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UCF Forum

Series

2015

Articles 1 - 21 of 21

Full-Text Articles in Sociology

This Year Show Compassion – For Others And Yourself, Yolanda Hood Dec 2015

This Year Show Compassion – For Others And Yourself, Yolanda Hood

UCF Forum

This is the year of melting.

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The Good, The Bad And The Quintessential Christmas Music, Heather Gibson Dec 2015

The Good, The Bad And The Quintessential Christmas Music, Heather Gibson

UCF Forum

There are two types of people: those like myself, who the day after Thanksgiving turn their radio to the all-Christmas music station, and the rest of you Grinchy McGrinchersons.

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A Holiday Greeting That Applies To Everyone, Terri Susan Fine Dec 2015

A Holiday Greeting That Applies To Everyone, Terri Susan Fine

UCF Forum

The Thanksgiving holiday season brought with it interesting discussions about “the holidays” – so many holidays are celebrated by people of different cultures, religious backgrounds and nations of origin.

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Generosity Creates Its Own Ripple Effect, Traci Evison Dec 2015

Generosity Creates Its Own Ripple Effect, Traci Evison

UCF Forum

Sometimes we see an inspirational snippet of film on YouTube, hear an NPR broadcast or listen to a Ted Talk that materializes into action at what seems to be a random point in the future.

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You Don't Need Any Special Talent To Join Fight Against Hunger, Terri Susan Fine Oct 2015

You Don't Need Any Special Talent To Join Fight Against Hunger, Terri Susan Fine

UCF Forum

The United Nations itself had not yet been officially established when its own Food and Agriculture Organization was formed, even though it was by just a few days. The U.N. was established Oct. 24, 1945, just eight days following the establishment of the Food and Agriculture Organization, and it was not until 1948 that the international body ratified its Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

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The Best Leap Of My Life Could Be Yours, Too, Traci Evison Oct 2015

The Best Leap Of My Life Could Be Yours, Too, Traci Evison

UCF Forum

I recently gave myself a tandem skydiving jump to celebrate my 40th birthday. Jumping out of an airplane is much less expensive than purchasing a flashy new sports car, I reasoned, while tapping the Groupon button on my phone.

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I Don’T Control A Lot Of Things- But I Can Control What I Read, Yolanda Hood Aug 2015

I Don’T Control A Lot Of Things- But I Can Control What I Read, Yolanda Hood

UCF Forum

I found myself facing some epic declarations and accusations recently: “How do you even have the job that you have?” “And you have a Ph.D. in English! How? How did that happen?” “Should you even be a librarian?”

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I Question Whether We Have Learned 'Citizenship' In Our Generation, Terri Susan Fine Aug 2015

I Question Whether We Have Learned 'Citizenship' In Our Generation, Terri Susan Fine

UCF Forum

About a year ago a dear friend gave me a copy of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book “Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America” by Gilbert King. The 2012 book earned the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for general nonfiction and the Pulitzer Committee described the book as a “richly detailed chronicle of racial injustice.”

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Let Theatre Take You To A New World — Without Ringing, Glowing Phones, Heather Gibson Aug 2015

Let Theatre Take You To A New World — Without Ringing, Glowing Phones, Heather Gibson

UCF Forum

There’s been a lot of talk about patron use of technology in theaters, the most recent story of course being Patti LuPone’s snatching a phone out of a texting audience member’s hands in the middle of a scene during Shows for Days at the Lincoln Center Theater.

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We All Grieve In Different Ways On Different Days, Traci Evison Aug 2015

We All Grieve In Different Ways On Different Days, Traci Evison

UCF Forum

Over the course of the past 2½ years I found myself in a position I never dreamed possible: Three of my immediate family members died.

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Broad Changes Are Needed To Move Toward Social Harmony, Vanessa Lopez-Littleton Jul 2015

Broad Changes Are Needed To Move Toward Social Harmony, Vanessa Lopez-Littleton

UCF Forum

I wonder if the need for workplace-diversity initiatives is an indicator of an underlying societal issue? If so, could a more comprehensive approach to diversity serve as a catalyst for social transformation?

