The Diversifieds A publication of the EDRC at Grays Harbor College
Volume 1, Issue 1
December 2008
Help Us Diversify Welcome to the first edition of The Diversifieds, a publication of the Equity and Diversity Resource Center (EDRC) here at Grays Harbor College. Our intention is to provide GHC students and staff with a heightened level of awareness of the many issues and events that highlight diversity on our campus and in our community. We hope that The Diversifieds will help to keep you more informed of upcoming events as well as give you a little direction in finding out more information about issues of diversity.
December is...
A Look At Diversity We would like to broaden your view of what diversity means. Our intention is to bring awareness of the many views individuals have of our world as a result of life experiences. The EDRC is founded on the following definitions of equity and diversity: Diversity refers to social inclusiveness. This extends beyond ethnic differences and also includes, but is not limited to, differences of socioeconomic status, personal beliefs and values, gender, physical appearance and abilities, religion, political views, age,
sexual orientation, and language. Equity is the principle that every person deserves fair and impartial treatment.
Calling All Writers! The Diversifieds are an extension of the GHC campus and our surrounding community. We would like to welcome and encourage students and staff to submit articles for publication in The Diversifieds. This is a monthly publication. Please submit articles to Erin Frasier at efrasier@ghc.edu
Campus Happenings There never were in the world two opinions alike, no more than two hairs or two grains; the most universal quality is diversity. ~Michel de Montaigne
4th Annual GHC Human Services Toy Drive
Inauguration Day Presentation
Donations are needed for this year’s toy drive. Donations need to be new, unwrapped toys and can be dropped off in the toy drive boxes located next to TRIO or in the HUB. Gender and age specific needs are noted on the stars on the tree located in the hub.
The ASGHC, Phi Theta Kappa, and EDRC will be sponsoring an Inauguration Day Presentation on January 20th, 2008. The event will take place from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Staff and students are invited to attend. For more information, please contact Jim Sorensen at 538-4099.
• AIDS Awareness Month • Learn a Foreign Language Month • Seasonal Depression Awareness Month
Awareness Dates: World AIDS Day Rosa Parks Day National Tolerance Week St. Nicholas Day (Netherlands) The Hajj (Islamic) Nat’l Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
Bodhi Day (Buddhist) Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Roman Catholic)
1 1 1-7 5 7-11 7 8 8
9 9-15 10 Fiesta de Guadalupe (Mexico) 12 Santa Lucia (Sweden) 13 Las Posadas 16-24 Yule (Pagan & Wiccan) 20-21 Hanukah (Jewish) 22-29 Christmas (Christian) 25 Kwanzaa (African) 26 Al Hijrah (Islamic) 28-29 Holy Innocents’ Day (Mexico) 28 Eid al-Adha (Islamic) Human Rights Week Human Rights Day
The Diversifieds are a publication of the EDRC of Grays Harbor College. The mission of the EDRC is to promote awareness, respect, and equitable treatment of the diverse individuals and groups that exist within our campus and surrounding communities. The EDRC is open to all! Please come visit us in the 200 building.
The Diversifieds
AIDS Awareness Month This December is the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day, also known as United Nations World AIDS Day. The origin of this event is the 1988 World Summit of Ministers of Health on Programmes for AIDS Prevention and it has evolved to be a worldwide campaign. “Together with its partners, the World AIDS Campaign set this year’s theme for World AIDS Day as ‘Lead— Empower—Deliver,’ building on last years theme of ‘Take the Lead’...
Diversity is not about how we differ. Diversity is about embracing one another’s uniqueness.
As in previous years, the World AIDS Campaign has produced a wide variety of campaign materials to be used by individuals and organizations that want to campaign on World AIDS Day and host commemorative events. These materials are available on the World AIDS Campaign web site at www.worldaidscampaign.org” (Source: UNAIDS)
Even in our own communities there remains a need to bring AIDS awareness. Educating ourselves about AIDS will help to reduce the fear that surrounds it and allow necessary support to be created.
