggest source of all the gossip. I watched as her shoulders relaxed, and she realized it was me who bumped into her. Her eyes lit up with excitement. I knew that meant she had news about the gossip. I wished she never brought me into all of this, but that was too much to ask for, apparently. “Hey.” She flashed me a grin. “Where have you been?” “Class,” I replied, walking around her. “You know that if you miss any more classes, you won’t be able to graduate.” “Yeah, yeah, whatever,” she scoffed. “Have you heard the news?” “No.” I spun the combination until I heard the click. “What happened now?” She leaned against the locker next to mine. “Aly McDowell got a haircut.” A haircut? That was the latest gossip in our school? The last wave of gossip was about the newest couple in school, George and Lerona. Lerona was a senior, while George was a freshman. Now that was gossip. But a haircut? Gabriela’s skill to stir the pot has weakened. I couldn’t think of something remotely dramatic about a haircut. I had a haircut appointment the following week. I knew for sure that no one would talk about my haircut. What was so bad about this girl’s haircut? “And?” I furrowed my eyebrows. “You know who Aly McDowell is, right?” Gabriela asked. “Short girl, tan skin, big… poofy hair.” “She’s in my math class.” I nodded. She rose her eyebrows at me like I was supposed to understand what that meant. While Gabriela and I were best friends, I never understood what her weird facial expressions were meant to represent. “I’m not getting what you’re trying to say.” I unzipped my backpack. She rolled her eyes again. “Ugh. Her hair is so short. It looks like a poodle got electrocuted. It’s absolutely horrible.” “Hey.” I narrowed my eyes. “Don’t say that.” “What?” she laughed. “I mean, look! There she is.” Gabriela pointed down the hall. Aly McDowell walked in our direction with her head hung low. Her dark curls masked her entire face. Before she got her haircut, I remember her hair being pretty curly and bouncy. Parts of her head were drenched. She probably tried to flatten her hair with water, at least that was what I hoped happened. Due to the soaked nature of her hair, it somehow got even curlier. As she squeezed by someone, they started to whisper and laugh. Their friends soon joined in. They pointed at Aly as she continued to walk by. What was wrong with these people? I thought to myself. Her haircut actually suited her well, and I could tell she put a lot of effort into it. “Hey, poodle!” Gabriela called out, earning laughs from everyone around us. “Don’t call her names,” I shot back. “You’re being rude to someone who doesn’t deserve it. She hasn’t done anything to you.”

“You do this every time, Adorne.” She sighed and folded her arms across her chest. “You never do anything to stop me. Just give up.” “I never do anything, huh?” I turned away from Gabriela, and I walked up to Aly McDowell. She cowered as I approached her, but once she realized my intentions weren’t to harm her, she seemed to relax. The laughing around us has died down some, but it still echoed through my ears. I smiled at Aly, and she actually smiled back. This poor girl got all this hate over something she couldn’t even control. “Are you okay?” I asked her. She glanced around before nodding timidly. “Let me know if it becomes too much,” I added. “Also, I love your haircut. It looks really nice on you.” Her smile broadened as she ran her hand through her dampened curls. “Thank you. You’re the first person to say that to me.” “Do you want to have lunch together?” I asked. “Uh…” She looked in the direction of where Gabriela stood. “Will she be okay with that?” I looked over my shoulder and saw Gabriela glaring at us. “Oh, yeah, she’ll totally be okay with that.” “Then, yes, I’d like that,” Aly replied. “Thank you.” “Of course.”

Distract Ionie

Music blared through my ears as the lights flashed on and off. My feet were growing tired, but I just wanted to dance. I let the music move my body in whatever way it desired. I’d been having so much fun that I didn’t care how much my legs ached. The party was a huge success! People were literally everywhere. This would be the party of the decade! Even though I didn’t want to, I decided to take a break. If I kept dancing, I wouldn’t last throughout the entire night. Besides, the night was only in its infancy. I had the rest of the night to keep dancing. Thankfully, I had no one to impress, so my dancing could be as terrible as I wanted. As I reached the staircase, I noticed there were only two people. The guy sat on the stairs, holding onto the girl’s wrist. They were clearly in the middle of a conversation, so I didn’t want to intervene. Plus, I wasn’t planning on standing over here for that long. Once I was fully rested, I’d hit that dance floor again and dance the night away. I rested against the wall across from the staircase. I let my head rest against the wall, as well, and my eyes closed for just a brief minute. I let out a deep sigh. I didn’t realize how tired I was. I think I just needed a drink, then I’d be good to go. “Come upstairs with me.” I opened my eyes and looked at the two on the stairs. The guy tugged on the girl’s wrists, trying to pull her closer. Her feet were planted firmly on the ground. She was shaking her head and muttering something. He wasn’t aggressive, but I could tell he wouldn’t stop. Judging by their actions, I wasn’t sure if they actually knew each other or if they met here. “I don’t want to,” the girl mumbled. Her voice was so meek as she tried to think of what words to say. English likely wasn’t her first language. She tried to pull her hand away from him, but his grip was strong. He stood up. He was several inches taller than she. His body loomed over hers. I watched her cave her shoulders in as she tried to think of how to get away from him. “I wasn’t asking,” he replied. “You’re coming upstairs with me.” I pushed myself off the wall and walked up to them. The guy shot a glare down at me, but I ignored it and smiled at the girl. I couldn’t care less about what the guy thought of me. This wasn’t about him; it was about her. “I think your ride is here, Samantha,” I lied, still facing the girl. “They wanted you outside immediately.” “Oh.” She nodded, and I knew she understood. I nodded toward the door. “I’ll bring you there.” She managed to pull herself away from the guy. I led her toward the door. She

grabbed onto the back of my sleeve, so I slowed my strides in case I moved too fast. As soon as we reached the doors, she let go of me and quickly walked outside. The cool, refreshing air seemed to relax her. She looked up and down the streets. They were completely full, but none of them was her ride. She paused and turned around to face me. “You looked like you needed to get away from him,” I explained. “Thank you.” She sighed in relief. “I-I don’t know English well.” “Don’t worry,” I assured her. “You’re safe out here, and he shouldn’t bother you again. What’s your name?” “Zehra,” she answered. “I’m… visiting family from Turkey.” “Turkey? Wow,” I laughed. “I’m Ionie.” “It’s nice to meet you,” she said with a nod. “Do you want me to stay with you until someone actually comes to pick you up?” I asked. “You can even use my phone to contact them.” “Please.” She held out her hands. She called a cab, then we waited. She sat on the edge of the sidewalk, so I decided to do the same. We waited until the cab pulled up alongside us. I made sure she got inside safely, then I watched them drive away. Once they were out of view, I turned around and went back inside.

Delay

Pascale I figured going to the mall by myself was a good idea. I didn’t have anyone to stress over other than myself. Shopping usually released the stress I had bundled inside of me, but there was something about this time that felt different. As I turned the corner, I saw a small girl surrounded by three guys. It was clear she was in an uncomfortable position, but what power did I hold over multiple men? I wasn’t that much taller than the girl, and I doubted I would be able to withstand what these guys had in mind. I decided that if she still looked to be in trouble in a few minutes, I’d intervene. After all, we were in the mall on a Friday afternoon. It was extremely busy. People walked by the group of them constantly. If I didn’t do anything, someone else would’ve. Throughout my time shopping, I kept thinking about the girl. It bothered me that no one stopped to help her, but then again, neither did I. Maybe everyone else had their reasons. There were a bunch of intimidating guys around her. Maybe they scared everyone else off, too. Whatever their reasons were, someone should’ve stopped and helped her. Maybe that someone was me. I quickly finished my shopping. As I walked out of the store, I saw the girl sitting on the ground. The three guys weren’t around anymore. I took one glance around us to be safe before I approached her. She looked up at me and started to scramble away. “I’m here to help you,” I assured her. “Are you okay?” She shook her head. “They stole my wallet.” “Let’s go report them, okay?” I held out my hand. She grabbed my hand, and I pulled her up to her feet. As she grew comfortable around me, I looked around to see if there was a police officer nearby. Whenever the mall got busy, they usually liked to hang around in case something happened. Who knew something would actually happen today? We found an officer standing in front of a toy shop. I heard the screams echoing from the children inside the toy shop. As we approached the officer, they straightened their posture and smiled at us. Even with the deafening screeches behind them, they managed to stay professional. I envied their skill for a moment, then I remembered why we were here. “Do you want me to talk, or are you comfortable?” I asked the woman. “You,” she mumbled. “Hello.” I faced the officer and smiled. “We’d like to report an incident.”

