April 2015 MRC Newsletter

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MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

Welcome to the Multicultural Resource Center!March was extremely busy for the MRC. Our Annual Letter Writing Campaign exceeded last year’s numbers with more than 750 letters written to prospective students! Thanks to everyone who participated in our efforts to increase the student of color population at Binghamton University!

Cultural Competency training has been the focus of many discussions in recent months. Kappa Sigma Fraternity hosted “Racial Equality and Sexual Assault Prevention Education Workshop” with presentations by ODEI/MRC. Kudos to Kappa Sigma and to all the members of Greek Life that came out and participated. Then MRC hosted Building Bridges to Cultural Competency, Phase I on March 31st. We thank all those who see the importance of cultural competency and have taken the time to get educated and get involved.

April promises to be just as busy! This month is Sexual Assault Awareness Month; be on the lookout for events, such as Take Back the Night, dedicated to spreading awareness. Day of Silence, where students take a day-long vow of silence to represent the silencing of the LGBTQ community and their supporters, will take place on April 17. On April 21 and April 27, ODEI will bring Dr. Maura Cullen and The Academic Network to conduct workshops for Administration, faculty/staff and students; details will be available on the ODEI website. Then on April 28, BAMS and ODEI/MRC will host Diversity is Strength: Binghamton’s Micromessaging Project.

Lastly, applications for Fall 2015 MRC internships are available and are due by April 15th. We urge you to take part in these events and join the MRC Family. Rest up during spring break as the end of the semester is jam packed!

Stay Tuned, MRC Staff

Interested in advertising in the MRC Culture Connects Newsletter?

Increase your business among Binghamton University students, faculty and staff. The MRC is hometo more than 100 cultural student organizations on campus. With more than 1,700 students subscribed to our Monthly Newsletter, consider us a great marketing tool for reaching the university community. Binghamton University’s student of color and International student populations are increasing. Make your business more visible among students.

For more information, please contact Mengchen Huang at [email protected] or 707-777-6071

Diversity is Strength includes an art gallery of personalized microaggressions, a speech from MRC Director Dr. Nicole Sirju-Johnson, panel discussion, spoken word performances, and more.

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MRC NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Culture

Connects Grant Recipients

Congratulations to our April 2015 Culture Connects Program Grant

recipients:

Chinese American

Student Union

Delta Epsilon Psi

Hillel

Latin American Student Union

Pakistani Students

Association

Quimbamba

Vietnamese Student

Association

Join the MRC Family!Marketing applications (resume and cover letter) must be emailed to Tanyah Barnes at [email protected] by Monday, April 13. All other applications (resume and cover letter) must be emailed to Mengchen Huang at [email protected] by Wednesday, April 15. For more information about each position, visit our website at mrc.binghamton.edu.

MRC Program Assistant Interns:•Hours: Minimum 8-10 hours per week throughout the semester.•Compensation: Interns will get up to 2 CDC Internship credits per semester.Program Assistant Interns reach out to student groups to participate in MRC programs, assist with all aspects of event preparation, and organize and maintain outreach materials.

MRC Culture Connectors Fall 2015- Spring 2016:•Hours: Maximum 4 hours per week throughout the semester.MRC Culture Connectors is a volunteer program that is designed to provide students an opportunity to connect with the diverse cultural community on campus. Volunteers will participate in a wide variety of activities that allow them to capitalize on their cultural competency and professional experience.

MRC Marketing Interns (Fall 2015-Spring 2016 Graduate Intern positions available):•Hours: Minimum 8-10 hours per week throughout the semester.•Compensation: Undergraduate Interns will get up to 2 CDC Internship credits per semester. Graduate Interns will get 2 semesters of academic/professional internship credit.Marketing interns will work on various tasks in graphic design, social media, photography, and content management/web design. They will work on the monthly MRC newsletter, our website, weekly emails, and more.

MRC Graduate Intern for Cultural Outreach and Programming•Hours: Minimum 12-15 hours per week throughout the semester.•Compensation: Graduate interns will receive up to 3 CDC Internship credits per semester.The graduate interns assist the MRC Assistant Director in acting as a liaison for different cultural student population, assisting in community building and identity development, and offering educational opportunities for the Binghamton University campus on cultural community issues and concerns. This position reports directly to the MRC Assistant Director.

MRC Graduate Intern for Office Management•Hours: Minimum 12-15 hours per week throughout the semester.•Compensation: Graduate interns will receive up to 3 CDC Internship credits per semester.The graduate intern assists the MRC Assistant Director in organizing and training undergraduate interns and volunteers, managing the assessments of all MRC Programs, and overseeing the scheduling of MRC meetings and events. This position reports directly to the MRC Assistant Director.

