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Inclusion Newsletter
October 2019
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Hi everyone!
My name is Steph Lowe, and I'm really excited to be creating the monthly diversity newsletter for this academic year! I'm a graduate student in the College Student Development program. I'm also the Assistant Coordinator for Departmental Initiatives - Honors House for the Department of Housing and Dining Services. I really enjoy learning about students' stories, experiences, cultures and perspectives.
As this is the first newsletter of the year, I would like to briefly explain an overview of its format. Each newsletter will include a topic or two related to its specific month, student contributions, on-campus diversity-related events, resources and a recommendation section. You can read more about opportunities to get involved with the diversity newsletter below. All submissions and inquiries should be emailed to me at
[email protected]
.
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National Coming Out Day, celebrated on Friday, Oct. 11, is a day to celebrate and bring awareness of human rights to those who identify within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) communities.
National Coming Out Day is a holiday that has been celebrated for many years, but it originally started in 1987. In an article titled "
The History of Coming Out,"
The Human Rights Campaign states that “On Oct. 11, 1987, half a million people participated in the march on Washington for lesbian and gay rights. It was the second such demonstration in our nation’s capital and resulted in the founding of a number of LGBTQ organizations."
Another awesome
article
from Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN)
provides some information that is helpful to know along with some considerations when coming out. The article states: “No two coming out stories are exactly the same; you coming out will be shaped by the supports that you have in school, at home, or in your community, and the privileges you hold in other aspects of your identity."
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CULTURAL APPROPRIATION & HALLOWEEN
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As Halloween is quickly approaching on Thursday, Oct. 31, you might be preparing for the holiday and brainstorming many costume ideas. Be sure to think about the costume you're wearing and how that may be affecting individuals and cultures in a negative way. The definition of cultural appropriation is “the act of adopting elements of an outside, often minority culture, including knowledge, practices, and symbols, without understanding or respecting the original culture and context” (
Bradley, 2019
). There are many resources online that discuss cultural appropriation and provide examples. It's important to hold yourself accountable by asking yourself a few questions: What are the costume's origins? How would that group respond to the costume? Would it make someone feel uncomfortable? The picture to the right provides an example of what cultural appropriation is.
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HIV/STI Testing Day
Out & Proud
National Coming Out Day
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2019 Indigenous Peoples Day
- Oct. 14, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- K-State Student Union - College Education
GSA Visit Day
Halloween Costume Contest
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Student Input
Do you enjoy writing for fun or are you passionate about a particular topic related to diversity? I think it would be awesome for each newsletter moving forward to have one or two writing submissions from students. Students can pick a topic they're passionate about as long as it relates to diversity in some capacity. You can choose how you would like to relay that information by sharing your own story, researching, finding an article, showing a video or even coming up with your own creative idea.
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Recommendation Spotlight
Another opportunity to get involved with the diversity newsletter is our recommendations page. Each month I would like to highlight one or two people from K-State — students, staff, faculty, etc.—in our recommendations section. There will be a space for you to share your favorite article, documentary, book, video, website, podcast or something similar that you think others might enjoy as well.
All submissions can be sent to me at
[email protected]. I
f you have any questions please don't hesitate to let me know!
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