Delegate Feng

I shouted at the TV as my video game character died for the sixth time. I swore I knew how to beat this level. I did it when I was a child, but it seemed impossible now. Maybe I should’ve Googled it, but I wanted to beat it on my own. I did it before. I heard the door open, meaning my roommate got back from his night class. I called out to him, but I kept my main focus on the TV. I heard him move around behind me. He sat next to me on our sofa, but something was off. Normally, he’d cheer me on for whatever game I played that night. Now, he stayed silent. I snuck a glance at him. His head was hung low, and he stared at his hands. “You good?” I asked. “Uh, yeah, yeah,” he muttered. “Fine.” “Hans.” I paused the game. “What’s wrong?” “Nothing.” He shrugged. I rolled my eyes. “Just tell me.” “There are these girls from my night class...” He sighed. “...they just bother me sometimes, that’s all. It’s not a big deal.” “It makes you upset, so it seems like it’s a big deal.” “I mean, sometimes…” He shook his head. “No, it’s stupid. Never mind.” “Stop.” I set my hand on his shoulder. “Tell me what they’re doing, and I’ll try to help in any way that I can.” “They just… say mean things.” “Like?” “They call me names or make fun of who I am, and now, it’s gotten to the point where they’ve started to say things they shouldn’t about my family.” “Have you told the teacher?” “He wouldn’t believe me,” he muttered. “C’mon.” I stood from the sofa. “I’ll go tell him on your behalf.” “What?” He looked up at me and furrowed his eyebrows together. “Why would you do that?” “You’re my friend.” I smiled. “And you’re hurting. I told you I’m going to help you in any way I can, and I can do that by telling your teacher on your behalf.” “Will it work?” I shrugged. “You won’t know until you try it, Hans.” We went down to the teacher’s office. Hans sat outside while I spoke with the teacher. I explained everything that Hans told me, and despite Hans thinking the teacher wouldn’t believe him, he was wrong. The teacher told me that he’d have a serious talk with the girls and that if it happened again, it would affect their grades. He even thanked me for meeting with him on Hans’ behalf. Well, the last part was a bit overstretched, but the sentiment was there. I walked out of the room, smiling at Hans. “Told you I’d help.” He stood from his seat. “Do you think they’ll actually stop?” “If they keep doing it, they’ll fail the class, so yeah, they should stop eventually,” I assured him. “Now, since I helped you, I need your help with the level I’m on.”

Major: Psychology - Mental Health Hometown: Kansas City, Mo.

e Brooke Truelove

Major: Business Administration Hometown: Liberty, Mo.

e Amy Hernandez-Luna

Major: Psychology Hometown: Kansas City, Mo.

e Vincent Escott

ocial justice is a term which is very popular today. It is a recent term which has gained a lot of attention in the media and in society in general. People are aware of the mistakes that have occurred in history. Some people feel that symbols of history that stood for division should be abandoned. For example, a lot of people have issues with the Confederate Flag because it was used at a time when slavery was in effect in the United States. Also, some people take issue with people who were part of the Confederacy like Robert E. Lee. Some schools which were named after Robert E. Lee and some statues of Robert E. Lee have been changed or the statues removed. Many people fee that because Robert E. Lee was a Confederate general, he should not be represented in history or have statues or schools named after him. This is an issue which has been hotly debated lately. There are strong feelings about things like this. History is filled with bad events. It is necessary to learn about these events so that they are not repeated. Knowledge is the key to changing prejudices and hopefully changing mind sets.

Today, in some Arabic countries there is great hatred for Jewish people. Some students never learn about the Holocaust (Mintner, 2018). Some students think this is an untrue event and that the Holocaust never happened (Mintner 2018). This is hard for American students to understand, but it is a fact. Not everyone learns about the Holocaust. It is very important that young people learn about history: the good, the bad, and the ugly. All parts of history should be taught, so people can learn from the mistakes of the past and not repeat these horrible events. Also, today because the world is getting smaller due to the Internet and social media, people of different cultures, races, and nationalities are able to meet and form relationships. It is much harder for people to hate a certain race when they have a friend, colleague, classmate, girlfriend, boyfriend, pastor, boss, or neighbor who is of that race. Social justice is an important concept which has been a part of history for hundreds of years, but as the case of Sgt. Isaac Woodard shows, it is necessary for people of power to not abuse that power simply because they have the opportunity to do so. People who are in positions of power, like the police, politicians, leaders, and the clergy should use their power for good. They should use their power to educate people about the uniqueness of all people. They should not try to inflict their misguided prejudices on others, and worse, hurt those who they are prejudiced against. Sgt. Woodard had served his country in World War II. He was a veteran of the United States Army. He did not deserve to be blinded and beaten by the police simply because he got in an argument with the bus driver. Similarly, there was the case of Emmett Till. It is horrible to think that adults could kill a 14-yearold boy simply because he was Black and he smiled and talked with a white woman in a store in Mississippi in 1955 (Goodwyn, 2018).

have been convicted of crimes they have not committed. This has been found to be the case in several well-known examples (Gross, Possley, & Stephens, 2017). Social Justice is a term which has become a buzz word in school settings, in politics, in the media, and in places of worship. However, the ideas behind it, the importance of its meaning for all people is vital. A nation cannot consider itself a civilized nation if it does not practice social justice. All people have the right to a life full of opportunity. All people deserve to be treated well regardless of their race, religious affiliation, gender orientation, or sex. Yes, history has shown some very negative examples in regard to social justice, but when people are aware of a problem, it brings awareness to the problem. There is a famous saying that the only way evil can triumph is when good people do nothing. Everyone needs to help society. When people are able to form connections with people of different cultures, races, religions, sexual orientations etc., they learn to have empathy for others who are different from themselves. Empathy is important and a vital element of social justice. History is written by the victors; it is the responsibility of this generation to work to make history better for the generations that will follow. References: Cose, E. (2020). The saga of the Scottsboro boys. ACLU: “Black Justice.” https://www.aclu.org/issues/racial-justice/saga-scottsboro-boys Goodwyn, W. (2018). A brutal lynching and a possible confession, decades later. NPR. Weekend Editon Saturday podcast. https://www. npr.org/2018/10/27/661048613/a-brutal-lynching-and-a-possibleconfession-decades-later Gross, S.R., Possley, M., & Stephens, K. (2017). Race and wrongful convictions in United States. National Registry of exonerations. Newkirk Center for Science and society. University of California: Irvine. Minter, T. J. (2018). Holocaust education in the Arab world. The Medialine: https://themedialine.org/news/holocaust-education-in-the-arab-world/

Thank goodness times have changed. The things that happened to Sgt. Woodard and Emmett Till could never happen today, but could they? It is important that people are aware of these events. They need to be knowledgeable of these horrible events from history. They are there to be learned from; history must not be repeated. It is vitally important that all people are respected and treated equally. Social justice is necessary in order for a society to function in the best possible way. Another example of injustice occurred in 1931 in Alabama. Black teenagers who ranged in age from 12 to 19 were convicted of raping two white women (Cose, 2020). Once again, simply because of the color of their skin, their words were not valued against the words of white women. The were found guilty without evidence. This is unacceptable. However, is this happening today? Are people being wrongly convicted of crimes without sufficient DNA evidence? Hopefully this is not the case, but statistically it has to be expected that some people

Major: Business Administration Hometown: Clearwater, Fl.

e Allison Aarons

Major: Art Hometown: Grandview, Mo.

e Nevaeh Elkhatib

chose to create a playlist of songs that are relevant to the racial injustice from both the past and the present in the United States. Music has always been a very important aspect of unity, storytelling, and healing in many cultures and events. It has the ability to emotionally grasp individuals from all corners of the globe. The passion and courage is easily audible and often more effective in song than just speaking. It also holds the ability to encourage empathy in others that are not involved in or particularly concerned about the issue. They are able to better understand the perspective of those impacted by racial injustice, and hopefully become persuaded to speak up, act to help those struggling, and work to prevent and change the individuals or structures that are enforcing it. Richard Gergel’s book, Unexampled Courage, encompasses many tragic events that different African Americans experienced in the deep-south. It also dives into the support, or lack thereof, from the government, public officials (including Harry S. Truman), and famous media personnel. The songs in my playlist accurately depict the strong emotions and feelings of those who experienced or witnessed the prejudice, blatant assault, and murder revealed in the various stories of the book - and of those that unfortunately still continue experiencing or witnessing it to this day. The First Year Seminar activities have truly opened my eyes to a deeper understanding of racial injustice and the small steps each individual can take to contribute to a brighter future. I now have the tools to stand up and do my part in preventing any type of abuse or discrimination that I encounter. It also furthered my comprehension of Avila University’s mission and cherished values to help the dear neighbor, make honorable contributions to the community, to develop the whole person, to respect the expression of diversity, and create right relationships with others. Playlist link: https://open.spotify.com/ playlist/36zpJn6SW1H6K9OnY6aYA5?si=4167d4a7cbc148a9

