SGA Vol. 3 • No. 1
TODAY SPRING 2015
When Conflict Meets Change Our Voices: Past, Present, & Future Dinner Dialogue Block Party Black Film Festival Day of Service An evening with martin and langston
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Students work on “Agency Bingo” at the “Our Voices: Past, Present, & Future” event.
SGA Vol. 3 • No. 1
SGA Today Photo Journal is a publication of Student Publications, an affiliated project of the Student Government Association of Florida State University. SGA Today Photo Journal Vol. 3, No. 1
TODAY SPRING 2015
E-mail submissions to SGA Today Editor Tony Nguyen at tmnguyen@fsu.edu SGA Today, A302 Oglesby Union, (850) 645-0160 This publication is available upon request in alternative format for individuals with print-related disabilities.
Need a copy? Why not go paperless? Visit sga.fsu.edu/sga-today.shtml for a copy of this issue! Front Photo by Lauren Alsina, Insert Photo by Lauren Alsina, and Back Photo by Julia Crabtree
MLK WEEK SOCIAL MEDIA TO SOCIAL CHANGE: BEYOND THE HASHTAG Photography: Julia Crabtree | Article: Eric Trombetti
SOCIAL CHANGE THROUGH DIALOGUE AND ACTION “Social Media to Social Change:
topics were discussed to show the real
Beyond the Hashtag,� was the message
problems that need to be tackled in our
of the 27th annual MLK Week celebration.
society today; being aware of them was
There were a wide range of events to help
not enough anymore.
students get involved and understand
The events showed just what students
the importance of action and change.
can do when talking about change and
Communication is an essential part in
provided the stage to work together
moving a diverse community forward,
and make that change a reality. From
and events to provide understanding
engaging dialogue and performances,
of dialogue and fair discussion offered
to guest speakers, and opportunities
numerous opportunities to get students
for involvement, the possibilities to take
to learn and get involved.
action were endless this week. A strong
The importance was in taking action.
and unified community showed the
Many of the events were centered on
ability to confront the issues of racism,
getting all the students involved and
discrimination, and hatred, building
talking with one another. Hot-button
towards a much brighter future.
1/14 WHEN CONFLICT MEETS CHANGE: A VISUAL RETROSPECTIVE Photography: Lauren Alsina | Article: Eric Trombetti
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WHEN CONFLICT MEETS CHANGE Photographs of various Civil and
involving racial, LGBTQ+, and gender
Human Rights Activists decorated the
equality. The goal was to promote
Integration Statue circle Wednesday
progress and change by focusing on
morning. The event, When Conflict Meets
what everyone can do right now.
Change: A Social Perspective, presented
Rod Kelly, a member of the MLK
those who fought for civil rights and
Planning Committee, offered his thoughts
respect that was not granted to all
of the event and its relation to the bigger
individuals. The event was located around
picture: “There is no one race alimony.
Integration Statue, where students learned
We’re not talking about just one race, or
about social and political movements
just the issue of race, we are talking about
respect for all.” Kelly described the event
movements, peace training for protesters,
as a two-task process: “The first task is
and just how far we have come today.
to reinforce that everyone has a place in
Each presentation ended with a different
a movement, to be inclusive. Once you
question to the audience all-encompassing
find a place, continue the message and
a bigger picture of: “How are you
take action towards the cause and we
contributing to the message of social
can all find a space.”
change and inclusiveness today?”
Posters offered informational segments depicting pursuits of basic human rights, popular feminist
1/14 OUR VOICES: PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE Photography: Lauren Alsina | Article: Eric Trombetti
Through the Stonewall Riots, the
would be a lot harder to live with.” Pitt
marches in Selma, the foundation of the
said, “If the readers of the past had just
Pan Asian American Union, and strikes
voiced their opinions in the news rather
led by Cesar Chavez, one message was
than taking action, we would not have
made clear at Our Voices: Past, Present, &
the progress we have today.”
Future; in the face of discrimination and
Pride Student Union, Black Student
injustice, people will unite and seek that
Union, Asian American Student Union,
equal rights are for everyone.
and Hispanic Latino Student Union put
Katrina Pitt, Director of Asian
on a collection of powerful speakers and
American Student Union, said the goal
performances to represent the battles
of the event was to, “showcase the events
fought by those to in the past. Each
in our respective history that have helped
presentation provided an understanding of
to shape the communities everyone is
the effects of discrimination and inspired
now a part of and lead.” “Without our
students to promote an environment of
community’s past movements, our present
safe space and unity.
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1/15 DINNER DIALOGUE Photography: Sarah Williams | Article: Eric Trombetti
To promote discussion, Dinner
were then invited to dinner where each
Dialogue with Dr. Debra Austin, former
table offered opportunities to discuss
Chancellor of the State University System
with each other. Questions provided
of Florida, offered an evening of equal
encouraged everyone to share stories
exchanges in communication so that
where they learned something, when
everyone had a chance to be heard.
they stood up against adversity, and plans
Amber Hampton, the Program Coordinator for the Center for Leadership
to take action on what was happening in our world today.
and Social Change, was interested in
After discussion, Austin spoke of Dr.
getting the community to think critically.
