Education Commons^™

Alumni Panelist Presentation On George Floyd, Anti-Black Racism, And #Blacklivesmatter Email, John N. Diamond, Elizabeth Russell

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Email from John N. Diamond, President and Executive Director, University of Maine Alumni Association on the June 11th Alumni presentation on the "Perspective and Experience of Blacks in the U.S". The presentation was titled "George Floyd, Anti-Black Racism, and #BlackLivesMatter". The email states that approximately 1,000 individuals watched the panel discussion live or the online recording.

Mcgillicuddy’S Humanities Center Hosts Guest Lecture On The Racial History Of Free-Verse Poetry, Rebekah Sands

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

On March 4, 2020, Erin J. Kepler, a visiting professor from Tulane University, gave a talk on Native American poetry and innovation of language titled “Mary Austin’s Time Machine: Modernist Poetics and Settler Time.” Introduced by Margo Lukens, the director of the McGillicuddy's Humanities Center, the talk furthered this year’s theme, “Society, Colonization, and Decolonization” by introducing the importance of Native American language regarding our modern perceptions of time and rhythm.

Bsu Working On Diversity, Jeff Teunisen

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Article from the University of Maine student newspaper The Maine Campus on the University of Maine's Black Student Union's efforts be a voice for Black students on the University campus.

Gss Votes Race Was Motive In Orono Attack, Damon Kiesow, Kim Dineen

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Article from the University of Maine student newspaper The Maine Campus regarding the General Student Senate voting that an attack on two Black students was motivated by race.

Editorial: The Line Between Corporate Allyship And Marketing Shouldn't Be Crossed, Liz Theriault

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

In the world of allyship for marginalized groups and marketing for companies in America’s cut-throat capitalist economy, where does allyship end and unproductive marketing begin? We are all familiar with the yearly advertising clock: a dedication to new resolutions through the first part of the year that transforms to a focus on plastering American flags all over products for the Fourth of July and finally ending on Christmas decorations and commercials that emerge before Halloween even passes. But movements such as Black History Month and Pride Month have been added to the calendar in the past few decades, opening the …

Center For Community Inclusion And Disability Studies Ucedd Action Plan For People At The Intersection Of Race, Ethnicity & Disability, University Of Maine Center For Community Inclusion And Disability

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Screenshot of an excerpt of the executive summary of the UCEDD Action Plan for People at the Intersection of Race, Ethnicity & Disability.

Local Student Activist Participates In Portland Ice Protests, Leela Stockley

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

In mid-October, it was announced by the city of Portland, Maine that the city would be opening an office to house United States Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The new office will be located on the fourth floor of One City Center, and officials say that the office will be actively focusing on crimes related to human trafficking, child exploitation, transnational drug trafficking and transnational terrorism rather than illegal immigration and deportation efforts.

University President Statement On Social Media Posts By Umaine College Republicans, Joan Ferrini-Mundy, Robert Q. Dana

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

We are writing to provide the University of Maine position on recent Facebook posts by the UMaine College Republicans on their private Facebook page.

From Cancel Culture To Changing Culture, Liz Theriault

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

What do big-name celebrities like James Charles, Taylor Swift, James Gunn, Laura Lee, Kayne West, PewDiePie, Roseanne Barr, Shane Gillis, Logan Paul have in common? They have, at one point in their careers, been “canceled.” Hoards of their social media followers took to Twitter, Facebook and YouTube to hurl insults and declare the celebrities “canceled.” Each of these celebrities has become the target of cancel culture. But what exactly does that mean? Cancel culture is defined by the holy grail of internet slang, the Urban Dictionary, as a “modern internet phenomenon where a person is ejected from influence or fame …

Social Media Activism The Subject Of Recent Discussion, Emily Turner

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

On Nov. 6 the Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Colloquium Series held its second discussion of the fall semester. Dr. Judith Rosenbaum gave the talk titled “#TakingAKnee: Exploring justice, respect, and patriotism on Instagram and Twitter.” Rosenbaum is an assistant professor of communication and journalism at the University of Maine whose research includes social and health effects of media. The theme of this talk surrounded creating meaning on social media platforms. It featured discussion on the hashtag #TakingAKnee and how this social movement has opened a new dialogue nationwide. Rosenbaum recognized that Colin Kaepernick played a large role in initiating …

Mollie Tibbits, Ariana Grande And Serena Williams: Every Woman, M. J. Gautrau

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

I’ve spent the past few weeks fuming at the world’s treatment of women. I’m mad at the people who believe women and men are equal and that there’s no problem here. Over the last few months, we’ve seen very high pro��le news stories of women as scapegoats. It is now our time to see these stories, hear these women and react justly.