Major: Nursing Hometown: Belton, Mo.

e Adam Barbieri

y project is a reflection on the equality that should be shared between people of all races. A gesture as simple as a handshake, inspired by the handshake emoji, can be very powerful. Throughout this class, by reading the book and through all the workshops and experiences, I learned that there are many more complicated issues in life than I first knew of. I learned about implicit bias, which I never knew I had. That is another aspect which my project can represent. We must be able to put our biases aside to treat people equally. No matter what we think, consciously or subconsciously, everyone deserves to be treated equally and have equal opportunities in life. That is one of my main takeaways from the Truman Lecture. Harry Truman was from Missouri, which was formerly a slave state I believe, so he was likely was raised in a town with a strong bias against African Americans based on the history of the area. But despite this, he put whatever beliefs he may have had aside to push for laws and make other decisions that would be for the better of our country. Which brings me to another representation of my project. Harry Truman, being white, made significant strides with prominent figures in the civil rights movement, who were African American, and this can be seen through the handshake of unity between the two races. In conclusion, my handshake drawing can be seen through multiple lenses, all relating back to things I learned and took away from this class.

Major: Business Administration Hometown: Germantown, Tn.

e Alexandra Aguilar

or my project I decided to do an interview project. My project consisted of interviewing six fellow first year students. Three of them are students of color and three are white students. The purpose for this was to get the perspective of both what our fellow classmates of color and white classmates felt and what their thought process was during these past couple of months while we read the book Unexampled Courage and attended the Truman Lecture. Originally it was supposed to be an edited video with the people being interviewed, but students wanted to stay anonymous, therefore, I decided to make it into a PowerPoint. From reading the book and attending the lecture I was introduced to a new perspective of racism. Reading this book at a university where there are people from many different backgrounds as opposed to reading this book in high school where the demographics were very similar, opened my eyes to how others react to racism. I decided to do this interview to get the perspective of both students of color who have lived through discrimination because of their skin color or ethnicity, as well to see how white students have similar or contrasting experiences. As we know, White-Americans have an “upper hand” when dealing with law enforcement and others. As I read the book, attended the lecture, and workshop, I could not help but listen to others conversations. Students were saying that they have not read the book because it was boring, useless, or unimportant. Students in the workshop saying that there was no reason for us to answer the questions, because the book had no impact, or they simply did not care. Those people were all white students. It is so important in this day for ev-

eryone to understand that racism is a thing, and it thrives here in America. By presenting my culminating project, I hope it serves a purpose so the students in my class understand the importance of understanding racism and acknowledging it. I believe this can be an uncomfortable topic, but it is time to get uncomfortable. Black people in America have been uncomfortable their whole lives. I believe this project can help move one step forward in the right direction. This project helped me understand other students of color better, as well as understand what is missing from white-majority schools or students. In what way can we help teach them real history, real events? I believe coming from an urban high school, we almost all were Middle Eastern, Black, Asian, Hispanic, etc. So, we knew each other’s struggles and what people stereotypically think of us. I never knew what was being said or taught in white-majority schools, so I could never exactly say. After interviewing these white students, I understood that history of people of color does not really matter in their schools. It was only talked about a small amount because it would be on mandatory state tests. I think the most important part and thing us as students who acknowledge racism and discrimination can do, is continue to reach out to people, tell them what is wrong and right and make sure to be vocal when times come to stand our ground and stand up for others. To end on a positive note, there are many students who do have the passion and fire in them who continue to fight for equity and equality on the daily. I think with lectures and classes like First Year Seminar, slowly we can be more peaceful and mindful of one another.

Only selected slides shown due to space constraints

Major: Business Administration Hometown: Kansas City, Mo.

e Chloe Beiriger

or my project, I created an art piece to serve as a summation of my feelings on the reading material and how it has affected me. I found Sgt. Woodard’s story to be shocking. The way he, a veteran returning from overseas, was treated by the citizens of the country he fought for was disgusting. As awful as Woodard’s situation was, I am glad that it sparked action within the civil justice movement and I found it amazing how much progress was made. I found the book’s title to be fitting. It truly did awaken action within America and the book further entailed how Woodard’s blinding “woke” Truman. My experience in First Year Seminar has definitely made me more aware of the injustice still happening in America. I have found myself paying attention to the news more often and doing my best to stay informed of the injustices happening in my city. Before this class, I was mostly unaware of implicit biases I held. Now that I am more informed of implicit biases I am doing my best to rectify these thoughts and feelings. I will continue to identify these biases and correct them in my daily life. This class has made me so much more self-aware and I believe the teachings from it will affect my daily life for years to come. In my piece, I used colored pencils to draw a bluebird in a triangle surrounded by eyes. Bluebirds can be a symbol of hope, eyes can represent awareness, and triangles symbolize unity. I used these symbols to represent my hope to be more self-aware of my implicit biases and for a future of unity. In a more literal sense, the eyes also refer to the “awakening” of Truman while Woodard himself was blinded. The bottom half represents the darkness of the past and how it bleeds into the present. The picture as a whole represents my hope for a united future and my need to keep a watchful eye on myself in the present.

Major: English Hometown: Overland Park, Ks.

e DJ Wayne

or my Culminating Project, I wanted to represent a connection I made between the book Unexampled Courage and a real world injustice. The injustice I made a connection with is police brutality, which has taken a new face in recent years with the killings of George Floyd, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and countless others. In initial response to these killings, there were bunches of peaceful protests from city to city, both in remembrance of the victims, but also in frustration with a justice system that has neglected to treat all of its citizens fairly. However, after verdicts started coming to the forefront, acquitting police officers who acted solely as murderers, protests got so violent that they could only be considered riots and acts of vandalism. This created a counter-argument almost supporting police brutality, because in some American’s opinions “police are dealing with brutal people so they must be brutal back for their own safety”. This argument is not only naive, but completely ignores the real problems causing such violence. There is not sufficient information given in schools to overturn biases already handed down from one generation to another, especially in southern and rural areas where the citizens are “behind the times”. On top of that, police officers are given deadly weapons, but only trained on how to use them for six months and receive little to no training in racial psychology nor substantial implicit bias training. Police departments also often receive more funding than communities that actually need it to decrease crime, due to poverty problems. This racial bias reaches farther than just police though, as judges and juries are also often

very biased as they represent our general population. This has led to the extremely disproportionate imprisonment of African American and other minority races in the United States. Racial bias is not a hard point to prove unless you are actively trying to ignore it, as a simple Google search of ‘black vs white teenager’ has very different results. In my opinion, the only way to combat this type of thinking and bias is an overwhelming amount of education of our younger generations.

Major: Finance Hometown: Lee’s Summit, Mo.

e Kendal Wooley

Major: Business Administration Hometown: Plano, Tx.

e Vernice Alvarado

ot a lot of people know what is happening in their communities. Gentrification occurs when a poor urban area is being changed by wealthier people moving in, improving houses and bringing in their businesses. This social issue is very controversial. It can be for the good where the lower income neighborhoods can look nicer, can possibly lower the crime rate, and mix the racial community. Although, gentrification can be bad. It kicks out the lower income people from their so thought forever homes, raises property taxes for those who cannot afford it, and forces the lower income to have no home. Gentrification is something that happens all over the United States. It happens mostly in the bigger cities such as San Francisco, Oakland, Denver, Chicago, Los Angeles, and etc… This is affecting a lot of families in the lower income neighborhoods because after being kicked out it is causing them to have no home or to struggle. Even though gentrification is a form to help crime-ridden neighborhoods, sometimes it is better to leave them as they are. It is their home and makes them feel safe in their own way because family is their comfort. So why ruin one’s home just to create a higher income? Well, because gentrification can also bring out new opportunities for the lower income families also. If the wealthier families come in and bring new businesses, they can possibly leave out new job listings for the lower income. Though, as they will be receiving higher checks, the property taxes will be higher, economic equilibrium. Gentrification is going to be a non-stop issue. As time goes on, if the wealthier move into the lower income neighborhoods, and remodel the old houses into newer homes... Would it not make sense that those who are even wealthier would do the same to the ones who moved into the lower income neighborhood? Even if the community does their best to keep their neighborhood, there will be communities who change their own homes just to fit in or even because they felt as if change was needed. I live in this cycle, and have experienced it with my family members. Gentrification is just like a never ending cycle.

