A DJS Journey

What can Music Do? In my class Music History II our professor asked our class at the beginning of the semester the questions of “what can music do?” To help the world and all of the horrible and awful things that happen, how can we offer a balm or what resources do we have as musicians to help. How can we use music in a vocational way. It has been the theme of our class.  I have been thinking about it all semester and will probably keep thinking about it for the rest of my life. I have thought about how listening to music can provide a refuge for people, how teaching music to someone can help them have an emotional outlet or a source of joy. Music can be used for therapy. What struck me most is how music is used to make political statements. Nationalist composers would compose to make a statement for freedom. Germany and Italy they used music to fight for unification of the states. Even in America our pop songs can have a political message. I am not sure how I will us

The protests at Mizzou and other schools across the nation have prompted conversations and debate in the media and body politic about the demands being made of administrations by student groups that range from resignation to curriculum reform. Many of the demands are made with the intent to address the larger conversation surrounding safety issues for students of color and institutionalized support for marginalized groups on campuses. Opponents of creating safe spaces argue they limit freedom of speech, and in schools, violate the sacred concept of academic freedom. These are flawed arguments due to the fact that the distribution of rights and respect is not a zero sum game.  Just because someone is afforded more rights and respect does not inhibit your ability to exercise your rights as well. That being said, Roxane Gay made an excellent point in her article The Seduction of Safety: On Campus and Beyond   (link at the bottom) by stating that “the freedom of speech, however, does

The movie suffragette came out and was hailed as a big stride for the feminist community. While this may be true I can help but read this promotion I came across on Facebook as “made by white women, about white women, for white women.” This picture only shows white women and when I watched the trailer for the movie I got both excited about the movie and noticed the lack of diversity in the cast (you can see it in the picture. This image reminds of a quote by Sandy Grande “The historical divide between white and subaltern women suggests that what has long passed as “mainstream” feminism is actually whitestream feminism, that is a feminist discourse that is not only dominated by white women but also principally structured on the basis of white, middle-class experience, serving their ethnopolitical interests and capital investsments.” This quote and movie just reminds me of how historically feminism has been exclusive to the stories of women of color and their struggle

A few days ago I happened to stumble upon this video from Upworthy's Facebook page: Upworthy on utilization of white privilege The reason why I think this video is important is because it highlights ways of using white privilege. There are three main points that I got from this video and I would like to share those with you. The first thing I think is important to keep in mind when discussing the topic of white privilege is that sometimes it seems that the general idea is that one can only be an ally through huge gestures. This video and this women's story shows us that's not the case. What is important to realize, in my opinion, is that in order for one to become an advocate on behalf of someone, the realization of the presence of  inequality in society today is crucial. Before I go on to my next point, I would like to give you the text book definition white privilege is; "White privilege is a set of advantages and/or  immunities  that white people benefit fro

Two Diversity Center Alumni, Andrew Larsen ('15) and Troy Andrade ('07) were honored this year with Distinguished Pacific Lutheran University Alumni Awards. For his potential for a lifelong commitment to the university and alumni association, Andrew Larsen received the Brian C. Olson Student Leadership Award Andrew Larsen was an Anthropology and Religion double major and Political Science minor from Helena, Montana. Larsen was accomplished in and out of the classroom during his time at PLU. During his time on campus Andrew participated in a wide range of activities including Athletics, Associated Students of PLU, The Diversity Center, Student Involvement and Leadership, Residential Life, Campus Ministry, Office of Admission, Wild Hope Center for Vocation, Office of the President and the Academic Assistance Center. For all of these activities he served in a leadership role and showed his propensity to mentor and support the next generation of Lutes. His accomplishm

Candice Hughes-Bengochea left her hometown of Sangre Grande, Trinidad and Tobago in 2004 bound for the Pacific Northwest. Having received a joint scholarship between Pacific Lutheran University and her country’s government she was bent on making an impact on the small Lutheran campus that engulfed her upon arrival. While on campus, Candice made The Diversity Center a second home. She was determined to spread her Trinidadian culture to all on campus and rallied the “Trini Posse” to host many campus Carnivals during her time. Studying Abroad to Botswana Africa opened her eyes to many global issues as she graduated as valedictorian in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Geology. Candice made a vow to continue the PLU mission of service to any part of the world she would encounter. Candice is now the On-Site Coordinator for the PLU’s Trinidad and Tobago Program, hosting and coordinating all activities when students arrive in Trinidad. She states “This job is extremely important to me as

“What are you?”  People of color have so much beef with this question and for good reason. At its heart it is an inquiry rooted in ignorance and misunderstanding of race, culture and the scope of human diversity. Regardless, it is a question that I have asked myself time and time again as a part of a long process of developing my identity as a mixed-race person. That being said, I am not mixed in that my parents are of different races. As I have thought about who I am, I have started to redefine what it means to be a mixed race person. Phenotypically I am brown skinned, black haired, and brown eyed; and while I lived in Ecuador as an exchange student, friends and family referred to me as “negrito” from time to time. By this standard I am a person of color without a doubt. People still ask me “what are you” or “where do you come from” because of my initial appearance and I have come to understand the implications of my being a POC as I navigate PLU.  On the other hand, my learned

