R.I.S.E. Up Newsletter for August 20, 2020

John Carroll University Division of

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Volume 1, Issue 8: August 20, 2020

R.I.S.E.* Up Newsletter

*Reinforcing Inclusion through Skill-building and Education

August 18 2020 - 100 years of votes for white women

Not Everybody's Milestone

This week in the United States, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, which barred states from denying women the right to vote. While this is a significant milestone, it is important to note that not all U.S. women benefited equally from it.

Voting rights for women of color, while technically won in 1920, were in fact not guaranteed across the country until the 1960's. Racial terrorism under Jim Crow and other oppressive systems meant that in many communities across the United States, people of color -- especially Black people -- continued to be prevented from accessing the ballot for nearly half a century after the 19th Amendment became the law of the land, while active voter suppression efforts in many states continue to threaten that access today.

As we approach another important election this November, we remind our colleagues-- and especially our students -- to check now to be sure you are registered to vote. In the uncertainty created by the current pandemic, if you think there is a chance you might not be able to access your polling location on Election Day, you can request an absentee ballot or make a plan to vote early.

For most of us in the United States, the right to vote was not automatically granted; it was, rather, won through great struggle and at a high cost. When you cast your vote in November, remember the courageous activism of those who fought (and continue to fight) to have their voices heard.

Lastly, never forget that a vote is the beginning of the work; it is not the end. Our efforts to make lasting social change are far bigger than a voting booth. So let's vote in November -- and then keep working to build more just and equitable world.

Division Events and Announcements:

JCU MIRRORS program honored as an "Inspiring Program in STEM"

We are delighted to congratulate JCU's MIRRORS program (Molding Identity and Raising Retention through Opportunities for Reflection in STEM) which has been named as a recipient of the "Inspiring Programs in STEM" award by INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine this year.

Click here to read the September STEM awards issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity

2020 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from Insight into Diversity magazine

Required Syllabus Statements

Instructors for Fall 2020 Courses are reminded that all university course syllabi are required to include the university syllabus statement alerting students to the process for requesting accessibility accommodations, reporting sexual violence and harassment, and reporting incidents of bias and discrimination. Faculty have the option of either reproducing the statement into their syllabus in full, OR including a brief note referring students to the "Learner Support" tab in Canvas, where these policies are automatically uploaded.

Click here to read the syllabus statement

Help Select our Fall Book Reads!

We are working now on identifying the slate of book selections for our R.I.S.E. series faculty-staff book clubs for Fall 2020.

Do you have a title we should consider? Add it to our list for consideration!

Click here to submit your book idea.

R.I.S.E. Higher: Featured Article of the Week

What Can You Do About that Racist Uncle?

Try a S.P.R.O.U.T. Approach to Resistance

Tiffany Galvin Green, Ph.D.

and Megan Wilson-Reitz, M.A.

Medium.com, August 8, 2020

We are painfully aware that there are many that resist believing in racial equity and justice. For various reasons, stemming from multiple influences and narratives, there are many that still fight the existence of racial and systemic injustice. As a result, these individuals prefer not to grow. Instead, they will actively protect and defend their “shell” of what can amount to white supremacist ideologies, hierarchies of human value, and myths of meritocracy.

So the question becomes — how do we talk to them? How can we work with them? Is there any way we can contribute to the growth of those who choose to ignore, refuse, or resist the work? There will be times and spaces in which we may feel compelled to make an effort to work with an openly resistant person: a family member’s Thanksgiving-dinner tirade, a neighbor’s hateful social media post, a friend’s casual use of slurs, a parent’s open support for a racist demagogue, a student’s problematic essay topic. In these “hard cases,” where should we start?

.... (click below to read more)