Major: Professional Health Sciences Hometown: Kansas City, Ks.

e Raissa Dodjim My Dream Martin Luther King had a dream.

Michael Brown, 18.

A dream that no one should be judged

Tamir Rice, 12.

By the color of their skin,

Cameron Tillman, 14.

But by the content of their character.

Trayvon Martin, 17.

Dr. King had a dream.

May their souls rest

Now I too have a dream

In peace.

Of my own.

All gone too soon

A dream that I shouldn’t

Because of wrong judgment.

Have to walk in fear.

Gone to soon

Fear for MY life and for MY people’s lives.

Because of police brutality.

They said this is a land of freedom...

I have a dream.

But for who?

A dream that my nephews

They said everyone has the freedom of speech...

Won’t have to fear those

Yet, we get silenced

A dream that they don’t see themselves as

When we question their ways.

Threats,

They said we have the freedom to express ourselves...

Only because that’s how they’re seen

Yet, we get judged for how we look, Dress, And act. I know... Slavery was 155 years ago But is it really “Over?” I have a dream.

They’re supposed to have trust in.

In society. I have a dream. I have a dream that the United States Stands for its meaning... Not broken, Not divided

eing an immigrant to the United States, I remember they told us that over here was a land of opportunities and that we were encouraged to think, dress, and act freely. This was not the case. My first encounter to racism was having to witness not only myself but my cousins being racially profiled each time we stepped into a store. My siblings and I had to also abandon our ways of dressing to fit in with the other American kids because each time they saw our fine fabrics and unique hairstyles, there was always a comment on it, which led to us being embarrassed. This project gave me the opportunity to take a minute and reflect on what this country really stands for and how the promise that we were once promised was just a lie. Because I am a 5’5’’ and slim Black girl there is not much I can do for my people but write. And that is exactly what I do to fight for my people because writing has always been my voice.. To discuss more on this poem, it has been one of my first pieces since being introduced to the art of poetry. I hope this poem not only speaks for the Blacks but for all peoples who are not from this country. I hope this poem makes some type of change—even little— in our thinking. This class and this book have helped me focus more on racial/social injustices because as I stated before, being so small and weak, I tend to turn a blind eye when I encounter these kinds of situations. After reading the book and all the class activities, I now know that no matter how small I may be, my voice can still be heard even if it is just me writing my poems. I will continue to write and will submit my work so my voice can and will be heard.

But UNITED. “I have a dream today!”

A dream that I’m NOT seen as worthless, A dream that I’m NOT silenced, A dream that I’m NOT ignored... Even when I’m the only one with my hands up real high.

Major: Major: Social International Work Business Hometown: Kansas City, Kansas Mo. City, Hometown: 21 Mo.

e Antonio Moore

drew chains, because when we are together as white, black, pink, and purple, it does not matter the race of the color of your skin. The sky is the limit. Everybody puts on their pants the same; so why should one race be better than the other? When chains are broken they cannot support or do as much as a chain that is together. We have to unite as a country. We cannot judge each other by the way we look. Just because someone has dreads or their skin is darker than yours, that gives you no right to violate someone’s human rights. People should be given the same chance as everybody else, no matter the race. Every time we come together as a country we have always done something great. People should not still be fighting for rights in 2021, but yet we still are. When are people going to understand that people will not stop until everyone is equal in the workplace, walking down the street, and with the police? For this to happen, we must unite as one and put all our differences aside and become a unity and one. We cannot judge each other by the cover of our books. We must open it up and learn a little about that person or culture. You might actually find something you love about that person or culture.

Major: Psychology - Mental Health Hometown: Tampa, Fl.

First year students chat with Truman Lecture speaker Richard Gergel during the interactive workshop immediately following the Truman Lecture. Kaliyah Meriwether, Coordinator for the Buchanan Initiative for Peace and Nonviolence, facilitated the workshop titled, Moving Forward.

Richard Gergel, United States District Judge and author of Unexampled Courage: The Blinding of Sgt. Woodard and the Awakening of America, shared details of the events and artifacts he discovered while writing the book.

Avila welcomed the 2021 Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecturer and author of Unexampled Courage: The Blinding of Sgt. Woodard and the Awakening of America, Richard Gergel. Pictured l to r: Moderator and Chair, Sue McCalley, Ph.D.; Richard Gergel; Ron Slepitza, Ph.D., President, Avila University; Ted Whapman, Ph.D., Vice President of Academic Affairs, Avila University.

Jabraan Pasha, MD, shared a message on Implicit Bias during First Year Seminar class. Dr. Pasha is a part of a diversity consulting firm called Lean In based in Tulsa, Oklahoma that specializes in implicit bias training.

First year Avila students listen intently to Dr. Pasha’s message on implicit bias.

Leslie Smith, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Chair of the Women’s and Gender Studies Department shares insights during First Year Seminar on the academic advising and registration process. Part of First Year Seminar is introducing students to skills and experiences that will help them be successful Avila students.

There were a variety of large group sessions during First Year Seminar including an opportunity to hear from President Ron Slepitza, Ph.D. and J. Anthony Snorgrass, Ph.D., Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion on issues related to student success.

As part of the First Year Experience, students participated in a variety of service projects the day before classes began. Students volunteered at various locations around Kansas City including Harvester’s, Jerusalem Farm and at the community garden located on Avila’s campus. Pictured are first year students Gavin Shipley, Jocelyn Barron and Ethan Moses harvesting raspberries.

Students volunteering at Harvester’s as part of the First Year Experience.

Blake Becker harvesting chard from the Community Garden at Avila University.

First-year students and First Year Seminar instructors gather at Jerusalem Farm to learn more about the organization and what they will be doing to help for the day.

Paige Illum, Ph.D., Director of Student Engagement and Success and Kaliyah Meriwether, Coordinator for the Buchanan Initiative for Peace and Nonviolence, join first-year students for an on-campus dinner to connect Avila students with the Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecturer and author of the 2021 Common Reading, Richard Gergel.

First-year students enjoyed an engaging dinner with the Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecturer and author of the 2021 Common Reading, Richard Gergel. Pictured l to r: Michael Coffey-Crowder, Aprille Castaneda, Ellie Peoples, Richard Gergel, Brisa Campos, Angela Palma-Perez.

Student Reflections & Projects

e Zoey Mzeru

chose to talk about modern day racism, since it is an occurring issue going on in today’s society. Everyday a person of color goes through some type of hate crime, racism or some type of stereotype, all because they are of a different skin tone. People did not think racism would last this long, but it is a never ending cycle. Every generation is being born into this world with their parents’ or grandparents’ implicit bias of people, therefore, it carries on throughout the generation. I chose three main movements to talk about that have made the world news and are very big and are still going on till today: The Black Lives Movement, Asian Hate Movement, and the Latino/Chicano Social Movement. These three all have a past, but just recently they have gained a lot of internet exposure and awareness. The world is finally seeing how close minded our society is and how corrupt our government is. The police’s job is to protect and serve our country/ community and instead they are the ones that we need protection from. Our government is supposed to make sure we are safe, yet they hire people who are not qualified to do the job, or they just sit there as our country falls into pieces. It seems like we cannot escape racism, no matter how hard we try to fit in and make a better image of ourselves. People, to be more specific white people, still seem to focus on what they were told and their own bias, and push all their anger and hate to us. They yell racial slurs and kill us Black people because they are not happy with how history changed. They think we do not deserve to be here. They yell to “build the wall” and to kick Hispanics out of the country, because they do not like how they are hard workers and will do anything to protect and provide for their family. They kill and also yell racial slurs at Asians, because they believe that they are too smart and are after their money, or that what they eat is gross and that they belong in Asia and nowhere else. Our generation tries to change

people’s perspective and try to make a change, but there is always that 40% of our generation that are so blinded with what their parents and grandparents taught them, that they do not think for themselves, or open their minds to see what we people of color are. To see how we are just like them, trying to make a living, trying to be protected and provide for our family. In conclusion, on my poster board I will have images of a couple of people and things that really got to people’s last nerve or triggered the start of these movements and brought awareness to the world.

