Inside this issue:

Student Organizations 2

Campus Events 3—4

Las Comadres & Friends 5

Holiday Celebrations 6

Happy Holidays 7

December 2014

Multicultural Affairs

Washburn University Memorial Union — Boswell

1700 SW College Topeka, KS 66621

Email: mao@washburn.edu www.washburn.edu/mao

Monday—Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm

(After 5pm by Appointment)

Dona K. Walker, Director Debra Hupp,

Senior Administrative Assistant

Multicultural Affairs promotes awareness

of cultural diversity and multicultural

issues. The office serves as a resource

and referral center for faculty, staff,

students, and local communities.

In addition, the office enhances

educational development about diversity

and multicultural issues and advocates

for students’ needs on campus.

Check us out on Facebook!

washburn.edu/diversity

facebook.com/wudiversity

DECEMBER 2014 MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS PAGE 2

Hispanic American Leadership Organization (HALO)

Contact: michelle.hernandez2@washburn.edu

http://washburnhalo.weebly.com/ https://twitter.com/wuhalo https://www.facebook.com/washburnHALO

Indigenous Nations Student Association (INSA) Contact: mao@washburn.edu

Asian American Association (AAA) Leadership needed

Washburn NAACP College Branch (NAACP) Leadership needed

~ Multicultural Student Organization Leadership Needed ~

Questions? Contact Multicultural Affairs at mao@washburn.edu

Washburn Black Student Union (WBSU) Contact: tia.cowans@washburn.edu

Washburn University Notice of Non-Discrimination

Washburn University prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or marital or parental status. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Dr. Pamela Foster, Equal Opportunity Director, Washburn University, 1700 SW College Ave, Topeka, Kansas 66621, 785.670.1509, eodirector@washburn.edu

DECEMBER 2014 MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS PAGE 3

Hermosos Huesos (BEAUTIFUL bONES)Exhibition

An exhibition of elaborately detailed skeletons inspired by Dia de los Muertos

created by mixed media artist, Wayne Hilton. The Mulvane Art Museum is partnering with the Tonantzin Society to present this exhibition as part of the annual Dia de los Muertos celebration. The exhibition will be open regular museum hours through December 20th.

“OPERATION FLEECE NAVIDAD”

Sponsored by senior Kinesiology majors

The purpose of this project is to collect any “gently used” fleece, cotton,

wool, or polyester OUTERWEAR (jackets, hoodies, sweatpants, hats,

gloves, socks, scarves, whatever) for the Topeka Rescue Mission to

distribute. Project runs November 20th until the last day of classes.

Ways to donate:

Drop it off in the KN Office (Petro Center Room 201).

Call the KN Office (670-1459) or email us (kines@washburn.edu) and

we’ll make arrangements with you to pick it up (on campus only).

In addition to Petro Center, we’ll have drop boxes placed in Mabee

Library and the SRWC. Each box will have a sign on it stating it is for

“Operation Fleece Navidad”.

DECEMBER 2014 MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS PAGE 4

Friday December 5, 2014 @ 8:30PM

Wear black and join members of the Washburn Black Student Union and the community for a candlelight vigil at Kuehne bell tower to honor the life of Michael Brown, Jr. and share hopes of peace and healing for Ferguson, Mo. Washburn students, including Terek Hawkins, Makayla Hancock and Tee Hunley, will perform spoken word poetry and song. Want to help? Bring white candles to the Office of Multicultural Affairs. All are welcome to join in this peaceful gathering.

DiversiTEA @ 3:00 pm—December 3rd @ Mabee Library

(Refreshments and conversation about diversity)

Co-sponsored by Residential Living

DECEMBER 2014 MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS PAGE 5

LAS COMADRES & FRIENDS- Topeka a NATIONAL LATINO BOOK CLUB presents

Teleconference with Author

Book of the Month

The Clairvoyant of Calle Ocho

by

Anjanette Delgado

Monday, December 29, 2014 7:00 pm—Teleconference

Register at: www.lascomadres.com/latinolit

Contact: dona.walker@washburn.edu or 670-1622

DECEMBER 2014 MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS PAGE 6

Christmas

hANUKKAH

Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday celebrated for eight days and

nights. The holiday either starts in late November or Decem-

ber. In Hebrew, the word "hanukkah" means “dedication.”

According to Jewish law, Hanukkah is one of the less im-

portant Jewish holidays. However, Hanukkah has become

much more popular in modern practice because of its prox-

imity to Christmas. Common traditions include lighting a Hanukkiyah

(8-candle candelabrum), spinning the dreidel (4-side spinning top with Jewish

letters on each side) and eating fried food.

Christmas is both a sacred religious holiday for Christians and a

worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon for non-

Christians. The holiday takes place on December 25th. For two

millennia, people around the world have been observing it with

traditions and practices that are both religious and secular in na-

ture. Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the

birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a spiritual leader whose teachings

form the basis of their religion. Popular customs include ex-

changing gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, sharing meals

with family and friends and, of course, waiting for Santa Claus to arrive.

Kwanzaa is a 7-day secular festival that aims to strengthen Afri-

can cultural identity and community values while providing a

spiritual alternative to the commercialism of Christmas. The fes-

tival runs from December 26th through January 1st. Common

traditions include having a child light the nightly Kinara candle,

discussing one of the seven principles and sharing elements of African/African

American culture. The black candle is lit, placed in the center on the Kinara

and the principle of unity is discussed on the first night. An African feast called

the Karamu is celebrated on December 31st.

Kwanzaa

DECEMBER 2014 MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS PAGE 7

Happy

Holidays from

Multicultural

Affairs