Teaching Social Justice: Intergenerational Service-Learning In Digital Media Course, Margaret O. Finucane, Linda M. Seiter, Nathan C. Gehlert

Journal of Media Literacy Education

Digital media play an increasingly dominant role in reinforcing and challenging power inequality in social and institutional relationships. This paper describes how a service-learning component engaged students in community-based interactions that not only deepened their understanding of course content but also increased their commitment to diversity, community issues, and personal development. A close look at three case studies shows that integrating service learning into a first year seminar on digital media and social justice had positive outcomes for students when intentionally paired with community partners offering course-related projects.

Can Tenure Be Abused?, Liz Theriault

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

In any higher education establishment, academic freedom is of great importance. The security provided to professors by academic tenure ensures that faculty are protected from termination because of their speech, research findings or political reasons. Without this security, academic progress could be stifled. But can this privilege and security be abused?

Serano Hosts Public Talk On “Call-Out Culture, Identity Politics, And Political Correctness”, Ryan Cox

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Dr. Julia Serano held a public talk, entitled “A Social Justice Activist’s Perspective on Call-Out Culture, Identity Politics, and Political Correctness” in the Minsky Recital Hall on March 22, 2018, as part of UMaine’s Women’s History Month celebrations. Serano is a writer, performer, biologist, and transgender and bisexual activist, whose works include “Whipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Femininity,” “Excluded: Making Feminist and Queer Movements More Inclusive” and most recently “Outspoken: A Decade of Transgender Activism and Trans Feminism.”

Black History Month Kicks Off At Umaine With The Black Lives Matter Flag Raising, Sarah O'Malley

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

As snow fell upon the first day of February, many University of Maine students, faculty and community members congregated between the Memorial Union and Fogler Library in the name of racial justice. Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018, marked the start of Black History Month, and the Office of Multicultural Student Life (OMSL) and the Black Student Union (BSU) have partnered to put together an impressive lineup of events spanning the entire month.

Crossing Selma's Bridge: Integrating Visual Discovery Strategy And Young Adult Literature To Promote Dialogue And Understanding, Steven T. Bickmore, Gretchen Rumohr-Voskuil, Paul Binford

Middle Grades Review

Urban communities, separated by race and class, experience a disproportionate number of gun deaths, police shootings, crime, violent and nonviolent protests, as well as disparities in housing, education, and employment. These discussions are visual and textual, appearing in both traditional and social media outlets. How do adolescents read and make sense of these images? We discuss integrating a Social Studies practice, Visual Discovery Strategy, with Young Adult Literature to provide students with the skills to both critique images from the events in their lives and produce responses through both traditional and digital methods.

Rhonda Y. Williams Lecture Poster, University Of Maine Office Of Multiculture Student Life

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Poster for Rhonda Y. Williams', professor of history and director of the Social Justice Institute at Case Western Reserve University Howard B. Schonberger Peace and Social Justice Lecture entitled "Concrete Demands: Black Power Histories and Legacies in the 21st Century". The lecture was held on April 6, 2017.

Do Not Silence People; Debate And Engage Them, Jonathan Petrie

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

During the protests of President Donald Trump’s inauguration, you may have seen Richard Spencer — notable alt-right, white nationalist leader — get punched in the face during an interview. In response, a lot of people shared the video praising the actions of the violent perpetrator, citing Spencer’s racist ideology as a means to justify violence. Here’s the issue. No matter how much you disagree with someone, you do not get to punch them. Violence does not solve this debate.

Bare Minimums In Activism Do Nothing For A Cause, Sam Tracy

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Your safety pins don’t matter. There has been a recent rise in a silent protest to Donald Trump’s racist, xenophobic, sexist and homophobic rhetoric that involve spinning a safety pin onto your shirt. It started off as a gesture of kindness and a message to the marginalized people, saying: “hey, we’re here and we’re not with them. ”By pinning your shirt, you have a quiet way to show you do not support Trump’s harmful messages and you are a safe person to talk with.

Editorial : Decency Must Remain Following A Tumultuous Election, Sarah Allisot

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

There is no doubt that the presidential campaigns this year were equal parts passionate and hateful. News stories have often done little to serve the real issues and insults became a stand-in for policy talk during officiated discussions. Following Election Day, nearly one half of the country is left with feelings of hopelessness, fear and disbelief — none of which are invalid.