Martin Luther King, Jr. and what she calls
“The event is part of a larger concept.”
the five P’s: purpose, power, passion,
Hampton said. “Dialogue deepens the
prayer, and persistence. Austin said
community relation and connection,
that not only should everyone find their
everyone is in a circle and no one is at the
purpose, but also think about how they
front. Everyone has an equal perspective,
move towards that purpose. She then
and they play the part of learning each
opened up for each table to present what
other’s perspective.” Hampton wanted the
they had discussed. Everyone shared their
conversations to go beyond just sharing
new views gained from the experiences
names and occupations and get into what
of others. Through this, conversation
it was everyone was passionate about.
became a unifying platform where all
Members of several organizations across campus, businesses in Tallahassee, and Florida State University students
ideas and considerations were held at equal level.
1/16 BLOCK PARTY Photography: Sarah Williams | Article: Eric Trombetti
Project Conversation, Askew Student
on graduate school and graduation,
Life Center, and the Center for Leadership
community outreach programs, and tips
and Social Change teamed-up to promote
for a safe and healthy college life. Several
unity and conversation at this year’s
of the organizations also provided games
Block Party. The event helped students
with prizes for students to participate.
get involved with the many communities and on-campus opportunities.
Nathan MacDonald, Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator for the Center
Healthy Noles, the Career Center,
for Leadership and Social Change, invited
and the Counseling Center provided
students to come out and see what the
students with resources for counseling
event had to offer. “We want to surround
them in engagement, community service,
for students to sit down and discuss
and exploring new culture,� MacDonald
some of hard-hitting questions about
said, “talking about engagement and
race and identity. The conversations
dialogue, and to create that dialogue
provided students with the opportunity
between students, everyone can be
to feel like they could get involved and
vulnerable.� MacDonald said the event
make a difference with more than just
is a call to action and resources show
what they say, but with what they can
that the possibility of engagement are
do right here and right now.
endless. Project Conversation had a station
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1/16 BLACK FILM FESTIVAL Photography: Sarah Williams | Article: Eric Trombetti
The 3rd annual Black Film Festival,
come and share in the experience.
sponsored by the Black Student Union
The Black Student Union selected
and ASLC Film Committee, celebrated
a wide variety of thought-provoking
African-American cinema over the recent
cinema that highlighted the progress
years. The film festival showcased movies
made by many successful film directors
that helped to represent a positive outlook
in promoting a call to action against the
on race. The event, which was free and
harmful stereotypes of black culture in
open to all, attracted many viewers to
both the past and present. Several of the
films won awards for their message and
invited everyone to view the world from
pushed students to engage in dialogue.
a different perspective. After viewing the
Films included “Journey 450 – The Rise
films, students, local Tallahassee residents,
of Lincolnville,” by Lura Scarpitti, “H.A.M,”
and faculty discussed the image of black
by Kariin Charlier, “Scapegoat,” by Khadie
culture in cinema and hoped to present
Sanders, and “Wireless,” by Fred Johnson.
a clear picture of how these films spoke
All of these films were created by Florida
about African-American identity.
State University students and alumni, and
1/19 DAY OF SERVICE Photography: Lauren Alsina | Article: Eric Trombetti
After a week of thought-provoking
“day off” became a “day on” for Tallahassee
performances, engaging dialogue, and
residents, local businesses, and several
the message of unity by action and
students of Florida State University to
change, the SLICE Office and Tallahassee
address the major issues affecting the
Community College sent out the call to
community right now.
action asking all to give back in service
The President’s call to service initiative
honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The
asked everyone to come out and help to
create a solution to problems like injustice,
The community at large put the
civil wrongs, poverty, homelessness,
knowledge and experience gained from
and pollution. One participant said the
the events this week to the test, showing
important message is that to show just
that “Social Media to Social Change:
what can be done when everyone comes
Beyond the Hashtag� was truly about
together regardless of who you are, what
the action and change that everyone
matters is what it is that you want to do.
can take part.
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1/20 AN EVENING WITH MARTIN AND LANGSTON: FEATURING DANNY GLOVER AND FELIX JUSTICE Photography: Lauren Alsina, Sarah Williams, and Julia Crabtree | Article: Eric Trombetti
AN EVENING WITH MARTIN AND LANGSTON The Golden Tribe Lecture Series and
speeches. A student in line said, “they are
Student Government Association brought
two prominent actors, and they have a lot
an evening of honoring two major figures
to stand for. It’s going to be nice to hear
in Civil Rights movements. Dr. Martin
about their work in civil rights.” Another
Luther King, Jr., and Langston Hughes
student commented, “I am excited to see
were embodied in a recreation of some
what they have to say, and to broaden
of their famous speeches through special
my views on a lot of subjects.”
guests, Danny Glover and Felix Justice.
Felix Justice, portraying Dr. Martin
Students lined up in anticipation,
Luther King Jr., recalled injustice and
sharing their thoughts about the upcoming
racism that was rampant in America at
the time. He spoke of the various threats
and hatred that cost the lives of many of
and struggles that King faced during his
his brothers and sisters.
speeches, and his stance on anti-violence
After the event, students inspired
not just on his home-turf, but also the
by the evening’s performance offered
impact of the Vietnam War taking place
their thoughts. One student said that,
at that time.
“having the chance to see them in-person
Danny Glover followed, playing the role of Langston Hughes. Performing
talking about civil rights was definitely an experience.”
works written by the famous poet, he narrated Langston’s awe at the injustice
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