The Diversifieds A publication of the EDRC at Grays Harbor College
Volume 3, Issue 1
November 2010
Heroes Die for Me Be sure to thank a veteran on November 11th!
by Jamie Burns
November is...
National American Indian Heritage Month
I am the flag I look down upon this land called America . I have been here since this great nation was formed, I have seen each battle fought I have seen the heroes die for me, for my country Thank you all those of you Who have kept me flying in the breeze Keeping this country united as one. Thank you those of you who have sacrificed your lives, Giving up all that I may still fly, Watching over the citizens of this nation. Thank you all those of you who have ever fought, I am ever grateful for you. You risked everything; you faced death each day, Faced fear, faced many terrible things. And because of you, my thank you's ring out, Filling the sky, echoing from the hills They find their way to the graveyards, And to all of you still living, You are a special kind of person. To anyone who has ever served this country, And to those serving today Thank you.
New Faces Hello! I would like to formally introduce my self. I’m Jessica Lovelady the Equity and Diversity Resource Center’s new intern. I am very excited to network with people on campus and learn more about diversity. The word diversity is a big word in the world of college. Each college wants a diverse student body on their campus. A college campus is more than a cafeteria, or a coffee stand. You should look into college as a community in which you can meet new people. You are going to learn from one another, no matter if it is another student or a professor. So learn all you can while you are here. You’ve been given an opportunity to expand your views of the world………………….. Embrace it!
As I watch life from atop my flagpole, As I think of all you've done, My feelings become too powerful for words And all I can say is thank you. World Freedom Day - United States In 2001, George W. Bush signed a proclamation dedicating November 9th as World Freedom Day in the United States. This proclamation states that on World Freedom Day… ―We celebrate the new freedom in which much of the world lives today.‖ ―...we also recognize that more than 2 billion people still live under authoritarian regimes.‖
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.
Hate at GHC? This past October, the Grays Harbor College Diversity Committee posted a large piece of paper in the HUB for students to write about the US Military’s controversial Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy that has been recently questioned in court. Several students wrote thoughts and opinions on the subject, but the written discussion was removed because of an inflammatory comment. The Diversity Committee posted the below response to the comment in the HUB:
Last week a student wrote the comment: ―They are all fags anyway.‖ We don’t know the intention of the person who wrote the statement. Maybe he/she doesn’t like the military and was trying to put the military down, maybe he/she was attempting (unsuccessfully) to be humorous, or maybe he/she strongly dislikes people who happen to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, or questioning. We do know that this statement was hurtful to many who read it and this is why: The term ―fag‖ is considered a derogatory statement that is offensive to those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, or questioning It is offensive to heterosexual people who are allies to their LGBTQ sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, friends, and community members. Even when the term ―fag‖ is used in an attempt to be humorous, it is hurtful because of its derogatory nature that is laced with the assumption that being LGBTQ is inferior and less than. Besides being hurtful, the above comment has interrupted the useful discussion about a very important topic of our time, the military’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy.
How can you help? Do you want to make this campus a safer place? RSVP to attend this quarter’s Safe Space Training. A group of staff and students who are dedicated to creating a safe environment for those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning have created an interactive and informational training on how to be an ally to the LGBTQ community. Students and staff welcome.
Tuesday November 16th 3:00PM – 5:30PM RSVP to Brian Shook ASAP to receive the room number and to let us know that you would like to attend. bshook@ghc.edu
Grays Harbor College Incident Report form
Page 2
http://www.ghc.edu/security/behavior.htm
National American Indian Month It’s better to keep one’s mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and resolve all doubt. – Abraham Lincoln
by Mark Ramon
In recognition of the National American Indian month (November) did you know that as of recent, Grays Harbor College has been involved with a Distance Education program that delivers an Associate of Arts degree (AA) to 5 Indian reservations in the Pacific NW? The program is known as the GHC Reservation Based Bridge program and Grays Harbor College has students from the Nisqually reservation, the Quinault reservation, the Squaxin Island reservation, the Shoalwater Bay Indian reservation, the Puyallup reservation and even the Makah reservation. Grays Harbor College is the host college with this program and all students receive their services through our college. At any given time there are around 30-40 students who are involved in this distance education program and most students work for their tribe during the day but want to attend college but can’t get away to attend the main campus or to do the commute (its either too far or no reliable
transportation). It was from this standpoint that the design of the program emerged. Most program students take two online classes (Washington Online) and then they also take two live classes over four Saturdays at The Evergreen State College in Olympia. The travel to Olympia over the 4-Saturdays is the only commute with the program. And it’s the combining of the online classes and the 4-Saturday classes that makes up the program and anyone is welcome to do this program but it is highly designed for those who live on a reservation and want to pursue an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts. The program is supported by a weekly live study session (similar to a tutoring session) and done with a study leader (commitment keeper and student supporter). The numerous other supportive entities are things such as etutoring, online math and writing links, the GHC Library services, the GHC Learning Center services, the gracious support of the Native American program office at Grays Harbor College (Mark Ramon program coordinator) and actually that’s the main point of contact with this program. Grays Harbor College is the host college where all the services get administered and the only community college (of the 34 in the State of Washington) that has this program! The program is in partnership with The Evergreen State College, and a few other community colleges and with the other community colleges its mostly with their identified online teacher known for their expertise in their discipline and their multicultural commitment and also known for being a student centered instructor. The State Board of Community
Campus Happenings Veterans Day November 11th No Classes Veterans Fair 8AM-2 PM Nov. 15, 16, &17 In the HUB Veterans Day Speakers 12-2 PM Nov.18th Fireside Room Veterans Barbeque 10AM-2 PM Nov 18th Human Service Toy Drive 9 Am-3PM December 10th In the HUB Last day for sign up is Nov. 26th To Sign up please go to TRIO or Jen Gillies
Volume 3, Issue 1
and Technical Colleges is a firm supporter alongside Washington Online and the Indian tribes mentioned in this article. Currently there are a few more interested tribes wanting to join or partake in this new program and time will only tell what the next steps will be but for this year the program is running nicely (its 5th year). Our institution truly demonstrates its commitment to diversity by demonstrating continued support for this program and by initiating it throughout the college Distance Ed system and alongside other colleges and with the help of our own departments (Admissions, Financial aid, Business Office, Counseling Center, etc.) it serves our students well. By following and keeping with statewide diversity initiatives the commitment and support of this program comes from a top down emphasis and it is practiced throughout the entire program. This program is a one of a kind program which has won special notice amongst all community colleges as well as the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges in the State of Washington! Our college and its staff can be very proud of this program and how it helps American Indians obtain a college education.