How will you help to bring awareness? Maybe you will gather with others to The current United Nations campaign or maybe you reports on AIDS epidemics will try to educate yourself around the world reports that through research. we have made great progress, but there are still many
National Tolerance Week (Dec. 1-7) by Echo Hahn
Dedicated to accepting and celebrating other’s differences, Tolerance Week, also known as Acceptance Week, was created in 2003 by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network. Originally called “No Name-Calling Week,” it has always been intended to bring the populace information on diversity and to
get people to examine their prejudices, and to try and put a stop to the unthinking perpetuation of bullying, hate crimes, racism and stereotypes. How can you celebrate Tolerance Week? You don’t have to make a big production out of it, just be willing to try new things. Try eating
Human Rights Week Human Rights day is celebrated on December 10th to honor the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 by the United Nations General Assembly. This declaration was the first such statement of principle by an international body. The document, conceived as a “common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations,” sets forth the basic
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areas of our world that are threatened.
at a different sort of restaurant than you usually would; go out for Thai food, or try some sushi. Talk to a person who was raised in another country, or ask someone who’s traveled to tell you about other cultures. Be adventurous! Neither knowledge nor Thai food will kill you.
(Dec. 9-15)
civil, economic, political, and social rights that should be guaranteed to every person. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This December, during Human Rights Week, keep in mind all those around the world that are still deprived of the many rights we take for granted.
The United Nations has a website dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights were you can view the declaration in its entirety and get campaign materials among much more. Visit http://www.un.org/events/ humanrights/udhr60/
index.shtml If nothing else, commit yourself to reading the declaration this December.
December Religious Observances Saint Nicholas Day (Netherlands)
This begins the Christmas season in the Netherlands. On this day Saint Nicholas, “Sinterklaas,” arrives. Cities have parades where he comes riding on a white horse or in a barge or even on a motorcycle wearing a bishop’s hat and a red cape. That evening, adults have parties and exchange gifts, while children set out shoes filled with carrots and hay for Saint Nicholas’ horse. In the morning, they find the shoes filled with gifts.
Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Roman Catholic) This celebrates the Roman Catholic belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was conceived free from original sin. Fiesta de Guadalupe (Mexico)
The Hajj is the annual pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. All Muslims who are able are required to make the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. The Hajj is a time for reflection and celebration.
This is the feast day of the patron saint of Mexico. The shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is Mexico’s most sacred religious site. Dec. 12 is the anniversary of the day on which Juan Diego, an Aztec peasant, is said to have seen a vision of the Virgin Mary, who ordered him to go and tell the Bishop of Mexico to build a church on that spot. This is a day when people go to church for prayers honoring the Virgin. Often a procession is formed to the church and a fiesta is held in the evening.
Eid al-Adha (Islamic)
Santa Lucia (Sweden)
This religious observance commemorates the story of Abraham and Ishmail as told in the Qur’an. God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his only son as a proof of his faith. Before Abraham completed the sacrifice, God stopped him and provided a ram for sacrifice in place of Ishmail .
This holiday honors an Italian martyr named Saint Lucia. This festival features lights and a young girl wearing a white robe and a crown of seven lighted candles serving special buns and coffee.
The Hajj (Islamic)
Bodhi Day (Buddhist) Among Mahayana Buddhists, this holiday celebrates Buddha’s attaining understanding of the truth of existence, freeing himself from all human suffering, and finding perfect happiness.
Las Posadas (Mexico) Commemorates Mary and Joseph’s effort to find an inn and events associated with the birth of Jesus. A candlelight procession represents the star in heaven that guided the three wise men on their way. There is a traditional celebration centering on the piñata.
Source: Diversity Resources, Inc.
Volume 1, Issue 1
Hanukkah (Jewish) This holiday, often misunderstood as the “Jewish Christmas,” commemorates the victory of the Jewish people, led by the Maccabee family, over the Syrian Greeks in 165 B.C. This victory marked the end of a three-year period of religious persecution. According to legend, when the Jews returned to cleanse their Temple they discovered only enough consecrated oil to keep the holy lamp burning for one day. However, the oil miraculously lasted for eight days. Hanukkah is celebrated by lighting a candle on each of the eight days of celebration. Family members exchange gifts and children play with a dreidel, a four-sided top inscribed with the Hebrew letters for “a great miracle happened here.” Potato pancakes, or latkes, are a traditional food treat. Christmas (Christians) Most Christians observe Christmas to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Christmas is a family-oriented holiday with special foods, colorful decorations, and exchanging of gifts. Families often have their own traditions, especially concerning when gifts are exchanged and what foods are served. Christmas tradition also varies around the world. (Search “Christmas traditions” on the internet to see various traditions) Holy Innocents’ Day (Mexico) In an attempt to find the infant Jesus and kill him, King Herod ordered the killing of children in Bethlehem.
