DIVERSITY MATTERS
NOVEMBER – DECEMBER 2017
INSIDE THIS ISSUE DVAM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2 Puerto Rico Donations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Veterans Day. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Hispanic Heritage Month. . . . . . . . . . . . 2 NDEAM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Native American Heritage Month. . . 4 Lichterman and CESA Awards. . . . . 4 Religious Holidays. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Community Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Mildred Muhammad
UTHSC EVENTS RECOGNIZE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH by Peggy Reisser, Communications Coordinator III, Communications and Marketing
Most victims of domestic abuse do not have visible scars.
OFFICE OF EQUITY AND DIVERSITY TEAM uthsc.edu/oed/staff Michael Alston, EdD, CCDP/AP Assistant Vice Chancellor
Amber Carter Publications Editor, Diversity Matters
Dustin Fulton, MS Sr. Equity Assurance Administrator
Lauren Rotonda, JD, MBA Sr. Inclusion Strategist
Sophia Mosher, MPA Administrative Aide
The University of Tennessee is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/ Section 504/ADA/ADEA/V institution in the provision of its education and employment programs and services.
Abuse that is verbal, psychological, or financial is as real as physical abuse. Identifying and helping victims of this type of abuse is difficult, but imperative. That is the message that Mildred Muhammad, ex-wife of D.C. sniper John A. Muhammad, a domestic abuse survivor, brought to Memphis last week at the invitation of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, the Memphis Crisis Center and the Family Safety Center. She shared the message with faculty, staff, and students in talks on campus, and with the community on radio, television, in print, and at a free forum on October 28 at UTHSC. A powerful advocate for domestic abuse victims, Muhammad was the keynote speaker at the second annual Bridging Troubled Waters, a public forum aimed at ending domestic violence, resolving conflicts peacefully, and building healthy relationships. More than 200 people registered for the forum that was held in observance of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Breakout sessions, including one Muhammad facilitated, offered participants advice, support, and resources. Topics included emotional intelligence with a focus on why victims stay in abusive relationships, the forgotten victims and the impact of domestic violence on the family, and empowering victims through the church. “Eighty percent of victims don’t have physical scars to prove that they are victims,” she said. Often, these victims become isolated from family and friends and suffer in silence because of fear, embarrassment, and a desire to shield their children from the truth. “There are some families who love the abuser more than the victim,” she said. “They are looking for scars as evidence of abuse, instead of watching the behavior.” Continued on next page 1
DIVERSITY MATTERS
NOVEMBER – DECEMBER 2017
Muhammad shared her gripping story in multiple media appearances, and with the crowd at Saturday’s forum. “My help was slow in coming, because I did not have scars,” she said.
PUERTO RICO DONATIONS
She cited startling statics about domestic violence and abuse.
On October 4 and 5, UTHSC employees collected donations in the Madison Plaza Lobby to assist with hurricane relief in Puerto Rico, where most people are still living without power, and with limited access to food, clean water, and many other basic necessities. Thanks to the generosity of UTHSC faculty, staff, and students, we were able to donate $2,085 to the American Red Cross, specifically earmarked for Puerto Rico relief efforts.
“There are 10 times more animal shelters in this country than there are shelters for women,” Muhammad said. “And the third-largest reason for homelessness in this country is women who are victims of domestic violence and abuse.” She stressed the importance of separating emotions from the situation. “The victim and the abuser have a dialogue that only they can understand,” she said. “As long as we are emotionally attached to the abuser, we cannot do what we need to do. We need to deal with what is real.” In 2002, her ex-husband went on a three-week shooting rampage in Washington, D.C. After his conviction and execution, she learned from police that she was the primary target of his rage, and his end goal had been to find her and kill her, too. The random shootings would not implicate him, and he could gain custody of their two children from the 12-year marriage. A speaker and author, she is the founder of After The Trauma, Inc., through which she has advocated for victims. Her initial memoir, “Scared Silent: When the One You Love Becomes the One you Fear,” was published by Simon & Schuster in 2009. A second book, “I’m Still Standing: Crawling Out of The Darkness Into the Light,” was published in March, and talks about her life during and after the conviction and execution of her ex-husband.
VETERANS DAY This important day began as a commemoration of the armistice between allied nations and Germany in World War I, which went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918. After World War II, what was originally celebrated as Armistice Day was changed to Veterans Day to honor the American veterans of all wars. UTHSC held its annual Veterans Day observance on Friday, November 10, at 8:30am in the Student Alumni Center. We invited all UTHSC veterans (i.e. faculty, staff, students, residents, postdocs, retirees), in addition to faculty, staff, and students with immediate family in the military, to attend the annual breakfast reception.
Muhammad said she never encourages anyone to leave, but instead to make a plan. “You know when the time is right,” she said.
NATIONAL HISPANIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
The forum was one of several events the university sponsored in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. A free screening of the HBO documentary “Private Violence,” was held October 16 at Malco Studio on the Square. The film focuses on domestic violence as described by two survivors. Kit Gruelle, a survivor and advocate featured in the show, was present for a question and answer session. “We invest time and resources into addressing this critical problem because, simply put, we care,” said Pam Houston, director of Special Events and Community Affairs at UTHSC. “We care about our mothers, sons, daughters, and fathers. We care that they live productive, safe lives. Anything we can do to help complete that mission, without hesitation, we will do. We know no other way to respond.”
