School of Social Work gets involved in National Social Work Month

Morgan Garcia Contributor

Editor’s Note: This commentary was written by a social work student in recognition of National Social Work Month. Morgan Garcia serves as the president of Phi Alpha, the Social Work Honor Society and as the social vice president of the social work club on campus.

Each March, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) celebrates National Social Work Month. The theme this year is “Social Work Breaks Barriers.” This theme focuses on continuing to fight the barriers that prevent people from thriving and finding new ways to encourage social justice. It acknowledges that social workers break barriers no matter the population or setting in which they practice. The purpose of National Social Work Month is to raise awareness for the efforts of social workers and to highlight the work that remains to be accomplished.

Southern’s School of Social Work observes this annual event by creating opportunities for action, acknowledging the rationale for the month and by providing resources to further educate students.

Beyond on-campus visual reminders and interdepartmental outreach to both social work students and alumni, the School of Social Work will participate in Social Work Month by sponsoring a networking fair on March 23 at the Family Justice Center in Chattanooga. This event will allow Southern students to connect with local professionals and community resources and to discover experiences and opportunities.

Additionally, the School of Social Work is hosting a “Social Work Day

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On the Hill” watch party on March 29. This virtual event provides social work programs across the state opportunities to engage with legislators and see policy work in action in Tennessee. Over 500 students and practitioners attend annually, according to the NASW Tennessee chapter website. Due to the nature of social work, both students and faculty are continuous learners who share knowledge freely and enthusiastically.

Social workers strive to continually learn from those they interact with and acknowledge that clients are the experts in their own experi- ences. In other words, social workers do not enter a problem with an arsenal of solutions that are thrust upon a client or community. Instead, social workers empower individuals to identify their personal strengths and resiliencies, helping people to discover their power to enact change.

Southern students, regardless of their major, can also contribute to breaking barriers. Here are just a few ways:

• Become involved in community service

• Attend events that educate about resources and pro- grams that assist people.

• Stay up-to-date on current events

• Address difficult or uncomfortable situations with family and friends

• Work to care for their own bodies and minds

Through these and other actions, students can find empowerment and strength in themselves, and others, to break the barriers around them.

Contributor’s Note: When Jesus commanded us to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, shelter the stranger, clothe the naked, tend to the sick and visit the incarcerated, He did not mean for us to choose which of these people we feel comfortable with, to choose those who do not challenge our positions and morals. Unequivocally, He called us to care for all members of our community. The field of social work teaches that social justice is not exclusive to those who are considered deserving but to all who face the barriers that are ingrained in our society.

After I complete my education, I hope to work as a macro social worker. This means that while I will always strive to improve the wellbeing of individuals, my focus will be on policies and systems that impact those individuals. My goal is to work with policies that recognize the impact of factors such as mental health, the social environment on criminal behavior or policies that work to restore harmful physical environments that currently cause harm. Wherever I work, I know that the School of Social Work has prepared me to be a successful and thorough advocate.

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Staff Sponsor Alva James-Johnson continued from page 1 demic school, a school of science: exercise science, human performance, health and wellness,” Benge said. “We like the columns brand because it signifies … we’re about academia.”

Isaac James, director of Marketing and University Relations, wrote in an email to the Accent that he is not knowledgeable of SA’s specific plans regarding a bear logo, but the official columns logo is not going away.

“I can share that the university logo remains the official way Southern is identified to audiences, and there are no plans from my office to change that,” he wrote.

Although Benge is aware that SA is not promoting interscholastic sports by proposing a mascot — as stated by Kenneth Bautista, senior management major and SA president, to the Accent and Faculty Senate — he called the mascot an “insidious” way for future SA leadership to introduce competition against other schools.

Benge further explained the faculty’s view on interscholastic sports. If Southern created sports teams to play other schools, that program would inevitably take resources away from intramurals. The faculty has worked hard to establish a culture promoting physical activity on campus, Benge said, and the school has seen noticeable results.

BestColleges.com ranked Southern in its top 20 colleges with the best intramural sports programs in 2013. The National Collegiate Fitness Index ranked Southern number one in the private university category in a national study of collegiate fitness in 2016. Articles on both accomplishments can be seen on the wall in the Hulsey Wellness Center.

Faculty in the School of Health and Kinesiology fear losing this culture to interscholastic sports, Benge said. He added that there are ethical dilemmas that arise from competing against other schools.

Benge met with the Senate Mascot Committee, which consists of Bautista, junior biology major Wilson Hannawi and junior accounting major Anna Mihaescu, last month to discuss SA’s mascot proposal. Benge said he will not fight the mascot if it is approved.

“I wouldn't turn ugly against the SA in any way, shape or form,” he said. “You know, I hope we can agree to disagree and then still be civil to each other. And, you know, as far as I'm concerned, now it's in the hands of administration or the board, whatever they decide. You'll never hear me speak. If it goes in Kenneth's favor and the

SA’s favor, I'm not gonna fight it or be negative.”

Bautista confirmed that this is exactly what Benge communicated to the committee last month and added that SA and the School of Health and Kinesiology enjoy working together. Benge also expressed this sentiment and is thankful for SA’s funding for an outdoor basketball court during COVID-19 and upcoming Hall of Fame plaques. He conceded that SA’s mascot proposal was done well.

“They made a compelling presentation as to why we should have a mascot,” Benge said. “I’ll tip my hat to them that way.”

Bautista reiterated to the Accent that SA currently has no intention of using the bear mascot to introduce interscholastic sports, and he added that even if future leadership were to try, the decision to play other schools ultimately rests in the hands of administration.

Bautista is not certain of if the bear mascot will be officially approved or disapproved. Young referred the Accent to President Ken Shaw regarding questions about who will officially approve the mascot. Shaw was out of the office when the Accent reached out on Monday.

However, Bautista believes the Senate Mascot Committee is done presenting the bear to bodies of authority on campus. He last presented the idea to the Board of Trustees on Feb. 26 and was met with a completely positive reaction, he said.

To students who are feeling apprehensive about the bear mascot, Bautista echoed a statement he said Shaw made at the Feb. 13 Faculty Senate meeting: “We can’t reject something we don’t see.”

“Wait a little bit,” Bautista added. “See how it is if it comes, and make your judgments then.”