These couple of days I've been remembering the time that I finally got the courage to tell part of my story through a poem. I wrote the poem after coming back from the Border Immersion program that was offered during spring break. During my time there I learned more about myself and the history that I had with this wall that was built to keep "danger" away. This poem represents how proud I have become of coming from two individuals who put everything on the line for the American Dream!  I am Peligro– I am a Chican@ born in a land A land of the free and the home of brave A land where my worth is based by a slip of paper A paper that grants me the opportunity to do and go where I please A paper that makes me the same as some my friends, but different from own: My familia             Mi madre                          Mi padre                                      Mi little sister Mi madrecita, a Mexican woman who left her land and everything

We all say that we want to make a difference in the world but how many of us actually see ourselves as people who can do that? I know I didn't, even though I said that I wanted to make a difference in the world I didn't really see my self a powerful enough to do that. It was only a desire that was not a reality to me that I could actually do. That has been changing for me though. Recently someone told me that they saw me as a powerful women with the world at my feet, and it changed how I see myself. I no longer only see myself as someone who wants to make a difference but rather as someone who can make a difference. And that difference does not have to be something big. It can be just in the small things that I do. I can make choices in what I say and how I act which can impact those around me. I can voice my thoughts and experiences of life and that can make difference for how someone sees a situation or event. I can help people see how their actions impact others.

This illustration feels radical but probably not far off. When on Friday [June 26] we celebrated ‪#‎ MarriageEquality‬ SCOTUS ruling I Googled "pride", "pride celebration", "pride flag" hoping to find images of a rainbow of people celebrating love and all I could see was a cloud of white men, white women, white drag queens, white twinks, white bears, white leathermen, white trans people, white politicians, white old couples crying, white vets, white protesters, etc. I was looking at the world's most powerful search engine with access to millions of images of crowds and in the sea of rainbow flags I struggled to see color. This made me very sad as we built LGBT rights movement on the wave of Civil Rights Movement. We have a cultural preference for light skin, this is not a question. Whether it's racism and/or trend inspired is not worth arguing. Naming incidentally successful artist, politician, or musician of color does not suppo

Sara Lopez is a 1983 graduate with a BA.Ed in Physical Education. Originally from Canoga Park California, Sara serves as a Director for the Center for Leadership in Athletics and Program Director for the Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership (IAL) M.Ed. at the University of Washington. For the past 10-years she has contributed to the growth of efforts to develop leaders in athletics committed to the positive impact sports can have on students and the community. She believes her work is important because this potential is often lost or twisted into negative experiences we read about in the headlines. The leaders she is preparing understand and enable the promise of enriching sport experiences and the transformational impact sports can achieve. They are making a significant difference in the organizations they are working in as program administrators and coaches. So far, what's one of your greatest accomplishments? Through my work in various professional roles – an educator, as a

Rieke Scholars are committed to social justice, equity, reconciliation, and action. They embody the values of The Diversity Center: Critical Reflection, Perspective Taking, and Community. Maya, Maria, and Antoinette share what tools they believe are necessary in order to engage and thrive in The dCenter community. ___ Dear Rieke, Welcome to the D-Center family! You’re about to enter this exciting space that requires a lot of love, patience, and compassion. You were selected to be a Rieke because you will clearly bringing something positive and unique to this space, so above all don't forget to be yourself! This position will require you to be thoughtful, how do you want to engage with people in difficult conversations or even just daily conversations? The people I have seen be most successful in this role have been open and authentic about where they are at mentally and emotionally, and are also willing to meet others where they are as well. Be open about how you are

The 2nd Annual The Diversity Center Alumni Weekend was May15-17.  Over 20 dCenter Alumni came from near and far to reconnect with the people, space, and community that at one time or another they all called home. Xochilt Coca ('13) shares why she, as a dCenter Alumnae, continues to engage with the community. Xochilt Coca '13 "I stay connected to the PLU Diversity Center because this community has become an extension of my family. As a first generation student of color I was able to find my "home away from home" as well as a community that helped me grow into a leader on campus. As a Rieke scholar I was able to serve as an advocate for issues of social justice such as immigration by facilitating and creating a scene for Tunnel of Oppression along with other students. Without the love and support from the dCenter I do not believe I would have had as rich of an experience at PLU. I am forever grateful to this community for its positive impact on my life

Rieke Scholars are committed to social justice, equity, reconciliation, and action.  They embody the values of The Diversity Center:  Critical Reflection, Perspective Taking, and Community.  Maya, Ingrid, Maria, and Alice share their reflections of programs that had the most impact on them this past academic year. ___ Sounds of Solidarity - Maya Perez I don’t think I could have ever expected what was to come when I began dreaming up Sounds of Solidarity. What inspired me was a large combination of things; wrestling with my own privilege, loving to hear friends’ stories, Black feminist thought, and creative forms of activism. While I was in Costa Rica for the semester, it started with an email to Angie about how to create an event that captured the importance of sharing stories. I really couldn't ask for a better boss, she is amazing and has so many incredible ideas. When I returned in the spring, I began by booking a room and choosing a date. We chose the Wednesday of Ear