Mariana Guedes
Martin Lu
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To celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, observed throughout the United States from September 15 to October 15, the Office of Equity and Diversity designed an email campaign to highlight Hispanic history, culture, and heritage, as well as some local events and exhibits. All those who read the email were offered an opportunity to read an editorial feature entitled, “Fast Food, Tortillas, and the Art of Accepting Yourself,” followed by a quiz to be entered into a drawing for a gift certificate to Sabor Caribe, a nearby Venezuelan and Caribbean street food restaurant. Our winners were Mariana Guedes, MSc, Research Assistant in the Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry Department, and Martin Lu, College of Medicine student and student assistant for SASSI.
NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH Did you know that one of the reasons email was originally created was to meet accessibility needs? Vint Cerf, widely known as the “Father of the Internet,” is hard of hearing, and relied on this technology to ensure his receipt of accurate technical data, which he had difficulty interpreting over the telephone.
Department of Labor, which leads the national campaign, announced that the theme for NDEAM 2017 would be “Inclusion Drives Innovation.” This concept reflects the way in which many important innovations, like Cerf’s, which were originally developed by or for individuals with disabilities, were later found to have unforeseen benefits and widespread application. In observance of NDEAM 2017, the UTHSC ADA Advisory Committee hosted the “Disabled for a Day Obstacle Course,” an ice cream social event aimed at raising awareness of accessibility issues. In keeping with the NDEAM 2017 theme, this year’s event highlighted innovations in the accessibility sphere. Additionally, representatives from several functional areas were on hand to provide information and resources related to safety and accessibility. After completing the course, participants were rewarded with an ice cream treat, courtesy of our partner, Bluebell Creameries.
Vint Cerf, who co-designed the basic protocols for internet communications, pictured at his computer, circa 1984.
National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is observed throughout the country each October, in celebration of the contributions and achievements of employees with disabilities. The
The official poster released by the Department of Labor for NDEAM 2017.
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NOVEMBER – DECEMBER 2017
RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS
Photo by Airman 1st Class Jelani Gibson
NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH National American Indian Heritage Month celebrates and recognizes the accomplishments of the peoples who were the original inhabitants, explorers and settlers of the United States. The month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native people. Heritage Month is also an opportune time to educate the general public about tribes, to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges Native people have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges. In the coming month, the Office of Equity and Diversity will share community events and additional sources of information about this commemorative month. Adapted from: ncai.org/initiatives/native-american-heritage-month
Nov. 1:
All Saints’ Day (Christian)
Nov. 2:
All Souls’ Day (Christian)
Nov. 4:
Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Birthday (Sikh)
Nov. 15:
Nativity Fast begins (Eastern Orthodox Christian)
Nov. 21:
The Presentation of the Theotokos to the Temple (Eastern Orthodox Christian)
Nov. 24:
Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom (Sikh)
Nov. 25:
Day of Covenant (Baha’i)
Nov. 27:
Ascension of ‘Abdu’l Baha (Baha’i)
Dec. 1:
Maulid al-Nabi (Islam)*
Dec. 3:
First Sunday of Advent (Christian)
Dec. 8:
Bodhi Day (Buddhist), Immaculate Conception (Christian)
Dec. 13-20: Hanukkah (Jewish) Dec. 21:
Yule (Wicca and Christian)
Dec. 25:
Christmas (Christian), The Nativity of Christ (Eastern Orthodox Christian)
Dec. 26:
Zarathosht Diso (Zoroastrian)
* Date may vary by local or regional customs.
LICHTERMAN AND CHANCELLOR’S EXEMPT STAFF AWARD CEREMONY Each year, non-exempt employees with at least three years of service and who exhibit dedication, hard work, and a positive attitude are eligible to win the Thomas C. Lichterman Employee of the Year Award. Nominees go through a rigorous selection process, including reviews by supervisors and colleagues and two rounds of interviews. Similarly, the Chancellor’s Exempt Staff Award was created to recognize one deserving non-faculty exempt employee who has demonstrated outstanding service and/or who has made a significant contribution to the university community beyond the normally expected duties for his or her position. Each nomination includes multiple letters of support, and nominees are vetted by a selection committee that reviews nomination materials and interviews nominees. The winners of both awards will be honored at the annual awards ceremony, to be held in December.
For more information, please contact: Office of Equity and Diversity | 920 Madison Avenue | Suite 825 phone 901.448.2112 | fax 901.448.1120
uthsc.edu/oed 4
COMMUNITY EVENTS GERMANTOWN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Featuring Habib Koité & Bamada Thursday, November 16, 2017 | 7:30pm For more information, visit gpacweb.com/eventlist/2017/11/16/habib-koite-bamada
NUT REMIX FEATURING LIL’ BUCK Cannon Center for the Performing Arts Daily – November 17-19, 2017 For more information, visit thecannoncenter.com