SYMBOLS OF CHRISTMAS
SYMBOLS OF HANUKKAH
December
Awareness Trivia 1. What does AIDS stand for? 2. What is the estimate number of people in the world with HIV according to the World Health Organization? 3. Why is Kwanzaa not listed under December Religious Observances? 4. What is stated in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? 5. What does the logo for the 60th Anniv. of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights represent? Stop by the EDRC to see if you have the correct answers to this month’s trivia. For each correct answer your name will be put in the EDRC’s monthly drawing.
On Eid al-Adha, families that can afford it sacrifice an animal such as a sheep, goat, camel, or cow, and then divide the meat among themselves, the poor, friends and neighbors. The sacrifice is called Qurban. During the sacrifice, the following prayer is recited: In the name of Allah And Allah is the greatest O Allah, indeed this is from you and for you O Allah accept it from me. Source: www. religionfacts.com
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Further Information:
Human Rights Washington State Human Rights Commission
AIDS
http://www.hum.wa.gov/generalInfo/ links.htm
The Body: The Complete HIV/AIDS Resource http://www.thebody.com Washington HIV/AIDS Resources and Statistics http://aids.about.com/od/governmentprograms/qt/washington.htm AIDS Housing of Washington: Building Homes, Opening Doors http://www.aidshousing.com Lifelong AIDS Alliance: The PNW's Leading AIDS Service Organization http://www.lifelongaidsalliance.org/
Center for the Study of Human Rights http://hrcolumbia.org/ Human Rights Campaign | Home http://www.hrc.org/index.htm Every Human Has Rights: Declaration of Human Rights 60th Anniversary http://www.everyhumanhasrights.org/
Tolerance Lambda 10 Project: National Clearinghouse for LGBT Fraternity & Sorority Issues
AFJN: Africa Faith and Justice Network Education and Advocation for a Transformation of U.S. Policies Towards Africa http://www.afjn.org/
http://www.lambda10.org/ Teaching Tolerance: A Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center Other Public Holidays:
http://www.tolerance.org/index.jsp Anti-Defamation League: Fighting Anti-Semetism, Bigotry and Extremism http://www.adl.org/ Every Victim Counts: Reform Hate Crime Reporting http://www.tolerance.org/evc/ Connecting Cultures: Raising Awareness And Promoting Understanding Across Cultures and Faiths http://www.connecting-cultures.net/new/index.html International Penpals - Email Exchange of Language and Cultures (Pen-pals) http://www.mylanguageexchange.com/penpals.asp
Independence Day—Portugal (1) Independence Day—Laos (2) Discovery Day—Haiti (5) Farmers Day—Ghana (5) National Day—Thailand (5) Independence Day—Finland (6) Constitution Day—Spain (6) Independence of Quito—Ecuador (6) Independence Day—Tanzania (9) Mother’s Day—Panama (9) Constitution Day—Thailand (9) Independence Day—Kenya (12) Reconciliation Day—South Africa (16) Victory Day—Bangladesh (16) Emperor’s Birthday—Japan (23) Victory Day—Egypt (23) Qaid-i-Azam’s Birthday—Pakistan (25) Boxing Day—United Kingdom (26) Day of Goodwill—South Africa (26) Rizal Day—Philippines (30)
Deadline for submission in next months newsletter is Dec. 19th.
Equity & Diversity Resource Center DIVERSITY COMMITTEE
360-538-4247 Room 219
Committee Chair: Brian Shook The Diversifieds Staff: Erin Frasier Amy Murray Echo Hahn
1620 Edward P. Smith Drive Aberdeen, WA 98520 edrc@ghc.edu http://www.ghc.edu/edrc/brochure.pdf