Major: Criminology and Justice Studies Hometown: Jefferson City, Mo.

e Jasmine Calderon

mplicit bias is stereotyping without our conscious knowledge, we do not realize what we are doing, it just tends to happen. As I read the book Unexampled Courage I came to see what had happened to Sgt. Isaac Woodard was because both the bus driver and the officer were blinded by their own implicit biases. Both my family and I have been affected by racial issues. My parents come from El Salvador, which is a small country in Central America. I have had many interactions with people who believe that because I am Hispanic that I am Mexican. That is the first question I get asked “Are you Mexican?” or “Are you from Mexico?” I know when I am asked this, they do not mean to offend me but they are talking from implicit bias. Yes, Mexico is a popular well known Hispanic Country, but that does not mean every Hispanic is from Mexico, because there are more countries than just Mexico. My dad is racially discriminated against at his job. He notices his bosses tend to not help him as much when he needs it and they put off doing anything he needs. He also once had a coworker argue with him that just because he spoke Spanish it meant he was Mexican. My father argued back that just because one speaks Spanish does not mean they are from Mexico. All the guy had to say was “Well same shit” and went on about his day. I, myself, used to have the same mindset about Asian people; I say Asian because Asia is a continent and China is a country in Asia. Every time I saw a person on the streets who looked Asian, I would automatically think “Oh they are Chinese” but no, there are more countries other than China. This is why I do not assume where a person is from. I had my own implicit bias and I still do to this day. When I was listening to Dr. Jabraan Pasha, I realized that I do not do it intentionally, so when I catch myself being guided by my own implicit bias, I stop and keep an open mind. Reading the book Unexampled Courage has really opened up my eyes on how to view others and I learned a lot about how racial issues have always been and are everywhere, but that we also can make a change by changing the way we think.

Major: Nursing Hometown: Independence, Mo.

e Markayla Lottie

or my culminating project I decided to discuss the ongoing racism issue, but instead of a typical presentation of what racism is, I decided to look at the Why of racism. As a society we are often talking about all of the racial injustice and racial issues we have, but we never look into why these problems are still prominent. That is why I decided to show how racism is still produced in our communities. As someone who has personally seen the ways that racism and prejudice thoughts are instilled in children, I thought it would be important to bring some awareness to it. As a whole, people tend to be very stubborn, so it makes sense for people to want to force their beliefs onto the youth and other people, just so that it is one less person to argue with. Although many people are not consciously or actively trying to tell people or more specifically children that a certain type of person is bad or that they do not like them, we still have to be aware that they are not stupid and they are smart enough to comprehend what is said around them. That particular reason is my primary reason for talking about the racism cycle, because we need to be aware that issues like this are not born overnight, they are built overtime. The only way to prevent it is by actually thinking about what you say and trying not to force someone who knows no better to think and act a certain way, because it is no benefit to anyone. I thought that doing an infographic was the best way to present this topic, because it uses short descriptions and images that will help the viewer understand and comprehend the topic without overloading them with facts and information. Even if they are unable to make a difference today with this information, it will hopefully influence them to be cautious with how they speak with the youth or make posts on social media.

Major: Kinesiology Hometown: Kansas City, Mo.

e Abigail Propst The Game Let’s play a game Everyone hold up five fingers.

It’s not if your skin is the shade of paper If your hair is as straight as a pin Only white people can play the justice system And only white people can win

Okay, I am going to say something that I cannot relate to. And you have to put down a finger if it does relate to you. Just play along real quick 1. Never has it been acceptable for a man or woman to say to me after any sexual encounter “you are the first (insert race here) I have ever been with.” 2. Never have I lived in a country where my race statistically makes less than my white male and female counterparts. 3. Never have I pledged my allegiance to a country that proves time and time again it does not serve liberty and justice for all, but liberty and justice for some, and that some did not include me. 4. Never have I watched a man of my race be brutally murdered on television because he was running in his own neighborhood. 5. And finally, Never has my race had to peacefully protest for my government to stop the ruthless, public lynching of my race. How is it acceptable that I have five fingers up And any of you have a finger down? How is it acceptable to live in a world where Justice does not mean justice It means going with the crowd? How is it acceptable to watch the murder Of young black men and women on live television And have the audacity to say “they shouldn’t have resisted” I didn’t see George Floyd resist Breonna Taylor had no time to resist Lieutenant Caron Nazario did not resist

Real life is no game Yet all of us are playing Its just that some of us are guessing letters And with each mistake there are people we are hanging.

oetry has always been one of my favorite ways to pass time. I love reading poetry, listening to poetry, and writing it. Poetry has a way of capturing emotions that essays cannot begin to describe, specifically spoken word poems. Writers can manipulate words in a way that scholarly papers do not allow, which is why I decided to create a poem for my Culminating Project seemed fitting. My poem is called “The Game” and I write about how my life is completely different from other races. I touch on topics like how white privilege is shown in our society, police brutality, and stereotypical/racist comments. The point of my poem is to show how I live in a world where I am not afraid of the police; I do not get racist remarks hurled at me, and that I have the “upper hand” in life because of my white privilege. I am showing that none of these actions are acceptable and that if any of these actions were done to a white person, they would not be so easy to get away with. We so easily sweep racism under the rug and have become disturbingly accustomed to seeing yet another victim of it online. Therefore, I chose my social justice topic to be about racism and white privilege. I want to promote more awareness to this topic, because it is necessary for the future of America. I feel that there are not enough allies to the Black community that speak up about the way they feel, and that there needs to be a break in that barrier. More white people need to step forward and advocate for the Black community. Once white people are not scared to make their conservative or racist families upset by speaking out, a lot more can change in the world. As I stated before, white people have a privilege that they take for granted every day. We can at least use that privilege for something good in the communities we live in and for families that need it.

yet he was pepper sprayed for asking why he was Being pulled over. Since when is carrying a package of skittles against the law? Since when is sleeping in your own home against the law? Since when is existing against the law?

Major: Undeclared Hometown: Holts Summit, Mo.

e Jesenia Huitron

y family and friends have been affected for years by social injustice. We were born into a system that oppresses us just because we look different from white people and we speak Spanish. My friends have been unable to prosper because they were hindered, because in this country they were born in, everyone has looked down upon them and rendered them less than human for not knowing English. This narrow-minded way of thinking costs more lives than people think. People are not able to get an education due to this and all anyone around me can ever seem to say is “it’s their fault for not knowing English.” Regardless of that, why is that what they jump to? Why can’t we have some empathy? What are the reasons for not knowing English? Lack of education? Lack of support? I certainly see a lack of support with these statements that only assume it is the fault of the person that does not know English that they are not able to get ahead like everyone else. I have had a personal awakening. Before I knew what social justice was, I always thought it was a group of people on the internet who cared too much about the strangest things. That was when I was 11. Then, I started to pay attention in class, listen to what speakers have to say, and try to have more empathy. When I turned 13, I started to identify as a feminist. If it was not for Emma Watson’s speech on the HeForShe campaign, I would not be who I am today. I sincerely wish that everyone could watch that video and understand that feminism is not about hating men, or about making women have more power than men in society. It is about being able to stand together and be seen as equals. So yes, I have had a personal awakening, and I cannot wait to have more. The thing about being human is that you are always in a state of change, and you are always given opportunities to become a better person. If I am able to continue to improve my value of life then I will want to take that opportunity.

I believe that I have changed from before I started this class and afterwards. Before this class started I truly felt like I could not do anything to change the world. Now I am realizing I can definitely do so, such as writing letters to politicians, voting, and protesting. I realize now that the problem was not just that I did not know what to do, it is that I never thought about what I could do. These are all very “common sense” things that one can do as long as they know what it is they want to change. A certain social justice movement important to me is the protection of the LGBT+ community and specifically transgender people. This is something I rarely ever see anybody talk about, and I think it is because of a lack of education. A lack of education can almost always lead to bigotry; this is unfortunately the case with Trans folk. So many people are discriminating against them because they do not understand. I want to make people understand. We are human, we should be helping each other, not voting against each other’s rights. Social justice issues are always going to be issues, at least in this day and age they will be. Our goal at this moment should be to educate people on things that affect us now, like feminism, showing people what feminism means, or teaching people what it means to be trans. I would like to ask people to at least watch a documentary on these issues to start. Hopefully we can get rid of stigmas and help people understand that we are human, and we are different, and that is okay.