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My Nba All-Star Team Of Socially Conscience Players, Richard Lapchick Jul 2015

My Nba All-Star Team Of Socially Conscience Players, Richard Lapchick

UCF Forum

I have been trying to use the sports platform and the power of sports to address serious social issues during my entire adult life.

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‘Be Nice To People’ – Grandmother’S Advice Could Fix Many Of World’S Problems, Anthony Major Jun 2015

‘Be Nice To People’ – Grandmother’S Advice Could Fix Many Of World’S Problems, Anthony Major

UCF Forum

As I began to write this column, my ears were ringing with the news story of another senseless shooting. This time it’s of nine people at the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C.

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#Blacklivesmatter – So Keep The Conversation Going, Vanessa Lopez-Littleton May 2015

#Blacklivesmatter – So Keep The Conversation Going, Vanessa Lopez-Littleton

UCF Forum

#BlackLivesMatter has become part of a symbolic movement with a powerful message. First tweeted on April 11, 2012, following the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, #BlackLivesMatter began trending heavily during protests after the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. Three years later, it remains relevant.

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Does Major League Baseball Look Like America?, Richard Lapchick Apr 2015

Does Major League Baseball Look Like America?, Richard Lapchick

UCF Forum

The 2015 Major League Baseball Racial and Gender Report Card recently released by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport shows the league had an A on the issue of racial hiring practices, a C/C+ for gender hiring practices, and an overall grade of B.

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Live, Learn – And Let Live, Anthony Major Apr 2015

Live, Learn – And Let Live, Anthony Major

UCF Forum

I grew up in a segregated community in Florida and attended supposedly “separate but equal” schools in a small town that had separate water fountains, bathrooms and even beaches, among other restrictions. We were expected to cross the street when a white woman was approaching and never look a white man in the eyes - that is if you didn’t want to appear defiant.

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Advocating For Children Is Everyone's Responsibility, Melody Bowdon Apr 2015

Advocating For Children Is Everyone's Responsibility, Melody Bowdon

UCF Forum

Florida drew national media attention in 2008 when 2-year-old Caylee Marie Anthony of Orlando was reported missing. In the months and years that followed, her mother, Casey, was charged and ultimately acquitted of Caylee’s murder.

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A Community Is More Than A Group Of People, Alaina Bernard Mar 2015

A Community Is More Than A Group Of People, Alaina Bernard

UCF Forum

I recently met someone from Bolivia through a mutual friend. She was telling me how different it is in Florida, as no one ever is outside or takes walks. I thought that was an odd statement, given that I see plenty of fellow Floridians outside enjoying our beautiful state.

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Sagging Pants Does Not Equate To Sagging Values, Vanessa Lopez-Littleton Mar 2015

Sagging Pants Does Not Equate To Sagging Values, Vanessa Lopez-Littleton

UCF Forum

I teach a class in the DeVos Sport Business Management graduate program at the For years I’ve debated the issue of people wearing sagging pants with anyone who cared to listen. I’ve hesitated to speak publicly for fear people would think I was condoning the style of dress. For the record, I believe style is a matter of personal expression.

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I'M Hopeful The Power Of Sport Will Expand To Spur Social Change, Richard E. Lapchick Feb 2015

I'M Hopeful The Power Of Sport Will Expand To Spur Social Change, Richard E. Lapchick

UCF Forum

I teach a class in the DeVos Sport Business Management graduate program at the University of Central Florida on ethical and moral principles in sport. Last week we welcomed a distinguished panel to our class, which included: Charlie Freeman, executive vice president of the Orlando Magic; Linda Landman-Gonzalez, vice president for government affairs and community relations for the Orlando Magic; Brett Lashbrook, chief operating officer of Orlando City Soccer; and Keith Lee, the chief operating officer of the National Consortium of Academics and Sport.

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History Curriculum Needs More Coverage Of Black Inventors, Anthony Major Feb 2015

History Curriculum Needs More Coverage Of Black Inventors, Anthony Major

UCF Forum

There is a reason we study Russian and European history as an integral part of our history curriculum. History is required from pre-K to college because it is a vital part of knowing how you and your country came to be.

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