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In 1976, women rallied Take Back the Night marches against the violence they encountered as they walked the streets at night. These marches coordinated into a movement across the United States and Europe. In the late 1980s, the National Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NCASA) advocated for a national Sexual Assault Awareness Week in April. Domestic violence awarenss became the main focus. In the late 1990s, many supporters called for a nationally recognized month. Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) was first observed nationally in 2001. In 2009, President Obama was the first president to proclaim April as SAAM.

For more information, visit nsvrc.org and cdc.gov. See the opposite page for SAAM events. Be on the lookout for additional SAAM events hosted by the Interpersonal Violence Prevention Program (IVPP), Women’s Student Union, and other student organizations.

Kick off Sexual Assault Awareness Month with tabling at the Marketplace from 12-4pm on 4/1. Teal hair extensions, manicures, and other freebies wil l be available. State, territory, and tribal sexual violence coalit ions were polled in 2000 and determined the color teal was the preferred color for sexual assault awareness. The teal ribbon is the symbol of sexual assault awareness

and prevention.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month

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Take Back the Night with Women’s Student Union! Rally against sexual violence at the Peacemaker’s Stage at 8pm on 4/17. After, head on over to Uncorked Creations at 9pm for Survivor ’s Speakout, which is a safe space for survivors of gender-based, sexual, and domestic violence to share

their stories.

It’s On Us CampaignApril 13th-April 19thHillel and IVPP will be tabling and promoting this national White House campaign to prevent sexual assault on college campuses. Look out for their events during this week!

Screening: The Hunting GroundThursday, April 16th, 8:00pm, FA 209Join the Women’s Student Union to watch The Hunting Ground documentary which exposes rape culture on college campuses.

Screening: It Happened HereWednesday, April 15th, 6:30pm, UndergroundsThe documentary It Happened Here explores sexual assault on college campuses. A panel of resources and stories from a survivor will speak afterwards.

Take Back the Night - Friday, April 17th, 8:00pm, Peacemaker’s Stage (details below)

Crime Victims Rights Wall of VictimsMonday, April 20th, Oakdale Mall (near Sears)The Crime Victims Assistance Center’s annual memorial wall is back at Oakdale Mall. The wall includes pictures and information about homicide victims from the Greater Binghamton area.

The Clothesline ProjectTuesday, April 21st, 11:00am-4:00pm, the Spine (outside of Library Tower)Shirts will be hung up with first names or initials of victims or perpetrators of violence. Pick up a shirt until April 17 from 8:30am-4:30pm at the Health Education Office, DSUSC-124, Late Nite GA Office, or UUW-208F and return it by April 20. Contact Amber Ingalls at [email protected] or Kyrie Kirn at [email protected] for more information.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month

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Day of Silence

The first Day of Silence event was organized by Maria Pulzetti at the University of Virginia in 1996. Students take a day-long vow of silence to symbolically represent the silencing of LGBTQ students and their supporters. Pulzetti wanted to make a big impact that would be very noticeable. Panel discussions and guest speakers would only attract the people who were already aware of the issues in the LGBTQ community.

For more information, visit dayofsilence.org and glsen.org. Be on the lookout for events hosted by SHADES (4/13-4/18), Rainbow Pride Union (RPU), Equality Project, and other student organizations.SHADES WeekMonday, April 13th - Saturday, April 18thLook out for events hosted by SHADES the entire week!

Break the Silence (hosted by the Equality Project)Friday, April 17th, 8:00-10:00pm, Appalachian Dining Hall (details below)

All About the T (Transexual)Friday, April 17th; time and location TBDDiscuss the transgender community and the issues they face. This event is hosted by SHADES and is a SHADES Week event.

Let’s Talk About SexSaturday, April 18th, 8:00pm, UU120Discuss sex with RPU. It is $2 in advance. Co-sponsored by M4.

Second Chance Prom (hosted by RPU)Friday, April 24th, 9:00pm-12:00am, Appalachian Dining Hall(details on page 10)

At the end of Day of Silence on 4/17, Break the Silence with the Equality Project! Break the Silence is a celebration of the LGBTQ community through self-expression. Numerous student groups such as Explorchestra and No Strings Attached will perform, along with other student performers.

8pm in Appalachian Dining Hall

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MRC Upcoming EventsMRC would like you to save the date for the following upcoming events:

MRC Weekly Friday Tabling April 17th through May 1st, 12:00-4:00pm, MarketplaceVisit the MRC table for a different theme every week!

