September 29, 2021
A note from the Dean 
Dear Faculty and Staff Colleagues,

Today kicks off Emory University's symposium, "In the Wake of Slavery and Dispossession: Emory, Racism and the Journey Towards Restorative Justice." These special programs will feature the ongoing efforts and research in the areas of slavery, dispossession, and restorative justice, with a focus on the legacy of racism and its enduring effects at Emory University. The symposium will be held at Oxford College on Friday, October 1st with in-person and virtual sessions, as well as physical and digital exhibits, and will feature several Oxford faculty, staff, and student groups. 

For more information on the program schedule and to register, please visit this website.

Next Friday, October 8th at 3:30 p.m. Oxford College will come together with Emory leadership and the local community to rededicate and name Johnson Hall, formerly Language Hall, in memory and honor of Judge Horace J. Johnson Jr. To learn more about this program and to register to attend, please visit this website.

I look forward to seeing many of you on Friday at the symposium and next Friday for the Johnson Hall ceremony!

Best,
Doug
Oxford in the news
Oxford Chaplain Lyn Pace’s monthly column was published in the Covington News on September 25. This month's topic was “Can we sense the Holy, even in difficult moments?”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution mentioned Emory University's Twin Memorials Working Group, co-chaired by Oxford College Dean Doug Hicks, in the article "Group formed to memorialize slaves who built Emory University campus." Emory News Center also covered the group’s efforts in "Twin Memorials Working Group gets underway."
ScreenRant featured Oxford College's appearance as fictitious Whitmore College in the "10 Vampire Diaries Filming Locations You Can Actually Visit."
Rededication and naming ceremony for Judge Horace J. Johnson Jr. Hall
Please join us as we honor the legacy of the Honorable Horace J. Johnson Jr. and his commitment to Oxford College, Emory University, and public service. This special rededication and naming ceremony will be followed by a reception and building open house. Visit the website for more information about the event and Judge Johnson's legacy.

Please RSVP online here by Friday, October 1.
Students serve the community as Interfaith Vaccine Ambassadors
15 Oxford College students are serving with Interfaith Youth Core’s (IFYC) Faith in the Vaccine Ambassadors project. Oxford students are using a range of creative activities to raise awareness about COVID-19 vaccines in underserved communities. The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life coordinates this grant-funded opportunity for the students on the Oxford campus.

Participating Vaccine Ambassadors: Eunice Amador, Yingrong Chen, Rebecca Deal, Sarah Delfino, Ellen Harnisch, Esther Holmes, Riesa Hoque, Fahd Kapadia, Abel Lindley, Payton Malone, Jiwon Park, Claire Qu, Akash Shanmugam, Alan Sherman, and Annabelle Zeker.

Read more about their efforts here.
Oxford alumni named to Emory Alumni Association Top 40 under Forty
Donte Flanagan 04Ox 06N and Priyanka Bhatt 11Ox 13C were named to the Class of 2021 40 under Forty by the Emory Alumni Association. The annual 40 Under Forty awards program spotlights selected alumni across a variety of vocations for having made a significant impact in business, research, leadership, public service, and philanthropic endeavors. Read more about this year’s honorees. 
Condolences
The Oxford College community mourns the death of retired, longtime staff member, Gene Heard. Oxford College Chaplain Lyn Pace shared this information recently--

I’m writing to you with some sad news. Mr. Emmett Eugene Heard, who retired after 37 years of service as the lead landscaper at Oxford College, died on Friday, September 24. A graveside funeral for Gene is scheduled for Saturday, October 2, 2021 at 11 a.m. at Lawnwood Memorial Park, 1111 Access Road, Covington, GA 30014. The family asks that you please wear a mask to the service.

Gene’s nephew, Tony Heard, also works at Oxford as a maintenance mechanic in Oxford’s Campus Maintenance department. Please keep Tony and the Heard family in your thoughts and/or prayers.
SEPTEMBER
Men’s Soccer vs. Andrew College 
Bivings Field, Oxford College | 6:45 p.m.
Symposium--In the Wake of Slavery and Dispossession: Emory, Racism and the Journey Towards Restorative Justice
Atlanta campus
Women’s soccer vs. Spartanburg Methodist 
Bivings Field | 7:00 p.m.
OCTOBER
Symposium--In the Wake of Slavery and Dispossession: Emory, Racism and the Journey Towards Restorative Justice
Oxford campus
Women’s tennis vs. Central Alabama Community College
Cline Tennis Center, Oxford College | 1:00 p.m.
Men’s tennis vs. Emmanuel College
Cline Tennis Center, Oxford College | 2:00 p.m.
Talk by culinary historian and food writer Michael Twitty
"Intersection of Culture and Cuisine" 
Oxford Organic Farm--first 30 attendees at 5:30 p.m. will be admitted for the live event.
Williams Hall hosts a live stream of the talk beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Blessing of the Animals 
4:00 and 5:00 p.m. outside the Oxford Student Center
Take a Break Tuesday 
Hosted by the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life
meet Assistant Chaplain Alex Miller-Knaack and pick up some campfire themed swag
Oxford Student Center Front Patio | 1:15 p.m.- 2:45 p.m.
Rededication and naming ceremony for Judge Horace J. Johnson Jr. Hall
Please RSVP by October 1 using this link
Oxford quadrangle | 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Southern Circuit Film Series: Not Going Quietly
Viewable until October 13 using this link
Fall break
Oxford Studies Lecture: Julien Salgado, I Exist: My Journey as an Undocumented and Queer Artist 
Williams Hall | 7:30 p.m.
Take a Break Tuesday 
Hosted by the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life and the Advising Support Center
Oxford Student Center Front Patio | 1:15 p.m.- 2:45 p.m.
Fall break
Men’s soccer vs. Georgia Military College
Bivings Field | 6:30 p.m.
To submit a news item for the next Campus Update, please email Ansley Holder.
The newsletter is distributed weekly on Wednesday. Please submit items by Monday afternoon.