A DJS Journey

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,...

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...

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                   ...