MRC Asian Heritage Month Kick-Off CelebrationSaturday, April 25th, 5:00-7:00pm, C4 Multipurpose RoomMay is Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month. MRC invites you to celebrate with games, activities, food, and fun!

Diversity in Strength: Binghamton’s Micromessaging Project (hosted by BAMS in collaboration with ODEI/MRC and 11 SA organizations)Tuesday, April 28th, 6:00pm, Mandela RoomEnjoy an art gallery of personalized microaggressions, a keynote speech by MRC Director Dr. Nicole Sirju-Johnson, panel discussion, spoken word performances, and more.

MRC Student Leaders MeetingTuesday, April 28th, 7:00-8:00pm, UU 108Student leaders of organizations are encouraged to come to this meeting to learn about upcoming MRC events.


Empowering Students of ColorThis group is open for any student who identifies as a student of color. It will discuss issues of cultural uniqueness and the impact that it has on the balance of work/academic/personal relationships. For more information about the group, please email LeAnna Rice, Mental Health Outreach Coordinator/Counselor at [email protected].

Women’s GroupThis group is open to anyone who identifies as a woman, of any background, who is looking for a safe and supportive atmosphere to discuss what it means to be a woman, and the impact of that identity in work/academic/personal relationships. The group may also include therapeutic exercises to help group members build stronger self-concepts and esteem. For more information about the group, please email LeAnna Rice, Mental Health Outreach Coordinator/Counselor at [email protected].

University Counseling Upcoming Events

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Watch the Russian National Ballet perform Sleeping Beauty in the Anderson Center at 12pm on 4/14. The Russian National Ballet upholds the grand traditions of major Russian ballet works. For tickets and

information, call 607-777-ARTS or visitanderson.binghamton.edu.

Diverse Cultural Xcellence has its 3rd annual fashion show featuring kids from the Boys & Girls Club on 4/18 in Old Union Hall. 6-7pm is Mocktail Hour and 7-10pm is the fashion show! Formal attire required. Tickets are $8 and are inflated at the door. Email the President of DCX, Siobhan Alban, at [email protected] for more

information.

Walk to fight suicide at the Out of the Darkness Walk. Join others to raise awareness and funds for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention on 4/18 at 11am in Hinman Quad. For more information, email Kristen Mulvena

at [email protected].

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CKS and KASA present Korean Night on 4/18 at 7:30 in the West Gym. There wil l be various performances celebrating Korean talent, from Sul Poong to dancing by KASA MODA. YouTube star David So wil l also perform. Tickets are $4 in advance

and $8 at the door.


Join the Pakistani Students Association in a mock traditioanl Pakistani wedding, with food, dances, and henna. Contact [email protected] for tickets ($5). 4/19 in

the Mandela Room. Doors open at 6:15.

The French comedy, Tartuffe [or] the Imposter, is coming to Watters Theater! Shows are at 8pm on 4/24, 4/25, 5/1, and 5/2, and 2pm on 5/3. Buy tickets at anderson.binghamton.edu. $8 for students, $12 for alumni/faculty/seniors,

and $14 for public admission.

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Take a Trip through the Diaspora in Africa, the US, Caribbean, and Latin America. This will occur through a spoken narrative and a series of performances.

4/21 in Old Union Hall at 6pm

The 1st Annual Second Chance Prom hosted by RPU is on 4/24 at 9pm in Appalachian Dining Hall. Tickets are $3 in advance and $4 at the door. Enjoy an Italian buffet,

photobooth, and good music!

Ultimate Frisbee Tournament - Saturday, April 18th, Mountainview FieldHosted by Delta Epsilon Psi, the 7v7 Ultimate Frisbee Tournament costs $3 for Greeks and $5 for regular tickets with a grand cash prize of $200. There is a maximum of 10 people per team. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact Kenny Blando at 631-759-1805 or [email protected].

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Kick off Latin Weekend with the third annual Nuestra Belleza y Nuestro Galan Latin@ Scholarship Pageant on 4/24 at 6:30pm in Old Union Hall. One male and one female will win. If you would like to be a contestant, email

[email protected].

Learn about various cultures through calligraphy, origami, henna, and more in Mohawk’s World Fair from 12-4pm in the College-in-the-Woods Courtyard. Speak with educated global professionals, sing and dance with various student groups, and eat foods from all over the world!


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Contact UsLocation: Library South G 548

Phone: (607) 777-4472 Fax: (607)777-2373

Email: [email protected]

StaffNicole Sirju-Johnson - Director

[email protected] Mengchen Huang - Assistant Director

[email protected]

Multicultural Resource Center via Social Media

Documents

April 2015 MRC Newsletter