Local History ―Long before the first white settlers arrived, numerous coastal Indian tribes inhabited the region destined to become Grays Harbor and Pacific counties. In Grays Harbor County, the Chehalis tribe was by far the largest and most powerful. Other tribes in the area were the Hoquiam, Humptulips, Satsop, Quinault, and Wynoochee. Of the tribes in the Pacific County area, the largest was the Chinooks, who inhabited the mouth of the Columbia River in what is now southwest Pacific County. Smaller tribes were the Wilapah, Nickomen, Wharhoots, Querquelins, Palus, Nemah, and Nasal—all of whom lived near the coast. The Indian population, though, was decimated by the 1850s because of outbreaks of smallpox, measles, and other diseases introduced by white explorers and settlers.‖ ―In July of 1775, non-Indians entered the area for the first time.‖ Source: Grays Harbor & Pacific County Profile, April 2002
Remember not only to say the right thing at the right place, but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment. – Ben Franklin
Page 3
November 2010 Sun
Nat’l American Indian Heritage Month
Mon
Tue
1 2 All Saints Day: Christian All Souls Day: Christian Day of the Dead: Mexico Anniv. of Crowning of Haile Selassie: Rastafarian
Wed
Thu
3
Fri
Sat
4
5 Bandi Chhor Day: Sikh Diwali: Hindu
6
7
8
9 10 World Freedom Day: US Allama Iqbal Day: Pakistan
11 Veterans Day: US
12 Birthday of Baha’u’llah: Baha’i Sun Yat-sen’s Birthday: Republic of China
13 The Hajj: Islamic
14 The Hajj: Islamic
15 The Hajj: Islamic Seven, Five, Three Festival: Japan
16 The Hajj: Islamic Eid al-Adha: Islamic Dutch American Heritage Day: US
17 The Hajj: Islamic Eid al-Adha: Islamic
18 The Hajj: Islamic Eid al-Adha: Islamic
19
20 Anniv. of the Revolution: Mexico
21
22
23 Labor Thanksgiving Day: Japan
24
25 Thanksgiving Day: US
26
27
28 Advent Begins: Christian
29 30 Education for All Handicapped Children Act: US
December 2010 Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
1 Rosa Parks Day: African American Hanukkah: Jewish World AIDS Day
2 Hanukkah: Jewish
Fri
Sat
3 Hanukkah: Jewish
4 Hanukkah: Jewish
5 Hanukkah: Jewish St. Nicholas Day: Netherlands
6 Hanukkah: Jewish Al Hijrah: Islamic
7 Hanukkah: Jewish Al Hijrah: Islamic Nat’l Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day: US
8 9 Hanukkah: Jewish Hanukkah: Jewish Bodhi Day: Buddhist Feast of the Immaculate Conception: Roman Cath
10 Human Rights Day
11
12 Fiesta de Guadalupe: Mexico
13 Santa Lucia: Sweden
14
15 Ashura: Islamic
16 Ashura: Islamic Los Posadas: Mexico
17 Los Posadas: Mexico
18 Los Posadas: Mexico
19 Los Posadas: Mexico
20 Los Posadas: Mexico Yule: Pagan & Wiccan
21 Los Posadas: Mexico Yule: Pagan & Wiccan Winter Solstice
22 Los Posadas: Mexico
23 Los Posadas: Mexico Emperor's Birthday: Japan
24 Los Posadas: Mexico
25 Christmas: Christian
26 Kwanza: African American St. Stephen’s Day: Roman Catholic
27 Day of Goodwill: South Africa
28 Holy Innocents’ Day: Mexico, Morocco
29
30
31
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 quarterly publication. Please contact Erin Frasier at efrasier@ghc.edu to submit articles, poems or artwork.
Diversity Committee The Diversifieds Staff: Jessica Lovely Erin Frasier Lisa Jolly Roberta Gibby
Equity & Diversity Resource Center 360-538-4247 Room 219 1620 Edward P. Smith Drive Aberdeen, WA 98520 edrc@ghc.edu http://www.ghc.edu/edrc/brochure.pdf