I think the title Unexampled Courage definitely is on target in some ways, and in some ways not. When Harry S. Truman found out about Sgt. Woodard’s blinding, it was inspiring how quickly he fought for change. It seemed like America truly woke up, but unfortunately only for a second. Today, it is more like America woke up for a minute, drank some water, then fell right back to sleep. With the injustices going on today in our country, for example police brutality and disproportionate incarceration of black and brown men, I have to say I do not feel it is completely true. I learned that it takes a lot for change to happen, which is why I think we should be louder.

Major: Psychology - Mental Health Hometown: Kansas City, Mo.

e Ishe Smith

fter a lot of thought, I thought the issues of racial and social justice as well as equality resonated within me during this first semester the most. I thought to myself over and over asking what piece of art could I make that would portray my resolve and standpoint within these topics. That is when I came up with the idea to completely refigure and transform the Black Lives Matter (BLM) symbol into something new. I chose this symbol to portray the recent events that occurred in America and the racial inequality that was faced within police brutality. Racial justice, social justice, and equality among many other things are what sparked and fueled this movement. We as African Americans just want to be treated the same as others without facing different environments of discrimination or malicious intent. I used my project to help me explore the complex concepts that we learned this semester. Each finger on the fist represents a different lesson and has a theme based upon racial equality or pivotal occurrences that helped in the journey to end racial segregation. The thumb shows shades of skin color and the palm shows each color of the rainbow. The message I am trying to convey here is that it does not matter what your skin tone, gender, ethnicity, status, orientation, sexual preference etc. is at all. We should all treat and respect each other equally and all the same. Peace and equality is the way I envision the world I would want to live in. Having a world where you can do or pursue what you want without being turned down or looked down upon solely because of how you look or where you come from. I believe that my role in these concepts is to be there for everyone, to not have implicit bias or be a bystander in situations when someone is in need. To be the bigger person regardless of what people say or do is who I want to be and I think this piece of artwork portrays that.

Major: Cybersecurity Hometown: Las Vegas, Nv.

e Eleanor Peoples

he story of Sgt. Isaac Woodard was very impactful to me. While I was reading this book my grandfather who was a Vietnam war veteran passed away. One of the parts of his burial was a military burial that was super powerful. The amount of respect and dedication from these people who did not know my grandfather was moving. Then I came back and read this book and saw how Woodard was being treated compared to my grandfather. This was really impactful because it gave me the slightest bit of reality check. I already knew how not okay it was to treat him that way, but then to see how my grandfather got treated was heart wrenching. I wanted to make my project show the rawness of the story. I have minimal set pieces to give the actors and story tellers to really tell their stories. I want there to be many open play areas so there is nothing to distract me. In the blinding scene, I will have the bus that Woodard gets taken off of before he is blinded. The bus will be a brighter color, maybe a warm orange to represent the brightness that he did not know he was losing when he got off that bus. The trash can and the bus stop will both be dark muted colors to represent them, so that they will witness. I would also add some extras to this scene at the bus stop and on the bus to have them witness the event and say nothing. They will also be in dark clothing. For the court scene, I wanted there to be people as well. I put the ‘jury seats’ in the middle of the courtroom so that the audience gets a chance to see other people react to the tragedy unfolding in front of them. The jury will start out in bright colors but as the days of the trial progress, the colors of their clothes will darken. The desks face the audience. I want all the actors on stage to face the audience, because it will make the audience uncomfortable in a good way. The desks and podium will all be made of wood with little to no detail.

Major: Theater - Design and Technology Hometown: Kansas City, Mo.

e Madison Calvello

chose to do a PowerPoint for my project. I felt that this would help me convey what I was trying to say much better than me trying to write an essay with everything I wanted to say. The first question I chose to answer was “How did the story of Sgt. Isaac Woodard impact you?” The story of Sgt. Isaac Woodard impacted me in many ways. First, it showed me more about the violence that was brought upon African American people. I think it also helped me connect more with what still goes on today. His story also helped me understand more about what bystanders could do in violent situations. I think his story also drives me to be a voice for those who are experiencing injustice whether that is African Americans, Asian Americans, or anyone that is a minority. The emotional trauma that is brought upon people is also something that I was able to understand more. There are many other things that impacted me about his story, but these were the most important parts. The second question I chose to answer was “From reading Unexampled Courage, what did you learn about the history of civil rights in the United States and the details around the landmark case, Brown v. Board of Education?” I learned a lot about the history of Civil Rights. I already had some knowledge from middle school and high school, but I felt that Unexampled Courage taught me a lot more because it was all centered around a story that I had never heard before. I learned about how severe racism was at that time. The Brown v. Board of education case was something that I knew a little bit about, but not how important it truly was for African Americans at the time. This case helped push equality and begin the discussion for justice. The third question I chose to answer was “What did you learn about the spectrum of disrespect while participating in Bystander Training? What ways can you safely have an impact in a situation where harm is occurring to another person? Remember you can direct, distract, delay, and delegate.” The spectrum of disrespect is something that was taught in Bystander Training. One of the major things about the spectrum of disrespect is that there are small things that people can do such as favoritism or excluding people from events, but as you go up the spectrum of disrespect, things turn to violence or verbal abuse and attacks. When a bystander, there are things that you can do, such as direct, distract, delay, and/or delegate. When harm is occurring to someone and you are a bystander, you can choose to take a route of action to help them, but it is also important to keep yourself safe as you are helping. The fourth question I answered was “How might the experience in First Year Seminar impact your future actions related to issues of racial justice?” The experience in First Year Seminar will impact my future because it has taught me ways to be a voice. This class has also taught me a lot of valuable lessons. I think I have really begun to understand how important it is to try and relate and understand those around you, not singling people out, being inclusive, speaking out for those who need help, listening to those who might just need an ear or need help, and standing up for things that I believe are not right. Overall, there are many different things that I learned during this course and all the lessons are very useful.

The fifth question I answered was “What social justice issue is important to you and how can you develop greater awareness and educate yourself on this social justice issue?” LGBTQ+ rights are something that is very important to me. I can develop greater awareness and educate myself on this issue by finding people who are open to talking about it and their own experiences. Many people on social media share their stories and are open about who they are and what they have experienced. I also can be a voice whenever I see someone who is being singled out to help them. Another important thing that I need to continue to educate myself on daily is legislation that is trying to be created or voted on to stop things that will reverse the progress that has been made or help push things that are progressing equality. The sixth question I chose to answer was “How does this experience and topic connect to the mission and value of Avila University?” This experience and topic relate to the mission and values of Avila in many ways. One major thing is equality. This topic addresses racism and I believe that Avila values equality. I also thing that diversity is something that is very important to Avila and its student life. I believe having a diverse student body is valuable and helps progress equality because African Americans have not always been able to receive and achieve an education. This relates to the value of opportunity as well. Giving all people and students an opportunity to achieve a degree is important to Avila. Finally, positivity is something that I believe is important to Avila because life can get discouraging with encounters with other people, or just daily things that do not go right. For my last slide, I talked about some reflections I had. Overall, this book has made me reflect a lot about what I believe in and how I go about my beliefs. I think the book has caused me to be more mindful of what is going on around me. I also think that it has made me look more at my emotions towards things because it is such a hard topic that needs to constantly be worked on. I also think I have become more empathetic after reading this book because it has taught me that no matter what experience someone has, it can affect them in different ways. The importance of being a listening ear is something that I have learned. I think doing a PowerPoint really helped me show how I was affected by this book and how much I have reflected on what I believe in and how I want to go about my beliefs.

Major: Business Administration Hometown: Shawnee, Ks.

e Avonlea Bergthold

Major: Biology Hometown: Marshfield, Mo.

e Banner Tacke

y project is an abstract painting of Woodard in front of newspaper clippings and clippings from the novel. I wanted to do a unique project as a tribute to Woodard. He is one of the many people who have endured tragedy at the hands of white people. Racism still goes on today, even after what he went through. I think it is important to not only know what happened to him and who he was, but why it happened and the major changes in society, the government, and Jim Crow Laws. Woodard is one of many who has suffered at the hands of racial injustice; yet, in August was the first time I ever heard his name. I think it is important to teach and spread awareness about Woodard’s case, so we do not fall back into our past, which in the summer of 2020 we did. The clippings I took from the book are what I have concluded as the most important pages; pictures, newspaper articles, some of the chapter names, and writing of Truman’s actions.

how people still normalize racism. It is just as bad for Hispanics or Asians, because it too is normalized. The word “beaner” will never amount to the “N” word. I do not know why specifically, but I believe it is just as discriminating as any shrewd term. To conclude, we need to help end racism. Do not tolerate it. Step in and make racists feel uncomfortable. It is not okay, and if we turn our heads and cover our ears, we will live in a prejudiced society. I have learned that we have a voice, and it can do wonders.

