Here are some of my year end thoughts and reminders for the start of Spring Semester. I hope everyone will finish strong, this semester. Please make a final push for better grades and then enjoy the break. When you return for J-Term, have a great J! If you are away, don’t forget to take pictures and share. If you are at home with your family for J-Term, please enjoy the time together.
Kwanzaa: December 7th chapel and celebration on December 8th. Get tickets now!!!
My word to Kwanzaa doubters. America is a great nation. One that should celebrate Kwanzaa because of this holiday’s ability to put a new tradition in the service of bridging the many groups, ideas, and values that makes Americans who they are.
True. Kwanzaa reminds us that the nation was built on the backs of slaves, on land taken from native peoples and on the sweat of immigrants and their families. Granted, our history has not always been worthy of the ideals that make us a great country. But the American people continue to work through these hardships because we are not giving up on the idea of one nation— with liberty and justice for all. At Luther, we are a community that values our differences and because we are inclusive, we have expanded Kwanzaa from its African and American roots to include everyone in the celebration of community, nation, and history to strengthen our individual commitments to build one nation—with liberty and justice for all.
Come celebrate and learn more about Kwanzaa, Luther style!
The New Luther College Diversity Center
The Diversity Center is a place of welcome for all who come! Recently, we rearranged our office to create a welcoming waiting/study area as you walk in the door and a great lounge area in the old ‘workroom’ that we shared with SAC. Thanks to SAC, we now have a lounge area to relax in and thanks to the Student Organization Suite (SOS), we have plans for a really great student work area that we all can use to meet, plan activities, and get support from Dan Bellrichard, the Student Activities Coordinator. Come by and see what we are doing to ensure that the Diversity Center is a place of hospitality!
A recent survey conducted by Darren Wang and Alicia Findlay provided key insights about the LDC.
51 people took the survey
49% visit often or very often
51% spend from 6 to 30 minutes in the Center per visit
80% socialize
55% think a gathering space for students is important for the Center to have
59% think the current space is satisfactory
We used this data to support creating a different Gathering place—The LDC Lounge
Black History Conference
Don’t forget: The Black History Month Conference is scheduled for February 6-7, 2012.
The theme is: Body Politic: Cultural Identities and Representations of Black Women’s Sexuality. The conference commemorates the legacy of Lena Horne.
Check out the website and register for this important conference.
http://www.luther.edu/diversity/blackhistory/
Dorothy Roberts, distinguished professor at the University of Pennsylvania will speak on February 6 at 7:00 p.m. You won’t want to miss her. There is also a must-see Gallery Exhibit by Danielle Scruggs, and amazing panels of Luther faculty and others