Cultural Connections - Spring 2013

M ULTICULTURAL NEWSLETTER S PRING 2013 E DITION A BOUT THE M ULTICULTURAL N EWSLETTER ...

The concept of the Multicultural Newsletter is to provide an avenue for information, updates, opinions, news, and events that will expand the cultural horizons of all Ripon College students. Each issue will include upcoming cultural student

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organization events, articles and opinion pieces by Ripon College students, and see the great things the student activities office is doing.

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atmosphere and events present not only on the Ripon College campus, but around the United States and the world.

The ultimate hope of this newsletter is that the reader (s) will find him/herself more aware of the cultural

AWAY FROM HOME PROGRAM

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AWAY FROM HOME PROGRAM

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MLK W EEK 2013

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B LACK H ISTORYM ONTH

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W OMEN ’ S H ISTORY

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28 January 2013

By Kyonna Withers The Home Away from Home program links international students at Ripon College with area families and couples. It gives the students a broader and deeper experience of American culture. And it gives students local “parents” who can cheer them on when they participate in college activities.

—Family activities like water-skiing, movies, holiday dinners, birthday celebrations

Some of the things local parents have provided include:

—Trips to museums, state parks, concerts, and other special events

—Occasional lunch or dinner off-campus

—A quiet refuge away from the residence halls

—Transportation to and from airports, shopping malls, grocery stores

—Advice on classes, campus jobs, graduate school, romance, etc.

MONTH

—A caring and supportive hand or ear, lots of hugs And most of all, friendship.

On January 28, 2013, the current host families and Ripon students gathered for a meal to start the spring semester! Laughs and stories were shared with fun for all.

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S PRING B REAK TRIP / 5 S TUDENT PERSPECTIVE

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NEWSLETTER

M ARTIN LUTHER KING JR WEEK 2013!!

In recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 21, Ripon College held a series of events to engage the college community in his dream:

The Inauguration Oath Screening on Monday, January 21, was successful as we watched as President Barack Obama renewed his vow to lead the nation in his second term.

MLK Week Brunch on Tuesday, Jan. 22 celebrated the Ripon community and community leaders who emulate the ideals of Martin Luther King Jr. The faculty, staff and student winners (in that order) are pictured to the left.

Tim Wise provided the week’s keynote Address on Wednesday, Jan. 23, in Great Hall.

Wise is among the most prominent anti-racist writers and educators in the United States. Recently named among the 25 Visionaries Who are Changing Your World by “Utne Reader,” Wise has spoken in 49 states, on more than 600 college campuses and to community groups across the nation about white privilege in America, comparative racism, race and education.

“5 Issues, 5 Leaders, 5 Minutes” on Thursday January 24 was an interactive workshop featuring five prominent Ripon leaders condensing their most thought-provoking and critical perspectives into five intense minutes on issues within one of five topics: media, arts, education, economy and activism. This event had audience members reflecting and thinking about how they view society and how they observe others.

“Continuing the Legacy: What’s Next?” was a 20-minute interactive workshop led by Pieper Chair of Servant Leadership David William Scott, in remembrance of Martin Luther King and continuing his dream.

Giving Back Community Service: Guest House Homeless Shelter was on Saturday, Jan. 26. Volunteers spent time at a homeless shelter in Milwaukee which serves meals to at least 85 homeless people daily. Food donations were accepted in the Student Activities Office prior to the event. Established in 1982 in Milwaukee, the Guest House is a drop-in center for the homeless.

Source- http://www.ripon.edu/blog/2013/01/18/celebrating-martin-luther-king-jr/

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B LACK H ISTORY M ONTH 2013!!

The Black Student Union provided a great month of events to celebrate Black History. They started with a comedic approach co-sponsoring with SMAC for comedian Seaton Smith and ended with an educational thought provoking lesson on why a certain race group thought the way they did through Daryl Davis (African American Klu Klux Klan researcher).

They had wonderful attendance at all of their events and tried something new this year; a heritage fashion show. Articles of clothing were flown in from all over the world to be displayed and worn for the school to see.

The organization has also gone under new leadership with rising junior Clarence Sanon ‘15 taking the lead for 2013-2014.

Their theme for the month was “Establishing a presence in light of our past” which was a powerful tagline to focus all the events on.

W OMEN ’ S H ISTORY M ONTH 2013!!

By: Kyonna Withers Women’s History Month 2013 had the theme of the Perfect 10?! What is the Perfect 10? And who determines if a woman is or isn't it? This was the main focus for the month of March.

The month’s activities ranged from a kick off event., multiple trips off campus for leisure and for community service, an empowerment fair, a zumba class, a keynote speaker and a women's appreciation day. During the appreciation day women all over campus were given flowers and button mirrors (actual mirrors with the back of the mirror stating the women’s confidence pledge). Ladies were delighted to know that there was a day to honor them as strong females on this campus.