I chose to do this piece of artwork to show Woodard’s past does not define him, he is more than the beaten Black man. He was a veteran who helped fight for freedom, a son, a husband, and more. I think it is important to understand that. He helped the fight for Black people to vote and for their equality. Racial injustice has never affected me because I have privilege. But it has affected my loved ones, and it saddens me. My stepfather is black and once in a while he will have an encounter with a racist individual. It is mind boggling

Major: Nursing Hometown: Kansas City, Mo.

e Gavin Shipley A New Way of Life Products of our environment, leaving a foul taste

First was a dream, turned to a nightmare

Given no change, we discriminate with no haste

Unaware of all the perceptions we might share

Violence uproars with no one left to blame

Emotions so cold, it feels like the night air

Liberty without freedom, beginning to ignite a flame

Bowing our heads with hearts of gold inside prayer

In a country so safe, with fear of going outside

Unknowingly, we share the want to start over

Judging each face, the nature of implicit bias

Most of us wanting a clean slate

Regardless of race, everyone finishes last

An understanding as rare as a four-leafed clover

Looking for change, the desire to leave it in the past

All of us carrying the burdens on our plate

We can’t change what we’ve already done

A new path discovered if we start today

We can’t turn the page if we keep loading up the gun

No stone unturned, we pave the way

We can’t unlock the chains, the shackles, the ropes

With all of the memories of prejudice attached

If we stop trying now, then we lose all hope

From the constriction of hate, we will unlatch

The past is the past, can’t bury the history

An example set for families to come

The passion in all of our hearts, passed through generations

To the evils of racism, we will not succumb

A future for us all, remaining a mystery

For we are products of our environment, we are all the same

Potential to untie, we need demonstration

We can reach that destination if we start today

Bravest of souls shall love one another

By disarming ourselves the weapon of oppression

You need not the blood to call someone a brother

Our eyes are now opened with a brand new vision

Locked hands, open hearts, we can fight it together

A world where we all move in the same direction

Standing shoulder to shoulder, it doesn’t matter the weather

Together, we give humanity a new definition

The system we see is not a direct reflection

All of us are given a choice

We are all human, always lacking perfection

Are we to build? Or to destroy?

Day by day, we keep taking the steps

We can change this way of life

Whether forwards or backwards, some are trying their best

For it is bigger than black and white.

Riots and protests are not the solution Yet they’re the only way to address the pollution Guilty until innocent, it should be reversed It is a shame that we haven’t uplifted this curse

Major: Marketing Hometown: Kansas City, Mo.

e Kinsey Claussen

Major: Social Work Hometown: Springfield, Mo.

Personal Reflections e Sue Ellen McCalley, Ph.D. Chair, Truman Lecture Series Professor of Education and Psychology

The Truman Lecture provides our students with an opportunity to meet inspiring individuals who have had a significant impact on the lives of people around the world. This wonderful program allows them to experience the Avila mission personally. It encourages them to explore their own potential to help the dear neighbor.

e Ron Slepitza, Ph.D., CSJA Avila University President

The power of the Truman Lecture Series and Avila’s Common Reading Program is to inform and educate our students of global issues that need to be addressed. The revelation is they can begin to change the world, right now.

e Paige Illum, Ph.D., CSJA

Director of Student Engagement and Success Adjunct Faculty Our goal is to provide the students with a meaningful academic experience while living our University mission and the mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph to help our dear neighbors. Avila’s mission shares that we will “prepare students for responsible lifelong contributions to the global community.” This experience is the initial step in accomplishing this commitment to our students and honoring our relationship with the Sisters of St. Joseph.

From l to r: Sue Ellen McCalley, Ph.D. Ron Slepitza, Ph.D., CSJA and Paige Illum, Ph.D., CSJA

Appendix A: Avila First Year Students Allison Aarons Taylor Abbey Hinda Abuker Naji Aburas Damien Agee Alexandra Aguilar Muhammedali Alhassani Vernice Alvarado Roshaun Austin Brandon Bacon Alexandria Baer Ashlyn Bakersfield Ixtla Banda-Guzman Apolonia Barahona-Negrete Adam Barbieri Jocelyn Barron Juana Batres-Barragan Taylor Bazemoree Blake Becker Chloe Beiriger Francisco Beltran Avonlea Bergthold Jadarius Berry Dominic Bowers Aaleeyah Brechbuehler Ronald Brown Andrew Burnett Xavier Bustamante Joseph Button Jasmine Calderon Madison Calvello Jaylon Campbell Brisa Campos Priscilla Cao Aprille Castaneda Maritza Cerda Ciera Chambers Kareem Chambers Nyejal Chancy Melissa Chavez Dale Clark Kinsey Claussen Aaron Cochran Devyn Coleman Ollie Coleman Nathan Coley Ema Colvon Bridgit Conway Jonathan Cosby Cannon Cox Mckenzie Cragg Michael Crowder Yaneisy Cruz Trevor Daniels Addison Davis

Trent Day Matthew De Leon Abigail Dearing Efrain Deleon-Calderon Haley Dixon Raissa Dodjim Sabrina Dunbar Jackson Dusek Kenan Ebel Ta’nia Edmond Grace Effertz Nevaeh Elkhatib Vincent Escott Foma Valentino-Jones Ashley Galos Alicia Galvan-Funk Hectormiguel Gamboa Guadalupe Garcia Cooper Garlick Emily Garrido-Calva Logan Gaynor Bryce Gelle Garine Gibson Miriam Gleeson Ana Gomez Olivyah Graham Jennifer Guzman Caleb Hamilton Lukas Hamilton Synaiyah Haney-Williams Kelsey Harms Gavin Hembree Alex Hergenreter Amy Hernandez-Luna Axel Herrera Julio Herrera Arianna Herrera-Garcia Alexander Hogan Audrey Holdmeier Camryn Holmes Brigid Hughes Jesenia Huitron Anna Isaacs Ja’Keya Jackson Travon Jacobs Yanet Jimenez Darius Johnson Kelsey Johnson Olivia Johnson Malena Juarez Aaliyah Kelly Josh Kelly Amanda Keophaphone Gabrielle Koch Darrel Lee

Jose Lopez-Guerrero Markayla Lottie Hailey Lucas Oliver Mace Alicia Madrigal Brad Mahoney Joseph Mars Jonpaul Marshall Josselin Martinez Dawson Masters Madison Mayfield Leanna Merrell Deangelo Mickell Holton Miller Jessica Miller Dylan Miranda Susana Mondragon Gaven Mooney Antonio Moore Juan Moreno Kaileigh Morrison Ethan Moses Zoey Mzeru Emily Nachbar Randy Nguyen Eva Noller Taylor Northern Jamaureay Osler Angela Palma-Perez Wesmany Paniagua Kyantae Parker Katelyn Parsons Caiden Patton Lesly Pena Eleanor Peoples Adrian Perez Jaecee Phillips Megan Potter Alison Prettyman Abigail Propst Damir Rascoe Samantha Reiner Colin Rivas Blanca Robles-Munoz Gael Rodriguez Maria Rodriguez Alondra Rodriguez-Morales Tucker Rushing James Russell Kathryn Sade Alexander Sahr Guadalupe Santillanes David Saunders Chelsea Schatzer Ashlynn Schulz

Evan Serrage Hannah Sheets Nicole Sheets Gavin Shipley Yesenia Siguenza Luke Silvers Judith Silvestre Khristopher Simmons Brandon Simpson Nawab Singh Tia Skillman Ishe Smith Quintin Smith Wesley Smith Jacob Smitka Ta’ja Snipes Telicia Soto Kylee Spurgeon Allan Stanley LaMiya Starr Banner Tacke Ny’Riell Taylor Sydney Taylor Aidan Tesdall Jalen Thach Raziyah Thomas Ashton Thompson Jalen Tillery Garrett Tipton Matthew Toman Thomas Toman Alexus Tonyan Brennleigh Towles Brooke Truelove Jade Valdez Araceli Valencia Safi Veronique Olivia Vitale Steeven Voltaire Josiah Wakefield Roniece Walker Caleb Wangler Katelyn Ward Luke Ward DJ Wayne Lane White Caitlyn Willis Xavier Willis Morgan Wiseman Kendal Wooley Tabari Wright Isaac Yzaguirre

Appendix B: Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecture Series Program

Appendix C: Anticipation Guide Perspectives Students were asked to express their opinions regarding statements related to topics discussed in First Year Seminar both at the beginning of the semester and again at the end of the semester. The idea is to gauge how their opinions or knowledge changed over the course of the semester. The most significant changes occurred with these statements: •

I understand the details of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

•

I am familiar with President Harry S. Truman’s Executive Order 9981 issued in July 1949.