Culturally Responsive Teaching: Implications For Educational Justice, Magnus O. Bassey

Publications and Research

Educational justice is a major global challenge. In most underdeveloped countries, many students do not have access to education and in most advanced democracies, school attainment and success are still, to a large extent, dependent on a student’s social background. However, it has often been argued that social justice is an essential part of teachers’ work in a democracy. This article raises an important overriding question: how can we realize the goal of educational justice in the field of teaching? In this essay, I examine culturally responsive teaching as an educational practice and conclude that it is possible to realize …

Social Justice And The Future Of Higher Education Kinesiology, Brian Culp

Faculty and Research Publications

This article presents a rationale for the infusion of social justice into kinesiology programs for the purpose of reducing inequities in society. Specifically, the current climate for social justice is considered and discussed using examples from an university-inspired service-learning initiative, law, and politics. Of note are the following areas of discussion: (a) differentiation between social diversity and social justice, (b) public pedagogy as a means by which to inspire service action, (c) the creation of climates for speech and application of social justice, (d) modeling and socialization for equity, and (e) the neoliberal threat to inclusiveness. The article concludes with …

Visualizing Abolition: Two Graphic Novels And A Critical Approach To Mass Incarceration For The Composition Classroom, Michael Sutcliffe

SANE journal: Sequential Art Narrative in Education

This article outlines two graphic novels and an accompanying activity designed to unpack complicated intersections between racism, poverty, and (d)evolving criminal-legal policy. Over 2 million adults are held in U.S. prison facilities, and several million more are under custodial supervision, and it has become clearly unsustainable. In the last decade, there has been a shift in media conversations about criminality, yet only a few suggest decreasing our reliance upon incarceration. In meaningfully different ways, the two novels trace the development of incarceration from its roots in slavery to its contemporary anti-democratic iteration and offer an underpublicized alternative.

Critical and community …

Interpreting, Stephanie Jo Kent

Doctoral Dissertations

What do community interpreting for the Deaf in western societies, conference interpreting for the European Parliament, and language brokering in international management have in common? Academic research and professional training have historically emphasized the linguistic and cognitive challenges of interpreting, neglecting or ignoring the social aspects that structure communication. All forms of interpreting are inherently social; they involve relationships among at least three people and two languages. The contexts explored here, American Sign Language/English interpreting and spoken language interpreting within the European Parliament, show that simultaneous interpreting involves attitudes, norms and values about intercultural communication that overemphasize information and discount …

An Analysis Of Future Coaches’ Emerging Dispositions On Social Justice: The Wooden Effect, Brian Culp

Faculty and Research Publications

This qualitative study explored the extent to which an archetype presented through a non-fiction text could impact aspiring coaches’ (AC’s) dispositions regarding social justice. Forty-three aspiring coaches at a Midwestern university enrolled in a foundations class that presented issues related to inequity were studied. Analysis of student journals indicated changes in AC’s philosophies regarding social justice, an appreciation for the perspectives of underrepresented groups and emergent critical perspectives when examining sport processes. Results of the study imply that a focus on democratic education and constructivism in coaching preparation programs may be of benefit. A means by which praxis of this …

The Grizzly, March 28, 2013, Jessica Orbon, Sara Sherr, Rosemary Clark, Alyse Reid, Heidi Jensen, Vivek Reddy, John Parry, Megan Maccaroni, Rachel Brown, Jacquelyn Heikel, Sofia Gallicchio, Jordan Demcher, Misha Fausto, Allen Weaver

Ursinus College Grizzly Newspaper, 1978 to Present

Students Fight Prisons • St. Paddy's Day Cleanup Trouble • Science Plans Change • Town, Gown Growth • 9th Annual Edible Books Festival April 2 • "Ricochet," New CIE Event • WeCAN Raises Awareness • UC Tech Support • Opinion: Campus Safety Isn't Customer Service; Dorm Security Shouldn't be Compromised • Coach Profile: Sam Campo, Softball • Senior Spotlight: Allison Pfrommer • Warren Named All-American

The History Of Inequality In Education, Amity L. Noltemeyer, Julie Mujic, Caven S. Mcloughlin

History Faculty Publications

The purpose of this chapter is to consider a sampling of the critical events that demonstrate this history of inequity, with the understanding that they have contributed to the current status of American schools. To this end, we will explore relevant events related to the education of individuals of different racial, gender, language, and disability backgrounds. We do not intend to provide an exhaustive overview of the history of American education, nor will we provide a detailed account of the history of equity in the broader society outside of the educational sector. Rather, we will provide a cursory glimpse at …

Dream Of Mlk, Jr. 'Alive And Well' At New Umaine Plaza, Laila Sholtz-Ames

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Article from the University of Maine student newspaper The Maine Campus by Lalia Sholtz-Ames, the former president of the Black Students Association, regarding the Martin Luther King, Jr. monument erected in a new plaza at the University of Maine.

Black History Month In America's Palest State, Rhiannon Sawtelle

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Article from the University of Maine student newspaper The Maine Campus on Black History Month celebrations.

Hip Hop Posters Pulled For Ushuaia Fundraiser, Angela Flandaca

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Article from the University of Maine student newspaper The Maine Campus regarding the Ushuaia night club's posters promoting the University of Maine Hip Hop Dance Club's fundraiser party, to be held at the Ushuaia, containing images of racist stereotypes.