During the month the traveling Barbie also attended events. This life size image of “Barbie” (presumed to be the Perfect 10) was a representation that if Barbie was a real person she wouldn't be able to walk or stand due to the disproportion of her bust and waist to lead to the thought “we all are perfect just the way we are”.

Pictured above are Kyonna W, Assistant Director of Student Activities and Michael Crider (multicultural and international student assistant) at the kick off event.

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NEWSLETTER

C ULTURE W EEK C ULTURE W EEK 2013 IS THE FIRST TO HAPPEN OF ITS KIND . T HIS WEEK WAS PRODUCED SOLELY FROM THE C ULTURAL DIVERSITY CLUB AND ENCOMPASSED A FULL WEEK ’ S WORTH OF ACTIVITIES FROM VARIOUS CULTURES AND LANGUAGES . T HE MOST POPULATED EVENTS WERE I NTERNATIONAL DINNER AND THE TRIP TO THE WORLD MARKET IN A PPLETON . G REAT JOB TO CDC ON A GREAT CULTURE WEEK !

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For a fun activity the multicultural students were invited to go see the Milwaukee Bucks take on the Atlanta Hawks at BMO Harris Bradley center. The students had so much fun they didn't want to leave the arena. “Its great to be able to get off campus and partake in one of America’s favorite hobbies” said an international student. Various trips are planned yearly for multicultural and international students throughout the year.

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S PRING B REAK TRIP

Snow snow go away!

Come again next winter! To get away from the snow, this year’s spring break trip was to Mall of America in Bloomington Minnesota. Students were able to walk around the mall, get on roller coasters, dine in the various restaurants, see movies in IMAX, attend a professional NBA game, go swimming and much more! Pictured to the

right is the group dinner at Rain Forest Café during the trip.

International students had a wonderful spring break and have already provided suggestions for fall break.

T HE Y EAR T HAT W AS : M ULTICULTURAL AND I NTERNATIONAL S TUDENT A FFAIRS E DITION

By: Michael Crider

to be in a position to be a student face of Ripon College’s multicultural and international programming.

makes an event successful and especially for the amount of work that so many of the staff Last year around this members put in to make Ripon College a time I was being successful undertaking. There are innumerous evaluated for my work memories from this past year from Kyonna and I for SAO by Melissa Bemus and Kristen How much a year dancing during an event with rrRumba to MLK Pearson. They broached has changed things! KP Week with its new awards brunch, this year was busy and yet for much of the time it didn’t feel the subject of taking a is no longer here, too much like work. I couldn’t have asked for more active role in the instead the wonderful Office and we went Kyonna Withers is and it better colleagues either be it the students who stood on committees to the various student through the various was an amazing positions and their roles. experience to work with organizations.

The one that stood out her. Her characteristic Next year I plan to be staying in this to me was the humor and her position and I have always advocated for an Multicultural and remarkable drive to increased role for student organizations and for International Student provide much different the most part I believe that we were successful Affairs Assistant (MISA) events than Ripon this year in doing that, but I hope that next year position and so I made it College had experienced even more organizations will contribute. The clear that I would most was truly marvelous to more students, staff and faculty that help in like that position over be a part of. I also have educating the campus and in introducing new and any other, and that is gained a better varying ideas, the better. I look forward to what how a white male came appreciation for what next year will bring!

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Rosh Hashanah September 4 -6 300 W. Seward St. Ripon, WI 54971 The Office of Student Activities and Orientation Phone: 920-748-8112 http://www.ripon.edu/studentlife/ student_activities/misa/misa.html Editor of newsletter: Kyonna Withers Assistant Director of Student Activities E-mail: withersk@ripon.edu

Please feel free to submit relevant and appropriate articles, stories, events, and more to Kyonna Withers for publication consideration.

Disclaimer: The opinions and views expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect those of the Office of Student Activities and Orientation or the Ripon College community.

Higher Education Diversity Initiative Team conference– October 3, all over campus

Black Student Union’s Welcome Back BBQ– September 11 5:30pm Scott Hall

Native American Day– September 27

International Month– month of November Black Student Union’s Soul Food Dinner– November 10 5:15pm Great Hall World Aids Day– December 1 (many more to add, check the calendar of events weekly!)

LGBT History Month–

SAO! community. The colleague and see search is currently what great things underway so by the are in store! time fall semester is here you will be able to meet this new individual!

Come by Admissions or Student Activities when you arrive back on campus in August to meet our new Ripon

NEW MULTICULTURAL LIASON TO JOIN

There will be a new Assistant Director for Multicultural Student Recruitment and Program Development on campus in the fall!

This person will work to recruit domestic students from diverse backgrounds, facilitate orientation

HOLIDAYS

month of October

Home Series Dinners– every Tuesday in September

Hispanic Heritage Month celebration– September 18, 5:30pm Pickard Dining Room

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activities for the students, and provide ongoing support during their college experience. The person will also help design cultural sensitivity training for the campus while assisting in providing relevant programs for the broader college