•

I understand the “charism” of the Sisters of St. Joseph and how it relates to social justice.

•

I am familiar with the story of Sgt. Isaac Woodard that occurred in 1946.

The one thing that didn’t change, 100 percent of our first-year students affirmed at the beginning of the semester that they believe racism exists in our world, this remained the same at the end of the semester. Additionally, at the beginning of the semester, 94 percent of responders shared that they feel a sense of responsibility to confront injustice and racism; at the end of the semester this was 98 percent. Students were also asked to select one of the statements and write about their thoughts, feelings, and opinions associated with the statement. Here are some of the responses: “Through reading Unexampled Courage and the various activities throughout FS 101, I understand Harry S. Truman’s Executive Order 9981 desegregated the U.S. armed forces and was a catalyst for further litigation promoting civil rights in America. I have also learned the importance of doing my individual part in confronting the injustice and racism around me - though it may feel like my action may not make much of a difference, if we all take on the responsibility and deny the acceptance of prejudice, it could help in the grand scope of eliminating racism and other abuse. I have also learned to understand and control my own personal bias and discrimination toward others. Though we all have them, it is crucial to consciously work to disprove and call out our unconscious bias thoughts/actions that we may have in order to ensure we are not contributing to racism or discrimination.” “I feel that awareness of my implicit bias changed the most for me. Knowing how I’ll react or interpret a situation based on my moral compass is important to me.” “The areas that changed me the most are learning how to stand up for yourself and address conflicts that involve racism. Doing the Bystander Training helped me identify other people’s harmful actions as well as my own. I know how to use my voice through social media, sending letters to representatives, and finding a group that shares my beliefs.” “One thing that has tremendously changed for me is identifying the difference between racism and prejudice. I also know how to actually stand up to what I know is wrong because I used to think that standing up involves me speaking when there are other ways I can confront. I also learned how to control the comments and thoughts I make towards other individuals or groups because although I may think I’m just joking, they may take it as me being racist and be hurt over the comments I have made. Most importantly I learned that to make a change, it should start with me first.” “Since the beginning of the semester, I have been shown that although something doesn’t affect me, it is my responsibility to stand up against injustice. I have been fortunate enough to have not had to deal with very many injustices in my life, but I have friends/my boyfriend who are minorities that deserve my help in setting non-bias policies in place that will better affect them, and our community.”

Common Reading Program

vila University provides a common reading for all first year students as part of the First Year Experience. Student success research is clear about how this type of program can assist in emphasizing academic importance prior to the start of classes and assist in building community within a first year cohort. All Avila first year students receive information about The Common Reading Program during the summer prior to the start of classes. The topic of the Common Reading Program is always global in nature which connects with Avila’s mission of providing students with opportunities to prepare for contributions to the global community. 2021: Unexampled Courage: The Blinding of Sgt. Woodard and the Awakening of America by Richard Gergel Unexampled Courage, is the story of Sergeant Isaac Woodard. In 1946, Woodard was attacked and permanently blinded by local police for challenging a bus driver’s disrespectful treatment. The attack sparked then-president Harry Truman to establish the first presidential commission on civil rights, paving the way for Truman to order an end to segregation in the U.S. armed forces.

2020: Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project by Jack Meyer Life in a Jar by Jack Meyer, is a dramatization of the life of Irena Sendler, a Polish Catholic social worker who organized a rescue network of fellow social workers to save 2,500 Jewish children during the Second World War. Her story disappeared until it was rediscovered by three Kansas high school girls and refashioned into a drama, now performed across the globe. 2019: A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, A Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age by Matt Richtel In 2006, as a 19 year-old Utah college student, Reggie Shaw was driving on a highway he’d taken hundreds of times before. While texting, Reggie drifted across the center line and fatally struck two rocket scientists, James Furfaro and Keith O’Dell. A Deadly Wandering follows Shaw, the families of Furfaro and O’Dell as well as many of those who were involved in the police investigation and trial. Author, Matt Richtel not only shares the details of these tragic events but also delves into brain research outlining our inability to multi-task, regaining situational awareness and why we can’t seem to resist our phones. 2018: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer A remarkable story about human inventiveness and its power to overcome crippling adversity. 2017: The Distance Between Us by Reyna Grande This memoir outlines the hardships and the heartaches of Grande’s immigration story from child to adult. Grande was two years old when her father left Mexico and crossed the border into the United States, hoping to earn enough money to build a home in Mexico when he returned. Eight years later he returned to take his family across the border. Once in the United States Grande sorts through many challenges as she navigates into adulthood.

2016: While the World Watched by Carolyn Maul McKinstry Carolyn was present on September 15, 1963 at the Sixteenth Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, when white racists bombed the church. Carolyn’s four young friends were killed. She was among thousands of students hosed by firemen during the 1963 marches. She survived a second bomb explosion that destroyed a portion of her home in 1964. She wrote this memoir in 2011. 2015: The Big Truck That Went By: How the World Came to Save Haiti and Left Behind a Disaster by Jonathan M. Katz On January 12, 2010, the deadliest earthquake in the history of the Western Hemisphere hit the nation least prepared to handle it. Jonathan M. Katz chronicles the terror of that day, the devastation visited on ordinary Haitians, and how the world reacted to a nation in need. 2014: They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky: The True Story of Three Lost Boys from Sudan by Benson Deng, Alephonsion Deng, Benjamin Ajak with Judy A. Bernstein The memoir of three boys who walked with tens of thousands of other boys across the Sudan as a result of civil war within the country. These boys, many of whom came to the United States as refugees, became known as the Lost Boys. 2013: The International Bank of Bob by Bob Harris An inspiring memoir of an ordinary American who turned his brief brush with opulence into a joyful adventure of investing in the world’s working poor. 2012: Unbroken by Laura Hilenbrand A World War II story of survival, resilience and redemption of Louis Zamperini. 2011: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer A remarkable story about human inventiveness and its power to overcome crippling adversity. 2010: Series of Articles Related to Hunger and Poverty Reid, Barbara. (2009, July 20-27). Always Enough: Heavenly Bread. America, p.45. New York: American Press, Inc. “Finding the Flexibility to Survive,” Copyright © 2008 by Brighton Earley. Part of the This I Believe Essay Collection found at www.thisibelieve.org, Copyright © 2006-2009, This I Believe, Inc. Reprinted with permission of This I Believe, Inc. United Nations. (2009). The millennium development goals report. New York, NY. “The Time to Help Is Now,” Copyright © 2008 by Maria Zapetis. Part of the This I Believe Essay Collection found at www.thisibelieve.org, Copyright © 2006-2009, This I Believe, Inc. Reprinted with permission of This I Believe, Inc.

Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecture Series Avila University received exclusive rights from former President Harry S. Truman to establish a lecture series in his name in 1970. The permission was granted to Sr. Olive Louise Dallavis, CSJ, who served as President of Avila from 1960-1985. Recent Past Lecturers William F. Buckley Joseph Califano Clarence M. Kelley Nancy Landon Kassebaum Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ Louis Zamperini Bob Harris Alephonsion Deng Jonathan M. Katz Carolyn Maull McKinstry Reyna Grande William Kamkwamba Reggie Shaw Norm Conard & Megan Felt Richard Gergel

Political Analyst, Author & Columnist Secretary of Health, Education & Welfare Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation Kansas Senator Social Justice Activist WWII Prisoner of War, 1936 American Olympian Author, The International Bank of Bob and Jeopardy! Champion Author, They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky: The True Story of Three Lost Boys from Sudan Author, The Big Truck That Went By: How the World Came to Save Haiti and Left Behind a Disaster Author, While the World Watched: A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age During the Civil Right Movement Author, The Distance Between Us: A Memoir Author, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind High School Teacher and Coach Executive Director & Program Director, Lowell Milken Center United States District Judge and Author, Unexampled Courage: The Blinding of Sgt. Woodard and the Awakening of America

Avila University • avila.edu • 11901 Wornall Road • Kansas City, Missouri 64145 • 816.942.8400

First Year Student Reflections 2021

Articles inside

Acknowledgments

Appendix A: Avila First Year Students

Introduction

Appendix C: Anticipation Guide Perspectives

Photos from The Truman Lecture Series & First Year Seminar